This week is Emergency Preparedness Week! This year’s theme is “Be Prepared. Know your Risks”. The intent of the theme is to encourage us all to understand the risks in our area and learn what actions we can take to protect ourselves, our families, and our community.

Emergency Preparedness in Our Community

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre collaborates with the City of Thunder Bay and a wide variety of community partners, such as Thunder Bay Fire Rescue and the Thunder Bay Police Service, to help inform hospital preparedness and response. The hospital also regularly participates in exercises with external partners. For example, hospital representatives recently participated in a tabletop exercise simulating a wildfire related emergency response led by the City’s Municipal Emergency Control Group.

Across Canada, we face a number of hazards, which can vary from region to region. Knowing the risks can inform how we plan and prepare. Find out about risks in our region by using some of the following resources:

• Hazards monitored by Emergency Management Ontario: https://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/hzd/rgnl/on-en.aspx
• Current forest fire activity and fire restrictions: https://www.ontario.ca/page/forest-fires
• Current weather alerts via Environment Canada’s WeatherCAN cellphone app and website: https://weather.gc.ca/index_e.html
• Up to date earthquake information via Natural Resources Canada: https://www.earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/index-en.php
• Historical list of Canadian disasters, including those triggered by natural hazards, technological hazards, or conflict (not including war), including where and when they occurred via the Canadian Disaster Database website: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/cndn-dsstr-dtbs/index-en.aspx

Have a resource you’d like to share? Reach out to Mēsha Richard, Lead, Emergency Preparedness (ext. 6552 or mesha.richard@tbh.net)

It’s National Nursing Week and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is highlighting a few of our nurses and their achievements. Meet Meghan Hill, a Registered Nurse (RN) and Patient Care Manager on the 2B Medical Inpatient Unit at our Hospital:

Meghan Hill started her career 15 years ago as a Registered Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).  During that time, she realized her passion for high-quality nursing care, leadership, and education.  As an ICU nurse, she provided life-saving interventions for the sickest and most critical patients of all ages. Meghan was a member of the Medical Emergency Team (MET) as well as the Regional Critical Care Response (RCCR) team for several years, providing outreach education and clinical support to TBHRSC’s inpatient hospital units as well as to the small rural and remote hospitals and Indigenous communities. 

In September, 2021, Meghan transitioned into a new position as the Regional Paediatric, Neonatal and Infant Transport Lead at TBRHSC. She has had the autonomy to develop this role using her experience to support, collaborate and implement innovative strategies to improve access to paediatric care across the North. Meghan participates as a member of various committees, continually advocating for the North by identifying barriers to accessible paediatric care, resources and education. Part of this role involves collaborating with the Clinical Nurse Specialists, Paediatricians, NOSMU Residents, RCCR Outreach, as well as the Simulation Technologist to develop and provide accessible paediatric educational opportunities and resources. Meghan also continues to educate staff as an instructor for various paediatric specialty courses.

A point of pride for Meghan was the implementation of the Regional Paediatric Response (RPR) program, which launched in December 2022. This is a virtual platform for small and rural hospitals to access expert advice and real time virtual assessments from the TBRHSC Paediatrician as well as ongoing clinical nursing support for the region. She has also been working closely with TBHRSC’s tertiary hospital, London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), to provide paediatric critical care consultations to paediatric patients admitted to our Hospital’s adult ICU using the RPR platform.

A new and exciting project is the development and implementation of a Neonatal and Infant Transport Team based out of Thunder Bay. Combing both leadership and critical thinking skills, Meghan collaborates with key external partners such as ORNGE, and tertiary centres such as LHSC and Sick Kids, to develop a team that aims to provide timely access to transport for critically ill children in the North. 

Meghan recently accepted the position of Patient Care Manger – 2B Medical Inpatient Unit.

 “I am grateful to work in a capacity where I know that my contributions allow for improved care for paediatric patients throughout our region,” Hill says. “I have been given so many great opportunities to apply my knowledge and expertise beyond bedside nursing.”

