Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
980 Oliver Road P7B 6V4 Thunder Bay, ON, Canada

Our #COVID19 Vaccination Clinic in the Bora Laskin Education Building at Lakehead University opened earlier today. As more shipments of COVID-19 vaccines arrive, this new location will allow us to significantly increase the number of daily immunizations administered to long term care (LTC) employees, essential care partners and other priority health care workers. (via tbnewswatch.com)

A heart attack is a medical emergency. Calling 9-1-1 and getting to the hospital by ambulance is the safest and most beneficial way for a person to arrive and receive cardiac care in a timely manner. #HeartMonth

I’ve always loved the cardiovascular system. I like its complexity, but also its simplicity. When I was in medical school, I knew I wanted to do something that was very hands-on, and that changed people’s lives. That’s how I became interested in Interventional Cardiology, as it gave me the chance to do both. Dr. Alexandra Bastiany, Thunder Bay’s newest Interventional Cardiologist, provides world-class cardiac care to patients of Northwestern Ontario. Dr. Bastiany’s expertis...e has been a valuable addition to Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre as she has brought learnings and new techniques from her fellowship to share with her colleagues. She’s also brought a bit of notoriety; for she is, in fact, Canada’s first Black female Interventional Cardiologist. Learn more about her: http://bit.ly/DrAlexandraBastiany (w/ the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation) #HeartMonth #OurHeartsAtHome #BHM2021

It's #HeartMonth, and we're highlighting staff and departments at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) who play a vital role in cardiovascular care. Today, we’re sharing some Q&A with Marlene Wandel, a Registered Nurse on the Cardiovascular and Stroke Unit (2C). ? Nurses on 2C look after patients admitted from the Emergency Department, directly from the region, or from physician’s offices. We also coordinate the ...Continue reading

It did not take long for Thunder Bay's first baby of 2021 to arrive. It's a girl! Rylee Evelyn was born to parents Ashley and Kevin Beda at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre at 2:04 am on January 1, 2021. The Beda couple, who are both from Thunder Bay, welcomed their second child, weighing exactly 8 pounds. Big brother Nicholas, 2.5 years, can’t wait to meet his new baby sister. ... The baby and mother are doing well and expect to head home tomorrow. The Bedas didn’t expect to have the first baby of 2021. My due date was January 11, so it’s funny it happened this way, Ashley said. After 2020, it’s nice to start this year feeling happy. It gives me hope that 2021 will be a good year. Ashley Beda said that having a baby during the COVID-19 pandemic was Not much different, except that my husband could only stay for a limited time after she was born. He works at the hospital, so we knew what to expect. I felt confident and the nurses were great.

Today the Province declared a second provincial emergency in order to address the COVID-19 crisis and to save lives in Ontario. Briefly, here are just a few of... the impacts on the TBDHU region (including the district): A stay-at-home order will come into effect on Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. Outdoor organized public gatherings and social gatherings are restricted to a limit of 5 people with limited exceptions. Schools will continue to remain open with new health and safety measures put in place for in-person learning, including masking for Grade 1-3 and requirements for mask wearing outdoors Employers whose businesses are currently open will need to ensure their employees work remotely, where possible. Hours of operation of most retailers, including curbside pick-up only, will be from 7am to 8pm; liquor stores will be from 9am to 8pm Grocery stores, retailers can only facilitate 25% capacity Again, this is just a brief summary and we will provide more details in the coming days. In the meantime, specifics about everything listed above can be found in the Ministry's slidedeck, which you can download here: https://files.ontario.ca/moh-enhanced-provincewide-shutdown

Thunder Bay was set to host the 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Despite the city's hosting duties being rescheduled to 2022, there was still some ‘on-the-bu...tton’ news for Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario! The Sandra Schmirler Foundation has provided a grant of $10,890, making sure the youngest patients at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre will have access to two brand new syringe pumps in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)! "Infants require very accurate monitoring and administration of fluids, and using syringe pumps will allow us to provide safe administration, especially for at-risk children and for high-risk medications." says Giulia Pilato, Registered Nurse in our NICU, "It’s about providing our patients with the safest environment possible." Read more at http://bit.ly/hsfssfgrant Thank you to the Sandra Schmirler Foundation for their support of the NICU

From our Hospital family to yours, Happy New Year! Let's look forward to a healthier, safer, happier and more prosperous 2021.

