We’re taking a look back at Mental Health Awareness Week (May 4–9), when staff across Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre wore green to help recognize the importance of mental health awareness. The week aimed to reduce stigma, promote understanding, and encourage meaningful conversations and connections surrounding mental health.

Even Reg, the Hospital’s unofficial mascot, joined in by wearing green to help raise awareness for mental health while lifting spirits and bringing smiles to staff, patients, and visitors alike.

Congratulations to the Prevention and Screening Services Team, winners of the week’s photo contest, who received a $100 pizza party prize generously sponsored by Pizza Hut.

A special thank you to everyone who participated and helped raise awareness for such an important cause.

Shared on behalf of Adam Vinet, VP, Patient Experience, CNE and RVP, Regional Cancer Care

---

The rate of Influenza Like Illness (ILI) in Thunder Bay and Region have significantly reduced over the past several weeks. In light of the decreased ILI activity, masking protocols will move back to “normal state”.

Starting today, May 7, 2026, all staff, professional staff, learners, volunteers and ECPs/CPs will no longer be required to mask for all patient interactions, or where six feet of physical distancing standards cannot be met. Masking requirements will be based on an individual’s risk analysis and level of comfort in the task being completed. Masking above minimum requirements will be at the individuals discretion based on their risk assessment.

All staff, professional staff, learners, volunteers, and Essential Care Partner’s (ECPs)/Care Partner’s (CPs) are encouraged to exercise their own risk analysis and level of comfort for masking above the minimum requirements. Masking is required at all times for anyone who fails self-screening and their presence is essential at the Hospital and/or masking is deemed necessary based on IPAC protocols. ECP/CPs are discouraged from visiting the Hospital if they are experiencing symptoms of a communicable illness.

Masks will continue to be made available at all public/staff entrances on the sanitizing stands, as well as at the unit/department level should you or a member of the public require a mask.

Staff, professional staff, learners, volunteers and ECPs/CPs will continue to wear a Level 3 procedure mask at all times while on the Acute Oncology wing of 1A, for protection of the patients. In order to reduce the spread of communicable diseases, we encourage everyone to follow proper hand hygiene techniques.

Thank you for your commitment to keeping our patients, staff and Hospital safe. If you have any questions, please ask your manager or reach out to IPAC (684-6094) for further details on best practices.

This month’s focus is on reinforcing our Least Restraint Philosophy and supporting safe, appropriate restraint use in practice.

Restraint alternatives should always be attempted, when safe to do so, prior to the use of restraints. This approach supports patient safety, dignity, and aligns with best practice expectations. Teams are encouraged to prioritize early intervention, de-escalation, and the use of environmental and care-based alternatives. As part of this month’s focus, we encourage leaders to facilitate conversations around clinical decision-making, appropriate use of restraints, and strategies to safely reduce reliance on restraint use. 

Please note that Nursing Practice Leaders will be conducting roaming education throughout the month.

Good Catch Awards highlight individuals, groups or departments who demonstrate their commitment to keeping patients safe by reporting a near miss. A ‘good catch’ (or near miss) is an event or situation that could have resulted in harm, but did not reach the patient because of chance or timely intervention. Reporting these events can help to identify gaps in order to prevent future adverse events from happening.

While working in the ED,nurse Alyssa prepared medication for her patient as ordered.  She hung Piptaz at the bedside, connected a line to the patient’s IV saline lock, verified the patient’s wristband for ID and allergies, and confirmed that the patient did in fact have an allergy to the medication. Upon this discovery, she did not administer the medication and immediately disconnected the line. She cleansed the port, reconnected Ringer’s Lactate, and notified the resident and ED physician of the noted allergy. Great catch!

Devan, a Nuclear Medicine Technologist, was prepping a patient for her gastric emptying study.  He had just taken the patient’s blood sugar when suddenly the patient stated that she thought she was going to faint and within seconds, slumped over in the chair.  Devan and the patient’s mother caught the patient and held her upright in the chair to maintain a clear airway for the duration of the episode. After the patient regained consciousness within 20 seconds with no apparent ill effects, Devan continued to monitor her throughout the next several hours with no further concerns or issues. Well done!

2C Nurse Camryn was working with a patient who was to be transferred to UHN the following day for a coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). When she called ORNGE to find out the flight information, ORNGE had no patient transfer information for this specific patient and no flight plans had been made.  The patient’s most recent Provincial Transfer Authorization had expired and without it, there would be a delay in transferring the patient. Camryn submitted a new authorization request after the cut-off time for next-day transfers but explained the urgency of transferring this patient to prevent a delay in the scheduled CABG procedure.  The next morning the patient was picked up by ORNGE and travelled to Toronto for his procedure. Excellent work!

Thank you to all for your diligence and dedication to safety!  Each recipient has been awarded a certificate and gift cards to a local business to enjoy.

New winners will be selected every quarter. Continue submitting your near misses for a chance to win! Near miss reports are submitted through the Incident Learning System (patient safety incidents). Click on the ‘safety reporting’ icon from your Novell home page, or go to the iNtranet and choose ‘Safety Reporting’ under ‘Informational’.

For more information, contact Terry Fodë, Patient Safety Specialist (terry.fode@tbh.net).

Clinical placements play a vital role in a health care learner’s journey, bridging academic learning with real-world practice and helping students build confidence, competence, and professional identity. Through hands-on experience, learners develop essential clinical skills, teamwork, and an understanding of patient-centred care.