In recognition of National Nursing Week (May 8-14), there are daily trivia questions. Each submission will be entered into a draw to win prizes. Winners will be announced on the Daily Informed Newsletter during National Nursing Week.

How to enter

You can enter by:

• Clicking the link in the poster below
• Using the QR code in the poster below; or
• Sending in your responses by email to nurses@tbh.net

Day Two Trivia Questions

• What year did Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott become the President and CEO at the TBRHSC and CEO at the TBRHRI?
• Who is the Vice President of Patient Experience, Chief Nursing Executive (CNE) and Regional Vice President (RVP) of the Regional Cancer Care?

In recognition of National Nursing Week (May 8-14), there are daily trivia questions. Each submission will be entered into a draw to win prizes. Winners will be announced on the Daily Informed Newsletter during National Nursing Week.

How to enter

You can enter by:

• Clicking the link in the poster below
• Using the QR code in the poster below; or
• Sending in your responses by email to nurses@tbh.net

Day One Trivia Questions

• What is the vision of our 2026 Strategic Plan?
• What is our philosophy at the TBRHSC?

May 8-14 we celebrate National Nursing Week by acknowledging the dedication and achievements of nursing professionals. Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) is taking the opportunity to celebrate and recognize the vital role nurses play in making the patient experience better by delivering quality care in Thunder Bay and across Northwestern Ontario.

The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) identified this year’s theme as Our Nurses. Our Future. This theme showcases the many roles that nurses play in a patient’s health care journey. The pandemic brought to light the courage and commitment that nurses work under every day and showed the important role that nurses play in the community.

Over the next week, we are highlighting a few of our nurses and their achievements. To these and all nurses, thank you for your unwavering care and dedication to the health of the community.

---

Across the globe, hand hygiene saves millions of lives every year when performed at the right moments during health care delivery. Clean care is a sign of respect to those who seek care, and it protects health and other workers who provide that care.

In celebration of World Hand Hygiene Day on Friday, May 5, we invite all staff to take this Hand Hygiene quiz.

Staff who complete the quiz will be entered to win one of six prizes on behalf of the Hand Hygiene Committee and the Department of Infection Prevention and Control.

---

TBRHSC 2021/2022 Hand Hygiene Compliance rates
Before patient contact 57.3%; after patient contact 69.6%
TBRHSC Goal 82%

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.

For National Perfusion Week, we would like to recognize two people who will be working as Cardiovascular Perfusionists at TBRHSC when our Cardiovascular Surgery Program is up and running.  This program is a joint partnership between TBRHSC and Peter Munk Cardiac Centre (PMCC)/University Health Network (UHN) to deliver comprehensive cardiovascular care to the residents of Northwestern Ontario.

Scott Longridge graduated in March 2018 from the Michener Institute of Education at UHN’s Cardiovascular Perfusionist Program. Scott is a long time employee of TBRHSC and currently working at UHN/PMCC as a perfusionist while awaiting to return for the launch of our Cardiovascular Surgery Program.

Amanda Sanche, Clinical Nurse Specialist of Cardiology, has been accepted to the Cardiovascular Perfusion Program at the Michener Institute of Education at UHN and will relocate to start the 2 year program in August 2023. Amanda holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and is currently pursuing a Masters of Nursing with a Teaching Focus with anticipated completion in 2025. Please join us in congratulating Amanda on her achievements and upcoming endeavors.

On successful completion Amanda will return to Thunder Bay (along with Scott Longridge) to join our cardiovascular team, share their robust thirst for knowledge, along with delivering safe and comprehensive perfusion therapy to those in need.

As the Comprehensive Cardiovascular Surgical Program moves forward, TBRHSC will be seeking to recruit additional Cardiovascular Perfusionists.

Join us this week in recognizing the essential work that perfusionists do in the operating room.

Learn more about cardiovascular perfusion at these online resources:

• The Canadian Society of Clinical Perfusion
• Ontario Society of Clinical Perfusion
• The American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion
• The American Academy of Cardiovascular Perfusion