As of Tuesday, February 16, 2021, the TBDHU region is under the "Red - Control" level of Ontario's COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open. Find out what this means for our region here: www.tbdhu.com/currentlevel

The () provides safe, quality urgent care to patients from the comfort of their home. The program offers same-day virtual assessments with emergency department physicians to patients who: > live in Thunder Bay and the surrounding area; > are older than 17 years of age; > have non-life-threatening medical issues;... > don’t have a primary care provider or are unable to obtain timely access to them. Same-day appointments will be made on a first come first served basis to those who meet the above criteria. Appointments are available Monday Friday between 12:00 pm 5:45 pm and take place through secure video chat. For more information or to book an appointment visit www.tbrhsc.net/VirtualED IMPORTANT: If you are experiencing a medical emergency or a mental health crisis, please call 911 or visit your nearest Emergency Department in person.

The nearly 300 people who have received a #COVID19 vaccine include health care workers that are direct care staff in long-term care facilities, as well as vaccinators that will be travelling to remote communities throughout the northwest for a vaccination strategy to start in late January or early February. (via tbnewswatch.com)

This week our Hospital is joining others across Canada to celebrate #NationalKinesiologyWeek (November 23-29). Kinesiologists are regulated health professionals who study human movement and the relationship between physical activity and health. Kinesiologists are committed to enhancing quality of life through the promotion of physical activity and workplace health and safety, the prevention and management of injury and chronic disease, and the overall improvement of health an...d performance. They are leaders in the prevention of injury and chronic disease; they work with people of all ages and every level of function and physical ability to assess, track, manage and achieve a broad range of personal health goals. Exercise is used to prevent and manage injury and manage chronic disease. Kinesiologists ultimately aim to encourage the health and wellbeing of individuals through the implementation of movement and exercise. They work with patients to reach their health and personal lifestyle goals. Through body composition testing, the assessment of physical abilities, and the instruction of proper exercise form, Kinesiologists ensure that patients are motivated and have the resources required to be healthy and move efficiently. In a health care system that focuses on remedial care, Kinesiologists are becoming increasingly valued as health care providers who focus on preventative care. Many chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart diseases can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle including a balanced diet and regular exercise. Kinesiologists have been specially trained as exercise therapists to remove barriers and encourage individuals of all abilities to remain active through all stages of life. There are Kinesiologists working in Programs and Services throughout our Hospital, including Cardiac Rehabilitation (Sarah Chadwick, Katherine Chisholm, Duncan Hutchison, Kyle Baysarowich, and Casey Ruberto), the Regional Bariatric Care Centre & Paediatric Healthy Living Program (Debbie Walsh), the Maternity Centre (Keri Gerlach), and the Transitional Care Unit (Shannon Baysarowich). So this week, please join us in thanking our Kinesiologists for their important contributions to patient care.

Parenting is not always an easy task, no matter your child’s age, especially during these uncertain times of a pandemic. Join the Healthy Get Together Speaker Series on January 14th for the second talk in our mental health series where Kristine Lake, Psychologist at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, will discuss the highly requested subject of parenting. She will cover topics including the general goals of parenting, different parenting styles, attachment, and stra...tegies that you can try at home. During this virtual session, learn about parenting during times of stress, including parenting through a pandemic, and finding balance between work and home life. Speaker: Kristine Lake, Psychologist, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Date: Thursday, January 14th, 2021 Time: 7:00 pm 8:00 pm Location: Online event via Webex Meeting Link: http://tbh.net/hgt Meeting number: 179 105 2903 Password: wxQdKdr6Q94 You can alternatively join by phone by calling: +1-647-484-1598 Canada Toll Access code: 179 105 2903 For more information or to receive the event link by email, contact Caitlund Davidson at [email protected] or call (807) 684-6716.

Ontario, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is extending the shutdown of the seven public health unit regions in Northern Ontario until a...t least January 23, 2021, aligning with the shutdown period in Southern Ontario. In the nearly two weeks since Ontario moved into a Provincewide Shutdown, the COVID-19 trends in key public health indicators have continued to worsen in both Northern and Southern Ontario. With the increased risk of transmissions due to the confirmed presence of the COVID-19 UK variant in the province, Ontario is taking measures to ensure the safety of all Ontarians and the ability for the health system to provide care for patients. The impacts of these time-limited measures will be evaluated after 14 days to determine if it is safe to lift any restrictions or if they need to be extended. news.ontario.ca//ontario-extends-teacher-led-online-learni Northwestern Health Unit Timiskaming Health Unit North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit Algoma Public Health Public Health Sudbury & Districts Porcupine Health Unit Thunder Bay District Health Unit

