Cardiovascular Perfusionists work with cardiac surgeons and anesthesiologists as part of the interprofessional operating room team. Their primary role is to conduct cardiopulmonary bypass using a heart-lung machine and other ancillary equipment in the cardiac operating room.

As part of the implementation of the Cardiovascular Surgical Program, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) is excited to be seeking Expressions of Interest from employees interested in pursuing a career as a Cardiovascular Perfusionist.

TBRHSC will sponsor one (1) employee to enrol in the Michener Institute of Education at UHN Cardiovascular Perfusionist Program in downtown Toronto for the 2025 cohort.

Candidates will have demonstrated adherence to the Hospital’s Code of Conduct. Regular attendance at work is imperative; therefore, all applicants will have to demonstrate a good attendance record to be considered for this opportunity.

Applications for enrolment at Michener are due February 1, 2025 with classes commencing late August 2025.  

Interested applicants can submit a resume indicating that they meet the eligibility requirements for admission and a cover letter outlining their interest in this training opportunity and a career as a Perfusionist. 

In order to meet enrolment application deadlines, Expressions of Interest are to be submitted to the Human Resources Department no later than October 30, 2024. Internal applicants may apply to this expression of interest via the job-posting page on the iNtranet.

For more information about the Michener program, Perfusionist job prospects at TBRHSC or this funding opportunity please contact: Amy Carr at Amy.Carr@tbh.net or Wayne Taylor at Wayne.Taylor@tbh.net

Other resources:

• The Michener Institute of Education at UHN
• The Canadian Society of Clinical Perfusion

TBRHSC will offer a comprehensive tuition and compensation package. Candidates will be required to meet the following eligibility criteria for enrolment:

• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) or Registered Nurse (RN)
• Bachelor’s Degree minimum  CGPA 75%
• Minimum one year of critical care experience within last 5 years

Virtual information sessions will be held on the following dates:

• October 28^th 2024 at 12:30 PM

Via the following link: https://thunderbayhospitals.webex.com/meet/siverlo

Shared on behalf of the Occupational Health and Safety Department

---

In alignment with the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), the Ministry of Health is recommending vaccination with an updated COVID-19 vaccine this fall, to better protect against the currently circulating variants. COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be very effective at preventing severe disease, including hospitalization and death due to COVID-19 and can decrease the risk of post-COVID-19 condition.

The Occupational Health and Safety department is pleased to be offering the Pfizer KP.2 vaccine to all staff, professional staff and volunteers of TBRHSC by appointment only.

The COVID-19 vaccine clinic will be held every Friday starting October 18 to November 29, 2024.

Hours of operation are:  0800-1600hrs.

Appointments can be booked by calling the OHS department at 684-6212.

To be eligible for the vaccine, you must be a health care worker 18 yrs of age and 6 months (168 days) since your last COVID-19 vaccine dose. 

Can I receive the vaccination after having COVID-19?

It’s safe to receive a COVID-19 vaccine following infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. Vaccination is very important, even if you’ve had COVID-19. While infection alone provides some protection, vaccination after infection:

• helps improve the immune response
• provides better and longer-lasting protection

Evidence indicates that waiting a period of time after infection with the COVID-19 virus before getting the COVID-19 vaccine can help improve the immune response.

Staff must bring a piece of government issued Identification in order to obtain the vaccine.  Your Health Card or Driver’s License is acceptable.

Shared on behalf of Jennifer Wintermans, VP, Clinical Services, Quality and Corporate Affairs

---

I am pleased to announce Tessa Prouty as the new Executive Assistant to the Clinical Services, Quality and Corporate Affairs Portfolio, effective November 4, 2024.

Tessa has been with Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre since 2022, having worked in the Maternity Centre, and most recently in Health Records.

Tessa has a diploma in Office Administration from Confederation College, and holds a certificate in medical terminology. Through her role in Health Records, Tessa has developed strong communication and interpersonal skills, is detailed focus, and a team player that looks for new ways to make improvements and lend support. Building on her education and experience, we are thrilled that she has accepted the position to support this dynamic and multifaceted portfolio.

