Administrative Professionals Day (April 22) recognizes and celebrates the work of executive assistants, administrative assistants, clerks and other office professionals for their contributions to the workplace.
We’re calling on all administrative professionals in the Hospital and Health Research Institute to submit a high resolutionphoto of you or your team to TBRHSC.GroupNews@tbh.net by Tuesday, April 21at 4:00 p.m. These photos will be shared on the Daily Informed Newsletter and the Hospital’s socials to help celebrate this year’s edition of Administrative Professionals Day. Please include a caption with your name(s), title(s) and department.
This April marks one year since the launch of the Bridge Northwest Program — a significant milestone in our shared journey to bring Meditech Expanse to Partner Organizations across Northwestern Ontario.
Since our regional kickoff in April 2025, the Program has steadily progressed from a planning and design stage into the system build – which is underway across all Expanse modules with hundreds of dictionaries and thousands of individual pieces of clinical content being reviewed.
A Regional Effort
At the center of all this work are the people making it possible. Our Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), working group members, and local teams continue to be the driving force behind this transformation. Representing every organization, discipline, and care setting, they bring invaluable knowledge, experience, and perspective to ensure that what we are building reflects the realities of healthcare across Northwestern Ontario. Their contributions — alongside the engagement of front-line staff, professional staff, and leaders — are what make this a truly regional effort.
Participation by the Numbers
850+ individuals from the 12 Partnering Organizations have been involved to date – including 80+ professional staff and 100+ executives.
40+ Working Groups & governing bodies are currently standing.
250+ Events /Meetings have been attended by Bridge Northwest’s Change Management Team.
Technical Readiness
Device selections and infrastructure walkthroughs were completed across the 12 Partner Organization’s hospitals and care facilities.
These sessions brought Bridge Northwest teams directly into care environments to engage with frontline staff, professional staff, and leaders. By walking through real workflows and care spaces together, teams gathered practical insights that are shaping how devices will support care delivery in a way that is efficient in day-to-day realities.
5000+ device items are being ordered and configured over the summer.
Deployment of devices will begin later this Fall.
Keeping Momentum
As we mark this one-year milestone, we can also think about the year ahead of us. In the coming months, the Program will be focused on completing the system build, and carrying out testing, training, and preparation activities for Go-Live.
Together, we’ve built strong momentum in our first year. Together, we will continue building a connected future for care across Northwestern Ontario.
The RNAO Lakehead Chapter is hosting an in-person and collaborative Best Practice Champion workshop for all nurses, nursing students, and other health care professionals in Region 12, who want to drive evidence-based practice, improve patient outcomes and foster a culture of excellence in their organization.
Staff and students from Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre are encouraged to register for the workshop and become Best Practice Champions.
Event details:
FREE registration
Lunch and refreshments provided
Who: Open to all health care staff and students in Region 12
What: In person & collaborative Best Practice Champion workshop
Where: St. Joseph’s Heritage Building, Georgian Room (113), 63 Carrie St. Thunder Bay, Ontario.
When: April 27, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Why: Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not. – The Lorax
Please note: To register, participants will have to log in/create a free myRNAO account. Participants will receive a certificate of completion, and there are additional free education/professional development opportunities.
On April 13, we welcomed NOSM University’s fourth-year medical students to Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC).
Over the coming year, Hospital staff may see — and even have the opportunity to work alongside — the next generation of physicians. These students can be identified by their red lanyards.
Throughout the year, our fourth-year medical students will complete six core rotations: Psychiatry, Paediatrics, Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Emergency Medicine, and Obstetrics & Gynecology. In addition, they will undertake five elective rotations in areas of their choosing, allowing them to explore potential specialties.
We’re excited to have them join our team and contribute to the learning environment at TBRHSC. A sincere thank you to all staff who support their education. We truly couldn’t be a teaching hospital without your dedication.
Please join us in welcoming them and supporting them throughout this exciting journey!
Bottom row (L-R): Zach (NP), Brad (RN – 3A), Kailen (RN – ICU), Gareth (RN – PACU), Alex (RN – Renal) Top row (L-R): Justin (Paramedic), Chandler (RN – ICU), Adam (PT), Nick (MRT), Kyle (PT), Landen (PT), Jamie (Orthopedic Technician), Ben (RN – 3A) Coach: Vanessa (PT)
This past weekend in Thunder Bay, a multidisciplinary team from Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre hit the ice for the 2026 Woodlands Hockey League Tournament.
Led by Coach Vanessa, the “Medical Mighty Ducks” skated their way all the way to the finals. While they came up just short, bringing home silver, their teamwork, dedication, and camaraderie made the experience truly unforgettable.
The PALS Provider Renewal course is a fast-paced course. It is designed for proficient PALS providers who regularly direct or participate in the management of cardiopulmonary arrest or other cardiovascular emergencies in critically ill or injured children and who holds a current PALS Provider certificate. This course assumes a comprehensive awareness, knowledge and skill proficiency in PALS concepts, and is best suited for providers who use these skills frequently and therefore require limited practice to be successful.
Learners will practice and apply their knowledge to case scenarios applying the proven systematic approach to pediatric assessment, treatment algorithms and coordinated high-performance team dynamics, in both team leader and team member roles.
Join us in celebrating Medical Laboratory Week (April 12-18).
Medical laboratory professionals at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) work tirelessly to support our Hospital’s programs and services by providing quality results for timely diagnosis and treatment. Caring for patients and families of Northwestern Ontario is their number one priority. This team is comprised of Pathologists, Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs – regulated), Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLAs – includes Phlebotomists), Diagnostic Cytotechnologists (DCTs), Pathologist’s Assistants (PAs), leadership staff and clerical staff. All play a vital role in patient care.
Did you Know?
Diagnosis and treatment decisions are based on laboratory results.
TBRHSC’s Lab performs 7,300 tests per day.
TBRHSC has approximately 170 laboratory staff.
TBRHSC’s Lab has over 3,000 individual document-controlled policies and procedures.
TBRHSC’s Lab has 10 major department specializations:
Biochemistry (Clinical Chemistry): Large array of tests involving the measurement of chemical constituents in blood and body fluids to evaluate organ function, toxicology, therapeutic drug monitoring, and to detect chemicals, endocrinology and other special tests.
Haematology: Study of cells e.g. red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets as well as bleeding disorders/coagulation.
Flow Cytometry: The study of bone marrows, lymph node/tissue specimens for lymphoma and leukemia.
Transfusion Services: The testing for blood types, antibody detection, and compatibility testing (perinatal/neonatal and blood components). Also called Immunohaematology or Blood Banking.
Microbiology: The study of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites.
Histology: The preparation and study of tissue specimens.
Cytology: The study of ‘free’ cells, their origin, structure, function, and pathology.
Point of Care Testing (POCT): Oversight of bedside testing i.e., glucometer, etc.
Specimen Procurement & Dispatch: Blood collection and reference testing.
Quality & Safety: Licensing, accreditation, Biosecurity Containment Level II (Biosafety) classification, etc.
Accreditation Canada surveyors will be visiting Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre from May 11-14, 2026 to assess how well we are providing safe and effective care that aligns with national standards.
What does it mean to me?
Accreditation involves everyone at TBRHSC. We all play a role in delivering the highest standards of care to our patients, and families — each and every day.
Accreditation Canada surveyors will be visiting Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre from May 11-14, 2026 to assess how well we are providing safe and effective care that aligns with national standards.
What Does it Mean to Me?
Accreditation involves everyone at TBRHSC. We all play a role in delivering the highest standards of care to our patients, and families — each and every day.
