Shared on behalf of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan
Do you want to know more about retirement and your pension, but aren’t sure where to start? We’re here to help. Register for our Are you getting retirement ready? in-person seminar or join virtually via webinar. At the event, you will get the information you need to help you plan for retirement and have the opportunity to ask questions about your pension. Join us and learn about:
the value of your HOOPP pension and ways to maximize it
choosing an optimal retirement date
protecting your loved one with HOOPP’s survivor benefits
your sources of retirement income, including government benefits
how our educational resources and pension experts can guide you
HOOPP may be coming to a location near you!
Following the success of last year’s in-person events, we will be visiting more locations this year. Look for a location near you in the list below. Registration is required to guarantee your spot.
At the in-person event, you can also meet with a HOOPP pension expert to receive personal guidance and ask questions about your pension. These meetings are limited, so be sure to book your time when you register for the event.
Shared on behalf of on behalf of Andrea Raynak, Director of Nursing & Learning
I am pleased to announce that Marina Bruno has accepted the position of Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Renal Department effective June 17, 2024.
Marina graduated from Lakehead University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
She has spent the majority of her career within the Renal Department working in hemodialysis, with her most recent experience as the Renal CNS in a temporary capacity. Within her limited time in the CNS role, Marina was able to advance multiple projects to facilitate evidence-based practice and, furthermore, act as a mentor and support new and current nursing staff.
Marina has completed her certification in Nephrology Nursing and is enrolled in a Master of Nursing – Advanced Nursing Specialization program at Lakehead University. She is also a lifelong learner, as evidenced by her professional development in palliative care, quality improvement, and Indigenous cultural safety.
Outside of work, Marina enjoys going to camp, gardening, reading and enjoying time with her family.
We are excited to have her as a permanent member of our team, please join me in welcoming Marina to the role!
In Canada, someone has a stroke every five minutes.
The Northwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Network (NWORSN) is a team that works together with partners across the region for better stroke care. The network addresses needs in the communities across the stroke continuum – prevention, timely access to care, life-saving treatments, systems within the hospitals and rehabilitation. The network’s vision is “FEWER STROKES, BETTER OUTCOMES”.
Why is calling 911 (or your local emergency number) so important?
Calling your emergency services number immediately is vital to ensure that people receive timely access to care and treatment. “We need to be aware of the benefits of calling 9-1-1 and the expertise that first responders and paramedics bring to stroke care,” states Dr. Hassan, Medical Lead for the Northwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Network. “They are trained to recognize the signs of stroke and treat the patient quickly”. Recognition of a potential stroke starts an alert system with the dispatcher and EMS team. This ensures the right people are ready on arrival to act quickly to reduce or eliminate permanent effects of a stroke.
Why is it time so important?
When it comes to stroke treatment options, minutes matter. Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is the primary centre in Northwestern Ontario for Stroke Care, which includes the Regional Stroke Unit and one of 11 sites across the province for endovascular treatment (EVT). With the large geographical region, we want to ensure there is no delay in accessing stroke care. Delays can result in a worse outcome as the longer the brain is without blood, the more damage is done.
How do I recognize stroke?
FAST: Face-Is it drooping? Arms-Can you raise both? Speech-Is it slurred or jumbled? And Time, to call 911 or your local emergency number.
A stroke can be mild, moderate or severe which is why FAST evaluation and treatment is essential. Do not delay stroke care. Emergency medical care will always be available at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre for those who need it.
Shared on behalf of Wayne Taylor, Director Cardiovascular, Medicine & Renal Program
We are pleased to announce that Rachael Anne Shaffer has accepted the position of Manager, 2C Cardiovascular & Regional Stroke Unit, Outpatient Vascular Services.
Rachael has worked as a Registered Nurse in both the acute care and public health sectors and holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master’s Degree in Public Health. Rachael has spent the past five years as the Professional Practice Lead at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU) and has managed large and complex organizational projects while implementing change management and performance management techniques to assist with staff support.