As an academic health sciences centre, our Hospital is proud to support learners by providing a safe, supportive, and enriching placement environment where future professionals can learn, grow, and contribute meaningfully to patient care.

We want you to meet some of the learners at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) who are currently on that journey — such as Emma Starr.

What does an average day during your placement look like?

An average day during my placement involves reviewing my caseload and prioritizing which patients to see, attending rounds, completing assessments independently and alongside my preceptor, discussing intervention plans, and completing documentation and charting.

Is there a mentor or faculty member who has significantly impacted you?

Absolutely — Lindsay Johnson, my preceptor. She is incredibly supportive, reassuring, and consistently provides thoughtful, meaningful feedback that has helped build my confidence and skills.

What is one interesting fact others might not know about you?

Before entering this field, I worked in tourism as a wild dolphin educator on an island in Australia.

Shared on behalf of Jeannine Verdenik, VP People & Culture and Justin Garofalo, VP Facilities, Capital  Planning, Support Services & CFO

---

Parking lots can provide opportunity for safety risks such as slips, falls and personal security concerns. On behalf of the Joint Health and Safety Committee, we would like to remind all employees to prioritize personal safety when walking to and from parking areas, especially during early morning or late evening hours. 

Here are a few safety practices to keep in mind:

• If you ever feel unsafe, please contact Security for assistance by using the emergency blue pole in the parking lot or calling 807-684-6509.
• Avoid walking to and from the parking lots alone. Whenever possible, leave with a co-worker or group of staff or request a Security escort.
• Do not leave your vehicle running or unlocked. A previous incident involved someone approaching cars that were running.
• Stay alert and aware of your surroundings. Avoid distractions such as using your phone while walking.
• If you have a personal alarm – don’t hesitate to use it.
• Report any suspicious behavior immediately to Security at 807-684-6509. Consider saving this number in your personal device.
• In cases of imminent danger – call 911.Your safety and well-being is important and we want you to feel supported.

By following these practices, we can reduce risks and ensure a safer environment for everyone.

If you have any concerns or would like to report a situation please contact Occupational Health and Safety 807-684-6240, or speak to any member of the Joint Health and Safety Committee.

Congratulations to Brittany Muldoon, our Regional Central Intake Administrator Lead for Regional Surgical Services. She is the winner of Week 4’s Accreditation Trivia.  Brittany will be able to enjoy some Eat Local Pizza with her $25 gift card.

Keep an eye on iNformed for the weekly Accreditation Trivia question for your chance to win.

Accreditation Trivia – Previous Questions and Answers

Week 1 Question: What are the four pillars of the Strategic Plan?
Answer: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Patient Experience; Staff Experience; Research, Innovation and Learning

Week 2 Question: How do you report a patient safety incident or near miss?
Answer: Patient Safety Reporting console (Incident Learning System [ILS])

Week 3 Question:How do you report workplace violence?
Answer:If an employee is harmed, Employee Incident Reporting System (OH&S Incident System) (part of the Incident Learning System [ILS])If a patient is harmed, Patient Safety Reporting console (also part of the Incident Learning System [ILS])And always report to your supervisor.Answer: All of the above. 

Week 4 Question: Can you identify the correct sequence for the 4 moments of hand hygiene?
Answer: Before initial patient/ patient environment contact; Before aseptic procedure; After body fluid exposure risk; After patient/patient environment contact.

For more information& resources visit the Accreditation 2026 iNtranetpage – https://informed.tbrhsc.net/corporate-info/accreditation-2026

Shared on behalf of Rachael Shaffer, Interim Director, Nursing and Health Professions

---

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Preceptor Recognition Program, a new initiative aimed at celebrating and supporting the critical role preceptors’ play across Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC).

Preceptors are essential to the onboarding of new staff and the supervision of students, providing guidance, feedback, and role modeling that support a safe and confident transition into practice. Their contributions directly influence staff development, recruitment, and retention, as well as the overall quality of patient care.

Over the coming months, a series of recognition initiatives will provide opportunities for learners, peers, and leaders to acknowledge the valuable contributions of preceptors across the organization:

Coffee-Gram Recognition

Coffee-grams will be available to gift to preceptors as a small token of appreciation for their ongoing contributions to a positive teaching and learning environment.

Preceptor of the Month

To formally recognize preceptors who demonstrate exceptional dedication to teaching and supporting others, preceptors may be nominated by their peers and an award winner will be highlighted monthly. Winners will be entered into a prize draw during Preceptor Appreciation Week, and all nominees will also be entered into a separate prize draw in recognition of their contributions.

Preceptor “Thumbs Up” Page

A dedicated space on the iNtranet where staff can share quick messages of appreciation, highlighting the everyday impact of preceptors across the organization.

Preceptor Appreciation Week

From September 14 to 18, 2026, TBRHSC will celebrate Preceptor Appreciation Week with a series of activities recognizing staff who contribute to preceptorship throughout the year. The week will include opportunities for celebration, peer recognition, prizes, and preceptor education, reinforcing the importance of fostering a strong culture of teaching and learning across the organization.

This program was developed in response to staff feedback identifying recognition as key factors influencing engagement in the preceptor role. By recognizing and celebrating preceptors, we aim to foster a culture of mentorship, strengthen onboarding experiences, and support high-quality patient care.

We encourage all staff to take part in recognizing the preceptors who support learning and growth within our organization.

If you have any questions or would like to participate, please contact: Brittney McLaughlin – Brittney.McLaughlin@tbh.net or Kaleigh Stezenko – Kaleigh.Stezenko@tbh.net