May 1-7 is Emergency Preparedness Week at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC). This year’s theme is “Be Ready for Anything”. Throughout the week we will share information related to emergency preparedness at TBRHSC and tips for personal emergency preparedness.

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Safety Huddle—Lessons Learned from January 3^rd Flooding Incident:

A Code Red to Code Green was initiated the evening of January 3, 2022. During routine cleaning, a sprinkler head was activated, triggering the fire alarm. Water deluge from the sprinkler head resulted in the need to evacuate patients from 2C, 2B, and 1C. Thanks to the efforts of responders throughout the hospital, all patients were safely transported away from the flooding and building damage was limited to these three units.

A formal debrief was conducted with input from staff and leadership involved in the incident to determine lessons learned. The following are a number of actions process reminders to improve future response efforts. Check out the Safety Huddle for more information on lessons learned and process reminders!  

Preparedness Spotlight:

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Every emergency code at TBRHSC involves the Switchboard team. When staff dial ‘55’ to report an emergency, it triggers a series of actions by Switchboard. Depending on the Code initiated, Switchboard may be responsible for multiple actions such as overhead paging, fielding calls to emergency services, connecting with the Senior Leader on call or Admin Coordinator.

We asked Switchboard how they help to ensure that TBRHSC is Ready for Anything.

Trina Diner (Manager):

“Switchboard operators are #ReadyforAnything! Between one and three operators take calls at any given time, connecting people over 1500 times per day. In addition to handling individual calls (from across the region, locally and internationally!), operators are integral parts of any emergency response. In 2021, 690 Codes were called, each Code requiring its own process and duties for operators to perform.”

There is not a day that goes by without our physicians going above and beyond to care for our patients and build a healthier community. In recognition of their commitment to patients and the entire health care system, National Physicians’ Day is celebrated on May 1st. This designated day for physicians provides an opportunity to appreciate the dedicated and compassionate care that physicians provide.

This year on National Physicians’ Day, we reflect on the work and sacrifices made by physicians and express our most sincere appreciation for the care they provide in normal and in extraordinary times. Our physicians have demonstrated exceptional skill and endless compassion towards others, even throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you for your professionalism, perseverance and the attention you have provided to countless patients during these demanding times. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to care, and your practice. Thank you for saving lives in our community and region; you are truly making a difference every day. Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre would like to sincerely thank every physician for all that they do and for helping us provide exceptional care for every patient, every time.

DRINKWATER Trailer on Vimeo www.vimeo.com/660802666

Administrative Professionals Day (April 27) recognizes and celebrates the work of secretaries, administrative assistants, executive assistants and other office professionals for their contributions to the workplace. Thank you to all of the amazing administrative professionals at our Hospital, Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation for your dedication, knowledge and hard work. Today, we celebrate YOU!

The Earth Day 2022 theme is Invest In Our Planet. What Will You Do? See earthday.org for ideas on what individuals and organizations can do to make a difference. We need to act (boldly), innovate (broadly), and implement (equitably). It’s going to take all of us. All in. Businesses, governments, and citizens — everyone accounted for, and everyone accountable. A partnership for the planet.

Our Hospital’s Green Team is proud of the initiatives that have been accomplished over the last few years – namely a number of energy savings projects, increased recycling, increased diversion of waste, and a number of initiatives to source products that can be composted or more easily recycled. Come see our display in the cafeteria glass cabinet. Also, we are currently starting to plan for what is next – and will reach out to get your input in the coming months.

For Earth Day 2022, together, for everyone, everything, every day. It’s time to Invest In Our Planet.

Happy Earth Day, from the Green Team!

This Tuesday, April 12th is CaRMS Match Day for our 4th year Medical Students. Match Day is a defining moment in a medical student’s career. It’s the day they learn which residency program they’ve matched with and where they’ll be spending the next several years training in their specialty.

To celebrate this day, a map of Canada will be posted in the Professional Staff and Learner Lounge for the students to pin their match location and specialty.

Please take some time to thank our graduating class of medical students for their contributions over this past year. You’ll recognize them by the red lanyards they wear. Academics would like to acknowledge the resilience and perseverance of this class while, studying, rounding, and providing patient care in the face of a global pandemic. The students last day on site will be April 17th.

Congratulations to all from Academic Affairs!

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Medical Laboratory Professionals at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (consisting of nearly 170 individual staff) work tirelessly 24-7, 365 days a year to support our Hospital’s programs and services and the region by providing quality results for timely diagnosis and treatment. Caring for patients and families of Northwestern Ontario is their number one priority.

Join us in celebrating Medical Laboratory Week (April 10-16).