Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) offers Patient Oriented Education Tools (POETs) for all patients at our hospital to support their transition from the hospital setting to home and the community. POETs are diagnosis-specific education tools designed to assist patients in identifying next steps when managing symptoms for their condition.
In collaboration with staff, physicians and Patient Family Advisors, the Patient Family Centered Care team has created 82 POETs to date, with the newest POETs focusing on Opioid Use Disorder and Problematic Alcohol Use and Alcohol Use Disorder. POETs also include important information about expected lifestyle changes and contact information for patients who require further assistance with their care.
Opioid Use Disorder POETs
Problematic Alcohol Use and Alcohol Use Disorder POETs
As patient education materials, POETs are available from the Print Shop and must be printed in color to promote a person-centred educational format. To find a complete list of the POETs available at TBRHSC, please go to Departments >> PFCC >> Resources on the intranet.
For more information about POETs, please contact Shannon Schiffer, PFCC Manager at ext. 6345, or Joanita Nakimuli, Discharge Transition Lead at ext. 4379
Photo (L-R): TBRHSC Child Life Specialists Bryn Roberts, Kendra Ryan and Zoe Arsenault. Not pictured: Abbey Meloche, Child Life Specialist
This month, we recognize the role of Child Life Specialists at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC). These paediatric health care professionals work with children and families to help them cope with the challenges of hospitalization, illness, and disability. They provide children with age-appropriate preparation for medical procedures, pain management and coping strategies, and play and self-expression activities. They also provide information, support, and guidance to parents, siblings, and other family members.
Join us in showing appreciation to the Child Life Specialists at TBRHSC today.
March is Nutrition Month — dedicated to the significance of nutrition and health. It seeks to educate individuals about the importance of making informed food choices, developing consistent eating habits, and undertaking regular physical activity.
The theme for the month — Nourish to Flourish — focuses on the profound connections between food and overall well-being, emphasizing the transformative role of nutrition in our lives.
Make the most of Nutrition Month by following the recommendations in Canada’s Food Guide, such as planning meals, cooking more often and involving your kids in the kitchen. Include physical activity along with your nutritious eating habits, helping you achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. You can also subscribe to Canada’s Food Guide updates for health information and recipes to unlock the potential of food throughout the year.
Stay tuned! Later this month, we will highlight our team of Dietitians who support hundreds of patients and families each year.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit also has information including resources on how we can build positive, supportive relationships with food – for ourselves and for others. Click here to learn more!
Shared on behalf of Michelle Addison, Director, Chief of Staff’s Office
We are pleased to announce that Kristin Spafford has accepted the Clinical Lead position in the Chief of Staff’s Office, effective March 9, 2026. She brings extensive clinical expertise, educational leadership and a passion for advancing quality collaborative care.
Kristin graduated as a Medical Radiation Technologist (MRT) from Confederation College in 2015 and completed an Honours Bachelor of Allied Health Sciences from Ontario Tech University in 2025. She has worked at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre as a Medical Radiation Technologist for the past nine years, and prior to that worked as an MRT in the private sector. In 2017 Kristin became a Professor in the Medical Radiation Technology program at Confederation College, involved in teaching, developing curriculum and contributing to accreditation processes.
In her free time, Kristin enjoys watching sporting events with her husband, reading, walking her dog, gardening, and attending concerts. Please join us in welcoming Kristin to the role.
Join fellow health care workers across Ontario for the Your Health Space e-Learning Series – a hybrid learning experience tailored to the needs and experiences of health care staff.
Learn more about YHS e-Learning through this 1-minute video.
Effective March 10, 2026, Turtle (I) Lot will have an additional 36 temporary parking spaces available for staff use until further notice. These additional spaces are accessible through the Turtle (I) Lot and located near the pedestrian path accessing the Hospital (G staff entrance). Drivers will enter via single-lane entrance and cross the designated pedestrian path.
As a reminder, drivers and pedestrians are to exercise diligence, caution, practice situational awareness, and abide by posted signage.
These temporary parking spaces are available for use over the next few months as site options are explored. Availability is subject to change upon future communication.
Thank you for your continued understanding as we transform our campus to enhance our exceptional services for NW Ontario!