For today's edition of the #COVID19 Situation Report, Tracie Smith and Dr. Stewart Kennedy discuss the recent spike of COVID-19 cases in our community, the precautions that the Hospital is implementing, and what people in the community can do to stay safe and stop the spread. This video is also available on our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/COVID-19-Nov-17 Your feedback is valuable to us and in order to protect our community during the COVID-19 pandemic, we will only be acc...epting and providing feedback through our feedback form available on our website, by electronic mail at [email protected], or by telephone (807) 684-6019. Please provide us with your complete email address and a telephone number when submitting your feedback so that our Quality & Risk Management Team may contact you to acknowledge when your feedback has been received. Local residents who need a COVID-19 test can schedule one by calling (807) 935-8100 or going online at http://tbh.net/bookonline. For questions about COVID-19 symptoms, self-isolation and monitoring, or testing criteria, please contact the Thunder Bay District Health Unit's Infectious Disease Program at (807) 625-5900 or toll free at 1-888-294-6630.

Every day, men experience urologic or sexual health concerns. Whether it’s prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, or kidney stones, these topics can often be difficult to talk about. For those who don’t feel comfortable talking to friends and family about men’s health, your health care provider or a urologist is there to help. Fortunately, our Hospital has an exceptional team of urologists that are ready to provide the best possible care. (Originally published in the November 2020 edition of The Walleye - Thunder Bay's Arts & Culture Magazine - http://bit.ly/TheWalleye-Nov-2020)

On behalf of the Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Teams of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, we send to you and your family warm Season’s Greetings with every good wish for the New Year. De la part des conseils d’administration et des équipes de direction du Centre régional des sciences de la santé de Thunder Bay et de l’Institut régional de recherche en santé de Thunder Bay, nous vous souhaitons ainsi qu’à votre famille de joyeuses fêtes et nos meilleurs voeux de bonheur pour la nouvelle année.

Now hiring at our Hospital: Support Worker, Emergency Department. https://bit.ly/2TIWIDC Screener (non-clinical), Pandemic Unit. https://bit.ly/3jUTw2d Administrative Assistant, Regional Remote Patient Monitoring Project. https://bit.ly/2HFWKcP... ECG Technician, Cardio/Respiratory & Diagnostic Support Services. https://bit.ly/2GpAtQa Patient Safety Improvement Specialist, Quality & Risk Management. https://bit.ly/3kPuy5W Medical Advisor, Occupational Health & Safety. https://bit.ly/3elrbBm RN, Emergency Department. https://bit.ly/34Rka7S RPN, 2B Medical Inpatient Unit. https://bit.ly/2TLTMWN Please apply electronically as we no longer accept paper applications. Also, please note that we do not accept general applications. You must apply to a specific posting. For more information, contact our Human Resources Department via email at [email protected] or by phone at (807) 684-6218. You can also visit https://jobs.tbrhsc.net/ for a full list of our career opportunities.

Trillium Gift of Life Network, Ontario’s organ and tissue donation and transplantation agency, has once again presented our Hospital with an achievement award for its outstanding efforts to integrate organ and tissue donation into quality end-of-life care in 2019/20. Read more about it here: https://bit.ly/TGLN-Award There's also a live broadcast this afternoon (2:00 pm - 3:00 pm) of the 2019/20 Trillium Gift of Life Network Hospital Performance Awards. Visit this Zoom link t...o tune in: https://tgln.zoom.us/j/92345823834 (If you are unable to download the Zoom plug-in, select the 'Join from Your Browser' option). #BeADonor

We're excited to share this message to staff from Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, HBScN, M.A., Ed.D, as she begins her tenure as the new President & CEO of our Hospital and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute: It is an honor and privilege for me to lead and serve our Hospital and Health Research Institute as your new President and CEO. As we begin our journey together, I look forward to reconnecting with you, our dedicated staff, Professional Staff, Scienti...sts, Patient Family Advisors and Volunteers. In this role, I am here to work with you to build the future of health care. My arrival as President & CEO coincides with the development of our next Strategic Plan, which will provide a roadmap for how we will meet the ever changing health challenges we face. The development of this plan will require extensive engagement with people in our organization, community and region. As we face unprecedented challenge and change in health, there are tremendous opportunities to grow, innovate, integrate, advance and evolve our organization - to advance research, learning and overall health care design and delivery. The Ontario health system is transforming and we have a unique opportunity to be key leaders. Together with our partners, we can capitalize on this opportunity to shape a new system of care. Moving forward, I recognize our strong history and commitment to Patient and Family Centred Care. Through this philosophy, I will work to further inspire and grow our culture founded in trust, respect, compassion, and hope as key foundational elements to a healthy work environment. Bringing joy and meaning to work while investing in our talented and engaged workforce to lead research, innovation and revolutionize care are critical to excellence in Patient and Family Centred Care. Finally, as we continue to advance the COVID-19 response in our community and region, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for your commitment and dedication to keep our community safe. I am truly inspired by the way staff, professional staff and volunteers have risen to this challenge - with flexibility, resilience, courage and a caring heart. Thank you for your enormous contributions. A sincere thank you for choosing to work, practice, learn or volunteer here at our Hospital and Health Research Institute. I look forward to continuing the journey together to make us the best organizations at which to work, innovate in, research, learn and most critically, receive leading edge health care. I am proud to say that I am part of the Hospital and Health Research Institute team. Together, we will shape the future of health for our community and region.