Tessa will be located in the Administration Suite, 3^rd level and can be reached at 807-684-6018 or Tessa.Prouty@tbh.net  

Please join me in congratulating and welcoming Tessa into her new role.

“Exciting” CANCARE NWO Opens Up Research to All Healthcare Professionals and Educators in the Region

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation has funded cancer research in Northwestern Ontario since the early days of the Northern Cancer Research Fund (NCRF) 30 years ago. Today, cancer diagnosis and treatment has improved immeasurably thanks to research breakthroughs. Most importantly, more people are living with cancer rather than dying from it. That’s thanks in part to the Foundation’s generous donors who have supported local cancer research all these years.

That legacy lives on through the Cancer Therapeutic and Diagnostic Research Northwestern Ontario research collaborative, or CANCARE NWO. The Health Sciences Foundation provided funding to this important – and exciting – research initiative.

“CANCARE NWO is a group that combines physicians and scientists,” said Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim, a medical oncologist at the Cancer Centre and the group’s founder. “It’s a platform for conducting cancer research in all its types including clinical and pre-clinical (lab) research. It’s the first group of its kind in Northwestern Ontario.”

Many physicians and other healthcare professionals have research ideas. However, the steps required to set up a research project including finding grants, applying for research approvals, securing lab equipment and resources, and simple paperwork are not single-person tasks.

CANCARE NWO makes it easier. One full-time research assistant, sponsored by the Health Sciences Foundation, and support from Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute (TBRHRI) services can help with all these steps and more. Plus, having the name of a research group behind you can open doors because it lends automatic credibility to the researcher that they may not have on their own.

“This gives us more opportunity,” Dr. Ibrahim said. “Your voice rings louder as part of a group than as a single individual.”

CANCARE NWO is relatively new, formed earlier this year with like-minded clinicians and researchers, and is developing into a formal collective with a set direction and goals. Members of the group are affiliated with several institutions including the TBRHRI and the Regional Cancer Centre at the Hospital as well as Lakehead University and NOSM University. Further, the group has access to the research lab within the TBRHRI and other resources through affiliated institutions. It is open to clinicians, professors, and scientists in the region who want to do research. These studies should also offer opportunities for NWO residents to participate and will help support medical students and residents who are interested in basic science and clinical trial research.

CANCARE NWO will make it easier to collaborate with other cancer research centres as well, including participating in larger clinical trials or research projects. The idea comes from Dr. Ibrahim’s PhD work at Dublin City University in Ireland.

“My dream is to extend our research to international groups,” he said. “I also hope that in the very near future that we can set up a student exchange with Dublin City University and University College Dublin.”

A number of studies Dr. Ibrahim already has underway will fold into the program. The initial group of seven researchers, professors, and physicians is actively looking for other healthcare professionals who want to do research. A new CANCARE NWO website will be launching soon.

“We have the assets including lab access and administrative support,” Dr. Ibrahim said. “Everyone can come with their own research ideas.”

When we think of medical appointments, we often think of visiting a hospital or clinic. However, did you know, that you can have your cancer screening appointments done on a bus?

The Screen for Life Coach has changed the game for those living in Northwestern Ontario. The Coach gives you the opportunity to get screened for cancer close to home. With the goal of improving accessibility, the Coach travels throughout the region during the summer months stopping in communities along the way and spends the winter months parking in various locations around Thunder Bay.

What is the Screen for Life Coach?

The Coach is a mobile cancer screening service offering breast, cervical and colon cancer screening in one convenient location.

Who can make an appointment on the Screen for Life Coach?

There are three cancer screening programs available to residents in Ontario: breast, cervical and colon.

1. Breast screening: Most women, as well as Two-Spirit, trans and nonbinary people between 40 to 74 years of age should have a mammogram every two years. A mammogram is the recommended method for detecting breast cancer.
2. Cervical: Anyone with a cervix, ages 25 to 69 years, who has ever been sexually active, should complete a Pap test every three years to screen for cervical cancer.
3. Colon: Anyone ages 50 to 74 years with no family history of colon cancer should complete a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) kit every two years to screen for colon cancer.

Where does the Screen for Life Coach park?

