It is with great sadness and heavy hearts we announce the unexpected passing of our friend and colleague, Nicole Landgraff-Wegner on July 4, 2023.

Nicole worked in the medical field for 25 years. Nicole started working at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) in 2010. In 2013, Nicole transitioned to Clinical Contract Specialist with the Northern Supply Chain. In this role, she worked closely with TBRHSC and other hospitals in Northwestern Ontario to assist and guide us in medical product selection, standardization, sustainability, and the transition of those products into the hospital. Nicole’s passion, dedication and of course smile, will be greatly missed.

Our thoughts go out to her family for their loss. As a sign of respect and mourning, TBRHSC flags will be put to half mast on Saturday July 8, 2023.

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Obituary via Blake Funeral Chapel

Born in Leduc, Alberta on May 29, 1974, Nicole passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on July 4, 2023 at the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital.

Surviving Nicole are her husband Tim, daughter Sofia Joy and son Cooper Conrad, mother and stepfather Glenna and Rocky Scali, brothers Ryan (Andrea) and Ian (Amanda), nieces and nephews Lydia, Hudson, Juliet and Thomas, Samuel, Naomi and Jesse, aunts Betty Ellchook, Mary Caban and Brenda Philips (Ed), parents-in-law Debbie Faught (Richard), Paul Wegner (Kathy) and sister-in-law Tilly Northrup (Cory).
She is predeceased by her father Brian Landgraff (1997), grandparents Terttu and Michael Garland, and Alice Sidall.

Nicole worked in the medical field for 25 years. She kept her children active and always tried to teach them how to love and care for their world. Nicole, Tim and the children spent weekends on Lake Superior in their boat, exploring new places.

Nicole was a woman of faith, generous and kind with a smile that made your world seem grand! We love you always Nicole.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 12:30 pm in the Blake Funeral Chapel on May Street, followed by a luncheon at the Kakabeka Falls Legion. Interment will take place at a later date. Memorial donations to the TBRHSC or to Our Kids Count would be greatly appreciated.

Originally published in the July 2023 edition of the Walleye Magazine

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Pets serve a great purpose in our daily lives. In addition to being our furry friends, some are trained to perform specific duties. Therapy dogs undergo an extensive evaluation process to become certified and take on unique roles. Through petting, affection, and regular visitation, many people benefit both physically and emotionally from the unconditional love of a dog.

“Therapy dogs can be more effective than people at offering companionship to those in need of comfort or support, because dogs are non-judgmental,” explains Jill Biggs, St. John Ambulance therapy dog coordinator/ evaluator. “Dogs are accepting of those with physical or mental illness, or those presenting with confusion or tears. They calm the distressed, distract those in discomfort, and comfort the lonely.”

Research indicates that therapy dogs can have a significant impact on an individual’s social wellness, interpersonal reactions, mood, fear, anxiety, and stress. Recent studies have emphasized the positive impact therapy dogs have on enhancing workplace wellness. Following a threemonth pilot study with therapy dogs, health-care employees reported a boost in mood, an improved clinic atmosphere, and reduced levels of burnout and stress. Other research has deemed therapy dog programs feasible, effective, and much needed in health care settings.

As such, in May 2023, the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC), in collaboration with St. John Ambulance, launched a therapy dog program for its staff.

“The use of therapy dogs to support mental health and prevent burnout amongst health-care workers has not only been found beneficial based on current literature, but has also been well received by staff at leading hospitals throughout Canada and many other countries,” says Kelly-Jo Gillis, manager of preventive health services at TBRHSC, adding that patients also benefit. “Through our hospital’s volunteer services, a therapy dog program has been offered to patients at TBRHSC since 2005.”

“The idea of therapy dogs for staff came up as a way to boost morale and enhance staff experience,” Gillis explains. “Many of us have pets and know the positive impact they can have, especially with those who are not well. I’m sure staff will benefit from the unconditional kindness of these therapy dogs.”

The program is currently running as a pilot project, but feedback from staff thus far has been overwhelmingly positive. During a therapy dog visit to 3C, the surgical inpatient and neurosurgery unit, one staff member commented: “A dog! This is all the therapy I need.” Another staff member shared “I wish this program had started years ago. Our stress levels would be much lower.”

Although most dogs are loveable and affectionate to their owners, it does not necessarily qualify them as a therapy dog. Therapy dogs undergo a series of testing and evaluation, such as a temperament assessment, to ensure they meet therapy dog standards. Therapy dogs must be obedient, friendly, calm, and able to adapt well to unfamiliar noises, places, and smells.

In order to ensure the dog meets these standards, Biggs describes the series of exercises they must complete. “These exercises have the dog walking through a crowd, greeting people in wheelchairs and with walkers, crutches, and canes, being exposed to a sudden loud noise, and being surrounded by a group of people. Throughout the whole evaluation, the dog is being assessed to ensure there is no aggression, timidity or shyness, jumping up, or pulling on the leash, and that the dog is well groomed and neat in appearance.”

To learn more about the St. John Ambulance’s Therapy Dog Program and the benefits of therapy dogs, visit sja.ca/en/community-services/therapy-dog-program.

Submitted by the Northwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Network

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Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is a treatment for acute ischemic stroke. EVT uses a small tube, a guide wire and stent to remove large stroke-causing clots from the brain. Across Ontario, there are 11 EVT centres able to provide this life-changing stroke treatment.  

Since 2017, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) has been offering this treatment, and in 2022 the service was expanded to two providers.