Rachael has obtained White, Yellow and Green Lean Belt Certification with a Gold standing in Lean Sigma Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Training. She brings with her a keen interest in driving excellence in health care practice and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Please join us in welcoming Rachael who begins her new role on July 2, 2024.
As part of our commitment to keeping staff engaged and informed on the Strategic Plan 2026, Strategy and Performance is sharing updates in alignment with the identified priorities: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Patient Experience, Staff Experience and Research, Innovation, & Learning.
The June 12th Operational Updates and Strategic Planning Meeting featured an update on the North West Ontario Digital Health Strategic Roadmap and was presented by Cindy Fedell, Regional Chief Information Officer.
Visit the Strategic Plan 2026 page on the Hospital’s corporate intranet, where these presentations, along with other resources can be found.
Here are some common reasons why people don’t sign up for the Active Commute Challenge, but don’t worry, here are some simple solutions that will help you incorporate active community into your day. No commute is too small.
But I’m working from home – You can still participate. Replace any trip in your vehicle with an active commute! Taking the bus to the grocery store, biking to an appointment, or walking to a meeting can all be submitted as active commutes.
But I live in the country – Consider a park and ride – finding a place to park and actively commuting the rest of the way!
But I don’t feel safe – Consider asking a colleague who is familiar with active commuting to buddy up and show you the ropes – there is safety in numbers. Find a route you are comfortable with – places where walking and bicycling are more common tend to be safer.
But I have to drop the kids off at school – Consider an active commute with your kids. Being a role model for active transportation will send a positive message to your children.
But there’s just no way I can – If you’re still stuck and there is no way around the need to drive to work, consider an active commute on your break or lunch. Walk or bike to the coffee shop or for lunch. Better yet, ask a colleague to join and double those active kilometers.
We are writing to make you aware of a recent security incident involving Cisco’s Duo multi-factor authentication service that has impacted our organization.
On April 25, 2024, Cisco disclosed that an attacker compromised a Duo cloud service and gained unauthorized access to customer data. This included phone numbers, carrier information and SMS logs used for multi-factor authentication.
Our security team has analyzed the data and notified staff members whose information was exposed.
If you were not contacted, your Duo account details were not part of this incident. However, it’s always prudent to review your accounts for any suspicious activity.
Protecting Against Phishing
One of the primary risks from this incident is increased phishing attempts targeting our staff. Attackers may try to trick you into sharing login credentials or other sensitive data.
To protect yourself and our organization:
Be extremely cautious of any unsolicited emails, texts, phone calls or other communications asking for your login credentials or personal information.
Verify the legitimacy of any such requests by contacting the sender directly using known contact information – do not use the contact details provided in the suspicious message.
When in doubt, do not respond and report any suspected phishing attempts to Help.Desk@tbh.net
Use unique, complex passwords for all your accounts and enable multi-factor authentication wherever possible.
Our team is actively monitoring for any threats related to this incident. Please stay vigilant and let us know if you have any other concerns.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. If you have any questions please reach out help.desk@tbh.net.
Shared on behalf of Ryan Sears, Code Grey – Air Exclusion Executive Sponsor
As we begin to encounter the effects of wildfire season in our region, it is important that we review and follow our Code Grey – Air Exclusion Policy.
To date, Environment Canada has issued one special air quality statement for the Thunder Bay area related to smoke plumes from active wildfires this season. These fires put particles and gases into the air that can be harmful to human health. When this occurs, people may experience symptoms such as increased coughing, throat irritation, headaches, or shortness of breath. Our Air Exclusion Policy aims to reduce this risk to the internal environment and mitigate or reduce these associated impacts.
With Ontario’s legislated fire season running from April 1 to October 31 annually, leadership will continue to monitor air quality alerts and adjust our Hospital’s response as required.
Please take a moment to complete the Recommended Actions below.
Recommended Actions
Review the Code Grey – Air Exclusion (Button Down) policy and associated refresher Safety Huddle (attached). Familiarize yourself with the policy and related procedures.
Visit www.airhealth.ca for information on how to reduce your health risk along with current and forecasted Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) values.
