March is Kidney Health Month, and we want to raise awareness about kidney disease and its impact on the people of Northwestern Ontario. Throughout the month, we will be featuring members of the Renal Team, and highlight the incredible care they provide for renal patients across our region.

For more information on Renal Services at TBRHSC, and to view educational videos for renal patients and their families, please visit https://tbrhsc.net/programs-services/renal-services/.

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Hemodialysis Satellite Units (Sioux Lookout & Fort Frances)

“The satellite units in Sioux Lookout and Fort Frances support patients from Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s Renal program who would like to receive treatment and care closer to their home communities – many of these patients coming from the far north.

The Renal team in the Sioux Lookout and Fort Frances units consist of registered nurses who independently perform all aspects of daily dialysis functions. These include set up and take down of the dialysis machines, troubleshooting the reverse osmosis machine, and organizing/scheduling specialty appointments in other cities with corresponding travel. Ongoing medical care is provided on a rotating basis by Thunder Bay Nephrology, with monthly physician visits. In addition, support is also provided mainly via phone by social work (Laurenne), Renal Pharmacy (Matthew), and dietician (Liz).”

– The Hemodialysis Satellite Unit Staff

“As a Social Worker within Renal care, I am proud to be part of a compassionate, multi-disciplinary team dedicated to supporting both patients and their loved ones through the challenges of chronic illness, including the need for travel or relocation for life-sustaining care. Through our satellite units in Fort Frances and Sioux Lookout, we provide tailored support that meets each patient’s unique needs, offering advocacy, case management, and other vital services to ensure their well-being”.

– Laurenne Stuart, MSW with Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Renal Satellite Units and Home Dialysis Program

Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS) Residency Match Day 2025 is finally here!

Today, the 29 NOSM University (West campus) medical students, along with medical students across the country, have discovered where they will begin their journey as residents. Match Day happens in the final year of medical school, where the students go through an intense application and interview process leading up to Match Day.

Congratulations to these hard working medical students, for their dedication, and commitment to health care!

There is a new space for staff designed to help you recharge, relax, and prioritize your well-being. Located on the 1st floor (Room 1007), the Wellness Room is perfect for a quick break, some peace and quiet, or a moment of mindfulness.

What’s Inside

• Comfortable seating for relaxation (try the massage chair!)
• Soft lighting to create a calming atmosphere
• Meditation and mindfulness resources (sound machine) to ease your mind
• Quiet space for focus and reflection
• Ample space to stretch out on a yoga mat
• Other hands on activities to promote relaxation including adult coloring, knitting, and crocheting

Why You Should Visit

• Reduce stress
• Boost your energy and focus
• Enhance mental clarity
• Prioritize your health and wellbeing in a peaceful environment
• Recharge your mind and body

Congratulations to the March 3rd Daily Trivia winners for this year’s Employee Recognition Week (ERW).

Hospital and Health Research Institute employees are able to participate in our ERW Daily Trivia every day until March 6th. Prize draws will be held daily, and the winners will be announced on the Daily Informed Newsletter and on the Hospital’s socials.

🏆 Gift Voucher for one Hour Self Defense Workshop, (Christina – Housekeeping). Donated by BJJFOUR Life.
🏆 $50 Amazon gift card and prize bundle, (Tessa Prouty). Donated by Brokerlink Insurance.
🏆 $100 President’s Choice gift card, (Kimberly Kostyshyn). Donated by The Co-Operators Group Auto and Home Insurance.
🏆 iPad, (Reann Devuono). Donated by ACO as part of the TBRHSC Employee Purchase Program for Computers and Electronics.
🏆 $25 Pizza Hut gift card, (Jasmine – Base Hospital). Donated by Pizza Hut.
🏆 $25 Pizza Hut gift card, (Carly Della Vedova). Donated by Pizza Hut.
🏆 Six Months Free Parking at TBRHSC, (Lesley Armstrong).
🏆 $25 Pre-Paid Mastercard gift card, (Michelle – Laboratory).
🏆 $25 Pre-Paid Mastercard gift card, (Jessie – Laboratory).
🏆 $50 Fresh Air gift card, (Andrea – Nuclear Medicine).
🏆 $50 Presidents Choice gift card, (Kayla – Hemodialysis).
🏆 $50 Presidents Choice gift card, (Saird Ezack).
🏆 $50 Presidents Choice gift card, (Eva – Laundry).
🏆 $50 Presidents Choice gift cards, (Sangita Gyawali).
🏆 $50 Presidents Choice gift cards, (Catherine O’Neill).
🏆 $50 Waterfront District gift card, (Marla – Post Anesth Recovery Unit).
🏆 $25 Bay Village Coffee gift card, (Yolanda MacKinnon).
🏆 $25 Bay Village Coffee gift card, (Alex – Assertive Community Treatment).
🏆 $25 Pizza Hut gift card, (Belinda – Paediatric Outpatient Clinic).
🏆 $25 Pizza Hut gift card, (Meagan McIlwain).
🏆 $25 Pizza Hut gift card, (Kelsey – 2C Cardiology-Medical Inpatient Unit).
🏆 $50 Cheese Encounter gift card, (Taylor Basaraba).
🏆 $50 Gear Up for Outdoors gift card, (Barbara Kellar).