Each year, the Coach parks in more than 75 different locations across Northwestern Ontario. From April to October, the Coach travels to communities between Manitouwadge and the Manitoba border. Throughout the winter months, the Coach parks in various locations around Thunder Bay. This winter, the Coach will be parked at the following locations:

• Fresh Co. on Court St.
• Safeway on Dawson Rd.
• Bulkzone on Frederica St.
• Arthur Street Marketplace
• Superstore
• Skaf’s Just Basics
• Northwood Plaza

And many more. The Coach schedule can be found at tbrhsc.net/screenforlife.

Who works on the Screen for Life Coach?

The staff on the Coach work in teams of two. There is one Medical Radiation Technologist (MRT) and one Registered Nurse (RN) who work together at the same time. The MRT perform the breast screening mammogram and the RN provides the cervical screening through a Pap test and also coordinates colon screening with a Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) kit requisition.

How can you make an appointment on the Coach?

If you are eligible for breast, cervical and colon cancer screening, you can book all three appointments back to back. It is a one-stop shop to get all your screening done at once. All appointments can be booked by calling (807) 684-7777. We have morning, afternoon, evening, and weekend appointment times available to best accommodate your schedule.

Link to register in attachment below.

For any questions, please reach out to Janet Sharun, Coordinator Transfusion Services at 807-684-6901.

We would like to extend a warm thank you to everyone who attended the inaugural Quality Huddle Excellence Awards on October 17, 2024. It was truly remarkable to see over 100 staff members from more than 30 departments come together to celebrate the various change ideas/quality improvement initiatives that have made a significant impact on Safety, Staff Experience, team work and collaboration, workflow improvement and promote Patient and Family Centred Care.

A special congratulations goes out to all of the award winners (below) who came forward to share their valuable change ideas. Each presentation highlighted innovative initiatives from these departments who implemented Quality Huddles in the year 2023.

• NICU: New sharps containers (Presenter: Ursula Cote)
• Cancer Centre: Keeping chemo doors unlocked (Presenter: Lori Hygaard)
• ICU: End-of-life tokens of love (Presenters: Edie Hart & Mike Heerema)
• MDRD: Third neuro instrument set (Presenter: Kelli-Lynn Stevenson)
• 1A Medicine/Oncology: Increased accessibility to interprofessional team (Presenter: Sam Ward)
• 1B Paediatrics: Paediatric-specific pantry items (Presenter: Amy Halvorsen)
• 1C Maternal/Newborn: Combined teaching record & PODS (Presenters: Kessa Iddison & Evie Aitken)
• Admitting: Shared screen bed management system (Presenter: Nancy Saxberg)
• PACU: Adding bay numbers to x-ray orders (Presenter: Lesley Lamers)
• Northwest Regional Renal Team: Revamping transplant work-ups (Presenter: Allyson Hoard-Mann)
• 3C Surgery/Neuro: Relocation of Omnicell Unit (Presenter: Shelley Morand)

Let’s continue to inspire each other with our ideas and carry this momentum into our everyday practices, always striving for improvement and better outcomes for our patients. We look forward to seeing you all again at a similar event next year to celebrate the various departments who implemented their Quality Huddles in the year 2024. If this applies to your department, start thinking about which ideas you want to highlight and stay tuned for more details!

Your feedback is important to us. If you attended this year’s event, please take a moment to complete the post-event survey by scanning the QR code or clicking on the link below. Thank you for your dedication to quality, safety, and providing exceptional patient care.

https://app.sli.do/event/hBjCsWmsqruhJgmDRZigPF

Quality Huddle Excellence Awards Team

Jennifer Wintermans, Vice President, Clinical Services, Quality and Corporate Affairs
Kristin Shields, Director, Quality and Risk Management
Tram Dao, Manager, Quality and Risk Management
Terry Fode, Patient Safety Improvement Specialist, Quality and Risk Management
SaravanaPriyan GatamaneniLoganathan, Quality Improvement Lead, Quality and Risk Management
Amanda Gerow, Performance Improvement Consultant

Each year, over 100,000 Canadians receive life-saving care in intensive care units, relying on the support and care of intensive care teams. This Canadian Intensive Care Week (October 21-26), we would like to celebrate and thank intensive care professionals nationwide, including the amazing ICU team at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, for everything they do to help patients and families in their most critical moments.