Dr. Graeme Marchuk, Neurosurgeon and EVT provider states, “I’m pleased to welcome our newest provider, Interventional Neurologist Dr. Razmik Bebedjian, who has helped us to obtain 80 per cent coverage for access to EVT treatment in Northwestern Ontario.”

With the addition of a second provider, the Hospital has more then doubled the number of patients receiving EVT treatment. Brian Bragnalo received EVT treatment in October of 2022.

“I was sitting at home and I guess I wasn’t making sense,” Bragnalo recalls. “My wife immediately recognized what was happening and called 911. It was incredible how fast they got there. Everyone was incredible; it was like a miracle how quickly everything worked. I walked out of the Hospital a few days later.”

While not every stroke patient is eligible for EVT, this procedure addresses patients with the most severe type of stroke caused by a large clot (ischemic stroke). Patients are evaluated with advanced neuroimaging which includes TBRHSC’s latest technology, computed tomography perfusion (CTP). CTP is a colour coded brain imaging that supports physicians to identify brain tissue that can potentially be saved by EVT treatment. This advancement in imaging was launched in Thunder Bay in October 2021 and in Kenora, Lake of the Woods District Hospital in June 2022, and most recently in Fort Frances in June of this year at La Verendrye Hospital – Riverside Health Care. This technology supports getting the appropriate patients to EVT centres.

“As one of only 11 Hospitals in Ontario providing EVT treatment, we are fortunate to be able to offer this service for the people of Northwestern Ontario,” says Adam Vinet, Vice President, Patient Experience, Chief Nursing Executive and RVP, Regional Cancer Care.

For more information, visit www.nwostroke.ca or email nwostroke@tbh.net.

Donations towards supporting stroke care and EVT initiatives can be directed to the STROKE FUND through Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation at https://www.healthsciencesfoundation.ca/.

Just because the challenge is coming to an end does not mean an end to your active commuting! We still have the entire summer ahead! So set a personal goal to continue actively commuting throughout the year. You will continue to reap all the health, environmental, and economic benefits! 

Prizes will be drawn next week so stay tuned.  Winners will be contacted by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit via email.

Do you need to paws and relax?

Prevention and Screening Services and Volunteers Services have partnered with St. John’s Ambulance Therapy Dogs to offer an Open House for staff on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at 12:00pm-1:00pm in the Cafeteria Courtyard.

When: Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm
Where: Cafeteria Courtyard
Who: All staff, learners and volunteers are welcome to attend

For more information, please contact Haley.Shipston@tbh.net

Shared on behalf of Ryan Sears, Director, Capital and Facility Services

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The Hospital acknowledges that Environment Canada has issued a special air quality statement noting that smoke plumes from active forest fires in the Northwest are putting particles and gases into the air that can be harmful to human health. People may experience symptoms such as increased coughing, throat irritation, headaches, or shortness of breath. Leadership will continue to monitor the air quality situation and adjust our Hospital’s response as required.

Recommended Actions:

• Review the Code Grey – Air Exclusion (Button Down) policy and associated refresher Safety Huddle (see attached).
• Directors/Managers, post/circulate and discuss the attached Safety Huddle contents with your teams.
• Visit www.airhealth.ca for information on how to reduce your health risk along with current and forecasted Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) values.

In Canada, there is one stroke approximately every five minutes. For the best patient outcomes, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and hospitals need to be ready to ensure patients receive the right care in a timely way. In Northwestern Ontario, EMS and Emergency Departments have enhanced stroke assessment by using screening tools to identify severe stroke. These tools identify patients who may benefit from endovascular thrombectomy (EVT).

EVT is a treatment for acute ischemic stroke that uses a small tube, a guide wire and stent to remove large stroke-causing clots from the brain. The EVT procedure requires specialized equipment and a coordinated team approach to ensure success. Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC), one of 11 EVT centers, strives to continuously optimize stroke care by improving and upgrading equipment. In September 2022, an aspiration (suction) system was upgraded at TBRHSC to assist when removing a clot from the brain.

The next goal is to purchase an anesthesia machine and monitoring equipment for the EVT suite.

“Stroke is the most feared complication after cardiac surgery,” remarks Dr. Bebedjian, Interventional Neurologist and EVT provider at TBRHSC. “And as our cardiac care grows at TBRHSC, preparing for the opening of the cardiovascular program, it is vital to continue with our progress in stroke care.”

“The additional equipment we have received and the upgrades we hope to obtain in the future mean faster and more efficient treatment for patients, ultimately giving the patient the best opportunity for recovery,” adds Dr. A. Hassan, Neurologist and Medical Lead, Northwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Network.

While more strokes are happening, with advancements in stroke care, more people are surviving. The need for stroke treatment, prevention and recovery systems is crucial.

Donations supporting stroke care and EVT initiatives can be directed to the STROKE FUND through the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation at healthsciencesfoundation.ca/donate or by calling 807-345-4673.

For more information on stroke care in Northwestern Ontario, visit www.nwostroke.ca or email nwostroke@tbh.net.

For those individuals who are interested in kidney transplant or kidney donation, join this free Transplant Ambassador Program (TAP) webinar entitled “Kidney Transplant in Your 60’s or 70’s?  Getting a New Lease on Life in Your Golden Years” on Wednesday June 21, 2023 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Please register at www.transplantambassadors.ca/tap-webinar-series/ to join.

Hear from our TAP panel of kidney transplant recipients and donors who share their lived experience.  These individuals wouldn’t let age be their obstacle in receiving or donating a kidney.