Hello, Boozhoo, Bonjour,
As we approach the end of the calendar year, I want to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts each of you has made during these challenging times. The past few weeks have seen record numbers of admissions and visits to our Emergency Department. Your unwavering dedication and teamwork have ensured that patient care needs are met, even under immense pressure. Thank you for your incredible work and commitment to the communities we serve across Northwestern Ontario.
I’d like to begin by highlighting for you a significant event held on November 14th. We unveiled the Robinson Superior Treaty of 1850 plaque. Attended by many Chiefs and partner organizations, including Fort William First Nation Chief Solomon and Elder Sheila DeCorte, this ceremony marked a profound step in our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation. This permanent plaque honours the ancestral lands of Fort William First Nation, the First Nation communities within this Treaty, and the surrounding Treaty areas we serve. It stands as a powerful symbol of our respect for Treaty relationships and our dedication to Call to Action #10 (vii). By acknowledging the history and ongoing presence of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, we are taking meaningful steps toward a more collaborative and inclusive future. You can find the plaque prominently displayed on the second level across from the gift shop. I encourage you all to reflect on its significance and our shared journey toward reconciliation.
Turning to our capacity challenges, as you know, October was a demanding month with high levels of admissions and increased acuity of patient care needs. Our teams continue to adapt and respond, revising practices to ensure timely care while keeping patient safety and quality at the forefront. Despite the pressures, we’ve seen improvements in key quality metrics: the Length of Stay at the 90th percentile improved from 47.4 to 45.5 days, and the Time to Inpatient Bed decreased from 38.1 to 36.5 hours compared to October last year.
To manage the influx of highly acute patients, we’ve implemented several initiatives:
- Realigning Bed Rounds to focus on discharge delays, with Allied Healthcare Managers present to expedite procedures or assessments that support timely discharges.
- Patient Flow Coordinators providing twice-daily reports to support patients exceeding their expected length of stay, assisting their journey to discharge.
- Enhancing repatriation processes with regional partners to ensure timely transfers back to patients’ home communities.
- Collaborating between Infection Prevention and Control and the Admitting Department to reduce unnecessary blocked beds and improve occupancy levels.
These collective efforts have contributed to better patient flow and reduced unnecessary prolonged stays. Serving a geographically vast area larger than France, our ability to adapt and support patients from outside Thunder Bay is crucial. By working closely with regional hospital partners, we’re making the transition back to home hospitals more efficient, benefiting both patient flow and patient well-being.
In November, we were pleased to host career and recruitment activities, including Take Our Kids to Work Day and the Indigenous Career Experience. High participation numbers indicate a renewed interest in healthcare professions — a positive sign as we work toward rebalancing healthcare resources post-COVID-19. Active recruitment efforts across specialized professions are yielding results, and we are committed to providing a warm and welcoming environment for anyone considering TBRHSC or TBRHRI as a place to work, grow, and thrive.
As we continue to work on staff experience I am pleased to report that the new third floor staff lounge will be officially opening on Monday, December 2, 2024. Thanks to the incredible support from our Staff Advisory Committee, Facilities and Planning, and efforts of so many individuals in making this all possible. We are working to secure ongoing financial support to ensure it can thrive and evolve other staff experience areas across the organization. I hope you will take the time to have a look and enjoy a well-deserved break in this newly renovated space that was designed with you in mind.
Reflecting on the accomplishments of this past year, it is clear that our collective efforts are propelling us toward our vision of exceptional care for every patient, every time. While capacity challenges have tested our resilience, the proactive measures implemented by you and our teams reaffirm the impact of your work. We are committed to building upon our successes, embracing challenges as opportunities for growth, and continuously enhancing the quality of care we provide.
Together — with our dedicated staff, supportive partners, and the communities we serve — we will continue to navigate the complexities of the healthcare landscape. Our focus remains steadfast on innovation, collaboration, and compassion. As we enter the new year, my hope is that we can carry forward the momentum of our achievements, confident in our ability to overcome obstacles and inspired by the difference we make in the lives of others.
Again, thank you for your continued dedication and hard work.
As always, I welcome your feedback on these blogs or any other matter. You can contact me at rhonda.ellacott@tbh.net. I enjoy hearing from you.