Every day, social workers help Ontarians open doors to greater mental well-being, safety and stability.

The 2025 theme, wherever you are, #SoAreWe, highlights that Social Workers are here for Ontarians in everyday places, on their toughest days, in small towns, big cities, and everywhere in between. 

Social workers help create new and empowering pathways and opportunities for the people they support in many ways. From providing direct mental health services to helping people navigate complex systems and challenges and connecting people with the right support, social workers make a difference when it’s needed most.

Join us in celebrating the many ways social workers open doors to health, mental health and wellness for people across Ontario.

Happy Social Work Week to all the social workers at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre who support hundreds of patients each year.

Celebrated each March, Pharmacy Appreciation Month is a time to highlight the growing role pharmacy professionals play in our health care system and thank them for their extraordinary efforts.

When most people think of pharmacies, they think of going to the drug store to fill a prescription and talking to a pharmacist for advice. The Pharmacy Departments at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) provide a much different service. The Main Inpatient Pharmacy provides all medications to patients in the Hospital through our dedicated Pharmacy Technician team. The pharmacists can be found in the patient care areas working with patients, families, prescribers and nurses to ensure the most appropriate medications are used to improve the health of patients. The Cancer Centre Pharmacy team ensures that cancer patients receive safe and effective chemotherapy while the Specialty Pharmacy provides supportive medications and oral chemotherapy to Thunder Bay and the region.

As part of an interprofessional team, the Department of Pharmacy provides services in four general areas:

• Pharmacy Services for Inpatients
• Chemotherapy Preparation
• Specialized Retail Pharmacy
• Regional Pharmacy Program

The Department of Pharmacy provides timely, quality pharmaceutical and consultation services – an important element of excellent Patient and Family Centred Care.

Pharmacy professionals in our Hospital work tirelessly to ensure that patients receive the best possible care and their contributions have been remarkable. Join us in celebrating our Hospital’s amazing pharmacy team during Pharmacy Appreciation Month!

Our Hospital is currently recruiting for a number of pharmacy positions. To learn more and apply, please visit https://jobs.tbrhsc.net.

Nutrition Month is 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 and Flourish, emphasizes the profound connections between food and overall well-being, highlighting 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. The Thunder Bay District Health Unit also has information, including resources for recipe sharing, stretching your food dollar and more.

Throughout the month, we will highlight the various professions in our Nutrition and Food Services department, showcasing the expertise and dedication of those who contribute to the well-being of our patients.

Employee Recognition Week is dedicated to celebrating the people – medical staff, employees, teams, volunteers, and Patient Family Advisors – who are making a difference for patients and families in Northwestern Ontario through their outstanding service and dedication to providing exceptional care.

From February 28 to March 7, staff are encouraged to visit the Corporate Intranet, read the Daily Informed Newsletter and check our socials to learn more about special Employee Recognition Week prize draws, daily trivia, and more! Check out the Human Resources iNtranet page for more information.

Shared on behalf of Infection Prevention and Control

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An enteric outbreak has been declared on Forensics unit as of March 02, 2025.

All restrictions are in place.
Outbreak # 2262-2025-00026

Please share this information with the appropriate staff.

As always, our number one priority is the safety of patients and their families, staff and visitors. All patients identified as having an exposure to this outbreak will require isolation with appropriate additional precautions.

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.

For more information, contact:

Infection Prevention and Control
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
684-6094