Dan is a plumber at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. He is responsible for installing, maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting plumbing systems and fixtures, ensuring the Hospital’s plumbing infrastructure functions properly and supports patient care. The job can sometimes get dirty, but Dan handles it all with professionalism and a “let’s get it done” attitude.

Dan is on call 24/7 for plumbing emergencies, and often has to come in early or stay late, to ensure a safe environment for staff and patients. “I just think about how if it was my mom whose bathroom wasn’t working, would I want her to go all night without a working toilet? No. So I come in to ensure patients have access to functioning bathrooms, clean water, whatever plumbing needs to be done to prioritize their safety,” says Dan.

Check out these photos of Dan in action, you might be surprised at what you see!

Dan is responsible for the Hospital’s Plumbing Preventative Maintenance programs to keep plumbing equipment in good working condition. This work brings him all over the Hospital, including the Medical Device Reprocessing Department (MDRD).

Dan collaborates internally and with contractors to ensure essential Hospital equipment is ready to go, often working early or staying late to work around staffs’ schedules and to ensure minimal disruption to staff and patients.

Dan working with contractor (Photo 8), who will be testing his equipment for renal care on one of our backflow prevention valves (photo 9).

March 13, 2025 is World Kidney Day. This year’s theme is “Are Your Kidneys Ok?”, a call to learn more about kidneys and kidney health.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is estimated to affect approximately 850 million people worldwide. If left undetected and not treated timely, CKD can progress to kidney failure, leading to severe complications and premature mortality. By 2040, CKD is projected to become the fifth leading cause of years of life lost, highlighting the urgent need for global strategies to combat kidney disease. The major risk factors for kidney disease are diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity and family history of kidney disease. Early detection can improve quality of life for people with kidney disease. [World Kidney Day 2025 campaign].

The Renal program at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre provides a wide range of services to people living in Northwestern Ontario with kidney disease. This includes education, decision making support and treatment provided in the Multi-Care Kidney Clinic, in the dialysis units, as well as pre and post transplant, and living kidney donation care. The goal is to provide the right care at the right time for our patients, knowing that their needs will change at the different stages of kidney disease.

For patients and families of those living with kidney disease, the Renal team has created new educational videos, illustrating some of the options available. They can be found on our website.

To page for portable x-rays or after-hours requests please use the new pager number: 807-626-8700.

Please use the new number going forward as the old number is out of service.

Shared on behalf of Infection Prevention and Control

Please be advised that the enteric outbreak on Forensics unit at TBRHSC is declared over. Thank you to everyone who assisted in ending Hospital-acquired transmission on this unit.

All restrictions are lifted.

As always, our number one priority is the safety of patients and their families, staff and visitors. The department of Infection Prevention and Control encourages everyone to keep applying the routine practices of hand hygiene, proper use of PPE, equipment cleaning, and the appropriate admission screening of all patients. Please set an example for staff and students and assist us by maintaining compliance and due diligence.

Shared on behalf of Infection Prevention and Control

Please be advised that the influenza outbreak on 3B surgical unit at TBRHSC is declared over. Thank you to everyone who assisted in ending hospital acquired transmission on this unit.

All restrictions are lifted.

As always, our number one priority is the safety of patients and their families, staff and visitors. The department of Infection Prevention and Control encourages everyone to keep applying the routine practices of hand hygiene, proper use of PPE, equipment cleaning, and the appropriate admission screening of all patients. Please set an example for staff and students and assist us by maintaining compliance and due diligence.

As part of our commitment to keeping staff engaged and informed on our 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 March 12th Operational Updates and Strategic Planning Meeting featured an update on Patient Experience: Seamless Transitions and was presented by Chad Johnson, Director, Pre-hospital & Trauma, Emergency, Critical Care, Respiratory Services, & NLOT and Craig Kozlowski, Director, Patient Flow & Partnerships.

Visit the Strategic Plan 2026 page on the Hospital’s corporate intranet, where these presentations, along with other resources can be found.

Dr. Caio Suartz and team recently performed our Hospital’s first robotic radical prostatectomy.

A radical prostatectomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove the prostate gland and surrounding tissues, typically as a treatment for localized prostate cancer. This surgery aims to completely eliminate the cancer while preserving urinary and sexual function as much as possible. Robotic-assisted surgery, performed with the help of a surgical system like the da Vinci® robot, has transformed the way prostate cancer is treated. 

Some key benefits include: 

Greater Precision – The robotic system provides enhanced visualization and dexterity, allowing for meticulous nerve-sparing techniques.
Minimally Invasive Approach – Small incisions result in less blood loss, reduced pain, and faster recovery.
Shorter Hospital Stay – Most patients are discharged within 24 hours after surgery.
Faster Recovery & Fewer Complications – Patients often experience a quicker return to daily activities and a lower risk of complications.

As robotic technology continues to evolve, radical prostatectomy remains one of the most effective treatment options for prostate cancer, offering excellent cancer control and improved quality of life for patients.

To honour Black History Month in February, several features were presented in the Daily Informed Newsletter throughout the month. If you missed any of the features, check them out below!

Introduction to Black History Month: Provides an overview of the significance of Black History Month, including historical injustices, and ongoing systemic racism. It recognizes 2025 as the beginning of the Second International Decade of People of African Descent, as declared by the UN; and describes the significance of the black, red, green, and gold/yellow colours that are associated with Black History Month.

Honouring Dr. Alexandra Bastiany: This feature honours Dr. Alexandra Bastiany, Interventional Cardiologist at TBRHSC, and recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal. The medal is awarded to those who have made a significant contribution to Canada. Dr. Bastiany is Canada’s first female Interventional Cardiologist, and is committed to addressing racial and gender inequities in health.

Black History Month Book List: A list of non-fiction books written by Black authors that focus on racial justice and addressing anti-Black racism. There are also some fiction offerings, which focus on Black culture.

A Legacy of Black Canadian Healthcare Heroes: This article highlights Black health care providers who have made significant contributions to their fields. It include nurses Bernice Redmon and Clotilda Douglas-Yakimchuk, physician Dr. Sophia Bethena Jones, and Psychologist Dr. George Phills.

Anti-Black Racism: What does it mean for healthcare providers?: Defines anti-Black racism, and outlines current initiatives being undertaken by the Indigenous Collaboration, Equity, and Inclusion department, in collaboration with the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Steering Committee and their partners, to address racism at our hospital.

If you have any questions, please contact the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Steering Committee via email at: tbrhsc.edisteeringcommittee@tbh.net

Group benefits plan available through Health Care Providers Group Insurance for part-time or casual hospital employees and retirees.

The open enrollment window, running from April 1 to May 30,  provides guaranteed coverage with no medical questions to those who are eligible. 

For more information on the plans offered you can view their website at www.healthcareproviders.ca or the information provided on the Human Resources iNtranet page.

For any questions contact Human Resources at 684-6218 or TBRHSC.Humanresources@tbh.net. 

Spring represents renewal and growth, a season perfect for refreshing your mental health toolkit.

The Your Health Space e-Learning Series is a FREE hybrid learning experience tailored to the needs and experiences of health care staff. From now until June 30, learners will have access to three self-directed courses and weekly live skill-building sessions focused on improving mental health literacy and strategies to manage and mitigate the effects of stress in the health care workplace.

Learn more about YHS e-Learning through this 1-minute video.

To learn more about this offering or to register, please CLICK HERE.