Shared on behalf of Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO, TBRHSC, and CEO, TBRHRI
Hello, Boozhoo, Bonjour.
March has been a busy month as we have seen a steady increase in activity across our organization and the broader health care system. We are welcoming more students into the building, monitoring developments related to the provincial budget at Queen’s Park, and preparing for several important initiatives in the weeks ahead. I also want to acknowledge the various construction projects happening around our Hospital. I recognize the added strain this can create in an already demanding environment, and I appreciate your continued patience as this work progresses. Recognizing how busy everyone is, below you will find a brief update on what is top of mind this month.
I would like to begin with last week’s provincial budget. You have likely seen the headlines, but I want to share my perspective directly. There is meaningful investment in health care infrastructure, which is important for our organization. At the same time, there is continued emphasis on hospitals operating more efficiently. While this is not new, I feel it is important that you know: The Ministry expects us to identify and implement efficiencies, and we will be held accountable.
That said, our Hospital has consistently outperformed provincial efficiency benchmarks. This positions us more strongly than other organizations as we navigate expectations. While it does not eliminate the pressure, it does mean that we are better positioned to manage it. This also creates an opportunity for us to better navigate our reality, and our role as the only regional tertiary academic centre in Northwestern Ontario. To this end, we continue to advocate with the Ministry of Health, Ontario Health, and our local and regional MPPs to ensure our context and needs are clearly understood.
As mentioned, you will notice an increase in students and new graduates in the building over the next few weeks. As preceptorships and residencies conclude, some of those people will be making decisions about where they want to begin to build their careers. The fact that they have chosen to train here and are continuing to stay here reflects positively on our organization. I encourage you to welcome them and share your experiences, helping them understand what makes this a great place to work.
I would also like to highlight that April is Be A Donor month. I encourage you to take a few moments to reflect on this initiative, both personally and where appropriate with patients and families. It is one of those areas where what we do in this building connects directly to something with a much broader impact.
Finally, the month of April includes National Volunteer Week (April 19-25). Our volunteers contribute their time and energy in so many invaluable ways – supporting patients, guiding families, staffing our gift shop, supporting events, and serving on our board, to name a few. The range of what volunteers contribute is easy to take for granted because they make it look seamless, but it is anything but. I encourage you to take a moment this month to express your appreciation. A brief, sincere conversation can be more meaningful than any form of recognition.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read this update and staying informed on matters that affect us all. I welcome any feedback about this blog or any other topics you would like to discuss. You can reach me at rhonda.ellacott@tbh.net. I appreciate hearing from you.
