Please remember that vaping and smoking is prohibited on Hospital property.

This includes the walkway connecting Turtle (I) Lot to the G (MRI) staff entrance. 

Thank you for your cooperation.

Shared on behalf of Quality and Risk Management

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Quality & Risk Management has been alerted to incidents involving faxed patient referrals that were not received by the intended recipients despite appearing to have been successfully transmitted. This presents potential patient safety risk by delaying patient follow-up or diagnostic assessments and treatment planning. Information Technology (IT) has investigated potential technological causes; however, concerns have persisted.

Effective immediately, when fax is used to transmit patient-care information, particularly referrals, the following mitigation measures are required.

1. Prior to transmission:
   
   a. All faxes must be sent using the organization-approved fax cover sheet. The staff member sending the fax must include the names of both the sender and the intended recipient. The approved fax cover sheet can be found on the iNtranet: https://informed.tbrhsc.net/departments/communications-andengagement/branding,-logos-and-templates.
   
   b. Whenever possible, use the pre-programmed Address Book on the fax machine. Departments are responsible for verifying pre-programmed fax numbers at least bi-annually. If a fax number must be entered manually, the individual entering the number must verify the recipient’s fax number on the fax machine prior to starting the transmission.
   
   c. Ensure a fax confirmation report is generated. If the fax machine does not automatically produce one, select the option to print a confirmation report before sending.

2. Following transmission:

a. Document transmission of the referral using the fax stamp, including the initials of the individual who sent the fax and the date and time of transmission.

b. Where possible, notify the intended recipient/program through an established communication method that a referral has been transmitted by fax. Do not include personal health information unless using an approved secure method.

c. For urgent or critical referrals, contact the intended recipient/program directly to confirm receipt of the referral.

Important: A successful fax confirmation indicates that the transmission was completed; it should not be relied upon as confirmation that the referral was received or actioned by the intended recipient.

3. If a fax is sent to an incorrect fax number:

Follow the appropriate steps above to resend the fax to the correct recipient. Notify the Privacy Officer of the misdirected fax by emailing TBRHSC.Privacy@tbh.net.

4. When receiving faxes:

When removing documents from a fax machine, verify the documents were intended for your department.

If a misdirected fax is received:

• Notify the sender of the fax received in error.
• The sender should notify the Privacy Officer.
• Confirm with the sender whether the misdirected fax should be securely destroyed or returned to the sender by interoffice mail.
• Do not forward the fax to the intended recipient.

Thank you for your cooperation in implementing these additional safeguards to support timely
communication and reduce the risk of delays in patient care associated with misdirected or
unreceived faxes.

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC), in collaboration with the Miskwaa Biidaaban department, is pleased to launch the new Indigenous Health E-Learning, now available on LMS Dual Code

This enhanced learning experience provides staff with important knowledge and practical information to strengthen culturally respectful, informed, and responsive care for Indigenous patients and families.

The updated education goes beyond foundational awareness by connecting the history of Indigenous health care in Northwestern Ontario with the realities Indigenous patients continue to experience when accessing health services today.

What You Will Learn:

The Indigenous Health Education provides practical knowledge to support respectful and informed care, including:

• Indigenous Health in Northwestern Ontario: Regional history and its ongoing impact on health and health care.
• Indian Hospitals: Their history, legacy, and impacts on Indigenous peoples and communities.
• One Patient, Two Systems: How Indigenous patients navigate federal and provincial health systems and associated barriers.
• TBRHSC Patient Supports: Available hospital services and supports.

Why This Learning Matters:

One patient should not have to navigate two systems alone. Understanding the history, systems, and barriers affecting Indigenous health strengthens our ability to provide respectful, equitable, and culturally safer care. This education helps staff better provide an introduction to the Indigenous patient journey, recognize barriers, and connect patients and families with appropriate supports.

Click here to take the training.

We’re developing our next Strategic Plan, and your feedback is essential. This is your opportunity to share ideas, identify priorities, and help guide the future direction of our organization.

We want to know:

• What can we do better and/or more efficiently?
• What can we do less of, or stop doing altogether?
• How can we better connect clinical care, research, education and everyday work so that they support each other more effectively?
• Looking ahead to 2031, what would make you proud to work here as an academic?

To complete the survey, click here or scan the QR code below.

Shared on behalf of Help Desk

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IT will be scheduling automatic software updates to keep your computer secure and running smoothly.

What to expect:

• Background Updates: Updates will push automatically in the background and will not interrupt your ongoing work.
• Reboot Prompt: If an update on your system requires a restart, a prompt will appear on your screen once the installation is finished.

What you need to do:

• When the reboot prompt appears, please save your work and restart your device at your earliest convenience.
• If you are unable to restart immediately, you may choose “Snooze” to delay the reboot for 30 minutes. The reboot may be delayed up to 8 times before a reboot must occur.

If you experience any issues or have questions regarding these updates, please reach out to the IT Helpdesk.

The Maternity Centre at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) provides prenatal care for the residents of Thunder Bay and surrounding region. Our team is committed to providing evidence-based maternity care that is safe, respectful and culturally sensitive.

Self-referral can be made to be seen by a Nurse Practitioner, Family Medicine Physician, Social Worker, Kinesiologist, Dietician, and Lactation Consultant.

To be seen by an Obstetrician, a referral is needed from your primary health care provider or midwife.

During pregnancy, you are welcome to call the Maternity Centre to schedule an appointment with one of our prenatal care providers. All of our programs are accessible with your Ontario health card.

TBRHSC’s Maternity Centre welcomes the 128 babies born at our Hospital during the month of August. Congratulations on the new bundles of joy!

Find out more about our services by visiting bit.ly/TBRHSC-Maternity-Centre-info.

Interprofsesional Education is hosting a variety of certificate courses designed to help you grow professionally and expand your expertise. With multiple courses running every month, there’s something for everyone re a variety of new certificate courses available for Fall 2026. Check out the avaliable courses below:

• BLS Full Provider Courses (2 dates)
• BLS Renewal Courses (3 dates)
• ACLS Renewal Course
• PALS Full Provider Course
• PALS Renewal Course
• FHS Full Workshop – Virtual