Jean Bartkowiak will officially retire as a senior health care leader and as President and CEO of our Hospital and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute on November 20th. Tracie Smith recently sat down with Jean to discuss his fondest memories and accomplishments from the past five years. This video is also available on our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/Retrospective-JeanBartkowiak (Hit the subscribe button to be notified of all new content)

Today, Jean Bartkowiak officially retired as a senior health care leader and as President and CEO of our Hospital and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute. We thank Jean for his leadership, commitment to Patient and Family Centred Care, and passion for serving the people of Northwestern Ontario. We wish him well in his retirement.

For today's edition of the #COVID19 Situation Report, Tracie Smith and Dr. Stewart Kennedy provide an update on COVID-19 testing, capacity at the Assessment Centre, current safety protocols and other aspects of our Hospital's ongoing pandemic response. This video is also available on our YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/COVID-19-Nov-2 (Don't forget to hit the subscribe button to be notified of new videos) Your feedback is valuable to us and in order to protect our community dur...ing the COVID-19 pandemic, we will only be accepting and providing feedback through our feedback form available on our website, by electronic mail at [email protected], or by telephone (807) 684-6019. Please provide us with your complete email address and a telephone number when submitting your feedback so that our Quality & Risk Management Team may contact you to acknowledge when your feedback has been received. Local residents who need a COVID-19 test can schedule one by calling (807) 935-8100 or going online at http://tbh.net/bookonline. For questions about COVID-19 symptoms, self-isolation and monitoring, or testing criteria, please contact the Thunder Bay District Health Unit's Infectious Disease Program at (807) 625-5900 or toll free at 1-888-294-6630.

Our Hospital has expanded the #COVID19 vaccination program beyond workers in long-term-care homes and individuals who will administer the vaccine in remote northern communities. The roll-out will now include staff in vulnerable areas such as the Emergency Department and the Intensive Care Unit. (via tbnewswatch.com)

#HappyHalloween! Each year, the Cancer Program at our Hospital selects a theme for Halloween and staff pull out all the stops to create entertaining costumes. This year’s theme was 'Party Animals'. Their playful and clever costuming brought joy and smiles to patients and staff that they encountered throughout the day. If you're celebrating Halloween this year, please do so safely by taking the proper pandemic precautions. Our friends at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit have some great tips on how to stay safe. Visit TBDHU.com/halloween to learn more. We cannot wait to see what next year's theme will be

The Walk the Talk awards program is open to all of our Hospital's employees, professional staff and volunteers and provides a forum for staff to recognize other staff, peer-to-peer, for their exemplary efforts. Nominate a colleague today! For info about award categories and other details, visit https://wtt.tbrhsc.net/ (while on the Hospital's network) or check the Daily Informed Newsletter. Nominators will be eligible to win gift cards, which are to be randomly drawn between ...October and November. Gift cards are valued at $25 and are from The Keg, Mark's, and The Cheese Encounter. The deadline for submission of nominations is November 19, 2020.

Urgent care at our Hospital will always be available to those who need it, and it is safe to attend our Emergency Department to access that care. In order to minimize the risk of spread of #COVID19, those who do not require immediate, urgent care are encouraged to consider other care options, which can be found at www.211north.ca or by calling 211. If you have COVID-19 symptoms, please book a test by contacting the COVID-19 Assessment Centre at www.tbrhsc.net or by calling (...807) 935-8100. Thank you for your commitment and adherence to public health guidelines. The use of masks, maintaining physical distance when possible, and practicing hand hygiene are the best defense against the spread of COVID-19. Your diligence, both inside and outside our Hospital, is appreciated. We are in this together.