We recognize the exceptional work undertaken by the multidisciplinary team in our ICU, which includes physicians, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and critical care nurses. They work together to help patients recover from serious injury or illness. They see patients at a time when they are most vulnerable and provide essential care and life support with compassion and professionalism. Join us in thanking these healthcare professionals for everything they do!

For the month of October, our IT/IS team wants to highlight Cyber Security Awareness. The campaign aims to support staff with tools and knowledge on how to protect their digital assets, personal and work information, and online privacy. We’ll be posting information on cyber security every week along with a trivia question. Participants have a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift Card.

---

What is a Smart Home?

A smart home uses internet-connected devices to control things like:

• Lights
• Thermostats
• Door locks
• Security cameras
• Voice assistants

These devices can make our homes more comfortable and efficient, but they can also be targets for hackers if not properly secured.

Why Security Matters

Imagine if someone could:

• Turn your lights on and off without your permission
• Change your home’s temperature
• Unlock your doors
• Watch your security camera feeds

This is why it’s crucial to protect your smart home devices.

Here are some easy steps to secure your smart home:

• Use strong passwords: Don’t use the default passwords that come with your devices.
• Update regularly: Make sure your devices have the latest software updates.
• Turn off unused features: If you don’t use a feature on a device, turn it off. This reduces the ways a hacker could get in.

Smart homes can be great, but it’s important to think about security. By following these simple steps, you can enjoy the benefits of a smart home while keeping your family and information safe.

Remember, if a device connects to the internet, it needs to be protected!

Week 3 Trivia Question

Answer this week’s trivia question and enter a draw for a chance to win an Amazon gift card: https://redcap.sjcg.net/surveys/?s=D8H8KP7PFH

This year, Waste Reduction Week in Canada takes place from October 21-27. It is an opportunity to celebrate our environmental efforts and achievements to date, and encourage new ideas and solutions to reduce our waste. Reducing the amount of waste you create is an easy way that you can help make a difference.

TBRHSC’s Green Team is committed to reducing our environmental footprint and supporting these efforts through our extensive recycling programs onsite which includes:

• All Plastics #1 – #7
• Cardboard & Paper
• Cans & Scrap Metal
• Batteries
• Electronic Waste

We continue to setup ‘Green Suites’ within select departments, for those areas looking to champion their department’s recycling initiatives. These ‘Green Suites’ are a centralized area for managing and sorting recycle materials to minimize the amount of waste going to landfill.

Nutrition & Food Services

• Cutlery and food containers in Retail are certified legislation compliant.
• Patient cutlery has also gone to sustainable cutlery.
• Lean Path – Program that tracks food waste and allows us to manage for reduction.
• ORCA- Food Digestive System introduced May, 2023 to prevent food waste from going into landfill. Since its inception, we have diverted 29,600 lbs of food waste.
• Reusable merchandise is also available in Flavours Café.

We are also working on introducing two new recycling programs onsite:

PPE Recycling

• Includes recycling of uncontaminated masks/gloves/gowns/booties/etc.
• The uncontaminated PPE is shipped to ‘LifeCycle Revive’ in Southern Ontario.
• The contents are sterilized and processed into pellets, which are then in turn used to create recycling bins, bed pans, etc.

Keurig K-Cup Recycling

• Intended for areas with kitchenettes, where Keurig coffee brewing equipment is in use.
• The pods are collected then sent to EMTERRA for processing.
• The pod components are separated – grounds become compost & the plastic is recycled.

We also encourage you to visit the Green Team page on the intranet, as well as the EcoSuperior website to learn about more ways you can get involved and support the local sustainability efforts. 

Over the last year we have introduced reusable sharps containers and biodegradable nitrile gloves.

Our reusable sharps containers reduce the amount of plastic going into our landfills. Our old disposable sharps containers saw in excess of 12,500 containers going into our landfill.

With over 11 million gloves used at TBRHSC per year, our new biodegradable gloves will achieve 90% biodegradability in 490 days as opposed to the original nitrile glove that took close to 200 years.