Please be advised, we have revised the Hospital’s policy QM-60 Incident Learning System (ILS) Reporting, Investigation and Trending of Incidents and Near Misses.
Actions Required
Managers – Review this memo and the attached poster with your staff during Safety/Quality Huddles and post in your department. The updated policy will be circulated once approved.
Key Policy Changes
Purpose Change: Detail added to principles of a ‘Just Culture’.
Policy Statement Change: Clarification that incidents involve patients and visitors.
Scope Change: Categories updated.
New Definitions Added:
After hours: 1600 – 0800 hours Monday to Friday; 24 hours on weekends and recognized holidays.
Incident Triage Team (ITT): A group of leadership who will meet within 48-72 hours of a critical incident to determine if a Quality of Care (QOC) Review is required, and if so, what type of review.
Procedural Updates:
Procedure 5.2 updated: To clarify who staff should contact when incident occurs.
Procedure 5.3 updated: To add references to new appendices and to ILS downtime procedure.
Procedure 5.6: Explanation of incident classifications.
Last week, we celebrated Employee Recognition Week, a special time to honour the dedication and compassion demonstrated every day by the staff at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute. Your commitment to our patients and their families is what sets us apart and enables us to deliver exceptional care across Northwestern Ontario.
Thank you for the dedication you show throughout the year. We hope you enjoyed the week’s activities and the opportunity to spend time with colleagues. Please know how much each and every one of you is appreciated, not only during this special week, but every day.
International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognize the incredible achievements of women and girls while acknowledging the ongoing work needed to achieve true equality among all genders. This year’s theme #GivetoGain focuses on giving support to gain advancement for women and girls. As individuals, giving support means calling out stereotypes, challenging discrimination, questioning bias, celebrating women’s success, and more. Sharing our knowledge and encouragement with others is also key.
As health care workers, we can further our commitment by educating ourselves about the uniquehealth needs of women. It is essential to recognize that a gender health gap remains, causing disparities in health outcomes and access to health care between genders.
Today and every day, we celebrate the remarkable women at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute.
Together, let’s work towards gender equality and a brighter future for all.
The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) has been used to screen for colon cancer in Ontario since 2018. It is a test that effectively detects microscopic amounts of blood in the stool.
It’s not a conversation most people want to have: stool samples and cancer. But when it comes to colon cancer, avoiding the conversation can be far more uncomfortable than having it.
Colon cancer often develops without symptoms, which is why regular screening is one of the most effective ways to catch the disease early. In many cases, the first warning sign is something only a stool test can detect. When detected and treated early, 9 out of 10 people with colon cancer can be cured. Yet in Northwestern Ontario, 42 per cent of eligible adults are overdue for screening.
“For most people between the ages of 50 and 74 who are at average risk and have no family history of colon cancer, screening starts with a simple test you can do at home every two years,” says Dr. Nicole Zavagnin, Regional Primary Care Lead for Ontario Health – Cancer Care Ontario at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. “The fecal immunochemical test, or FIT, looks for tiny amounts of blood in the stool that aren’t visible to the eye and can be an early warning sign of cancer.”
One common myth that prevents people from getting screened is the belief that the test is invasive. “A FIT is not a colonoscopy,” explains Dr. Zavagnin. “It’s a simple at-home test that involves collecting a small sample of stool and does not require a hospital visit, sedation, or time off work. If you have a family history of colon cancer, it’s important to talk with your healthcare provider about the screening option that’s right for you. When a FIT result is abnormal, a colonoscopy is the important next step to find the cause.”
Another myth about cancer screening is that if someone feels healthy, they don’t need to get tested. In reality, screening is designed for people who feel well, before symptoms appear or illness develops.
“Screening is a proactive step you can take while you’re feeling healthy,” says Dr. Zavagnin. “It gives us the best chance to find cancer early, when treatment is less complex and outcomes are significantly better.”
This Colon Cancer Awareness Month, ask your healthcare provider if you are due for screening. People without a healthcare provider can get a FIT from the Screen for Life Coach (807-684-7777) or by calling Health811. The test is quick, private, and covered by OHIP for eligible individuals.
Talking about colon cancer screening might feel uncomfortable at first, but it can be one of the most important conversations you have.