Aaron has worked as a Respiratory Therapist (RT) with the Cardio Respiratory Services team at our Hospital since 2011. In addition to his role as an RT, Aaron is also a Neonatal Resuscitation Program instructor, a non-council member of the College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario, an active member of the Trauma/ICU committee, and a valuable resource for the development of departmental policies and procedures. The #COVID19 pandemic has had a tremendous impact on the workpl...ace for almost all professions. It has been especially challenging for front line health care workers like RTs. "We've had to adapt our procedures for COVID-19, which presents its own set of difficulties such as wearing more personal protective equipment and dealing with the ever-changing ‘best-practice’ guidelines, explains Aaron. As a first-time father, it has also been extra challenging to work in a higher-risk environment and then go home to your family." Thank you Aaron and all the RTs out there for your commitment to patient care. #RTWeek2020 (w/ the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists and the Respiratory Therapy Society of Ontario)

On November 20th, Jean Bartkowiak will officially retire as a senior health care leader and as President and CEO of our Hospital and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute. As he enters his final week, Jean shares some personal reflections on his past five years of serving the community.

The TBDHU region will be moving to the Yellow Level of Provincial Framework effective Monday, November 23, 2020 at 12:01am. Read the full media release for deta...ils on what this entails: https://www.tbdhu.com//tbdhu-moving-to-yellow-level-of-pro For clarify, please visit the breakdown of the Ministry's COVID-19 response framework: https://www.ontario.ca//covid-19-response-framework-keepin

Today, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) launches a new Virtual Emergency Department. The Virtual Emergency Department (ED) offers same-day virtual assessments with emergency department physicians. The program is available to people living in Thunder Bay and the surrounding area who are older than 17 years of age, have a non-life-threatening medical issue, and either don’t have a primary care provider or are unable to obtain timely access to one. The Virt...ual ED program provides patients with safe, quality emergency care from the comfort of their homes, said Dr. Bradley Jacobson, Chief of Emergency/Trauma Medicine at TBRHSC. Virtual assessments are a convenient and accessible care option for patients who qualify, especially at-risk patients who wish to avoid a trip to the hospital and time spent in a waiting room during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each virtual appointment will be booked for 15 minutes, allowing time to establish a connection with the patient’s device, review patient details, perform the assessment and determine next steps. Referrals to community programs, specialists, diagnostic imaging procedures, lab work or prescriptions may be provided upon discharge. The virtual assessments will be offered between 12 pm 6 pm and can be booked by visiting tbrhsc.net/VirtualED. Same-day appointments will be made on a first-come, first-served basis to those who are eligible. Appointments take place through secure video chat. To participate, patients need a computer or smartphone with video, a quiet space, and internet access. Based on current and historical trends, up to 30 ED patients per day could be eligible for a virtual appointment. This could translate to approximately 420 patients per month avoiding an in-person visit to the ED. We’re excited about the positive benefits this program will have for our Emergency Department and for our patients and their families, said Lisa Beck, Director of Trauma, Prehospital Programs, Emergency, Critical Care and Nurse Led Outreach Team at TBRHSC. In addition to the convenience of care from the comfort of people’s homes, diverting unnecessary visits to our ED will result in increased overall capacity and reduced wait times for those who still need to attend in person.

Congratulations to Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre on their Trillium Gift of Life Network award for their dedication to saving lives through organ t...ransplantation! I visited this past summer to see their commitment to the community, and how they've been adapting. Visit www.BeADonor.ca to register as an organ donor - it only takes 2 minutes to change someone's life.

The health and safety of all staff, professional staff, patients, care partners and the community is our utmost priority. In response to the rise in COVID-19 cases in Ontario, travel restrictions will be reinstated at our Hospital. Effective Tuesday, October 6th, travel outside of Northern Ontario (Parry Sound to the Manitoba border) in the past seven days will result in a failed entrance screening. These travel restrictions apply to staff, professional staff, patients who r...equire non-urgent care, volunteers, learners, Care Partners and Essential Care Partners and are in line with the recommendations of the Thunder Bay District Health Unit for the protection of our community. We understand that travel restrictions can be difficult, especially for those who are separated from friends and family. However, Ontario has entered the second wave of the #COVID19 pandemic and we must be extra vigilant for the protection of all, including the most vulnerable patients in our care, said Dr. Stewart Kennedy, COVID-19 Incident Manager. Travel restrictions in the first wave were integral to limiting the impact of COVID-19 in our community and Hospital. Your continued understanding and cooperation is highly appreciated. Patients with Care Partners or Essential Care Partners who have travelled outside of Northern Ontario in the past seven days will be permitted to identify an alternate. Our Hospital is committed to helping patients and families stay connected and offers virtual visits through FaceTime and Skype. If you would like to arrange a virtual care visit with a patient admitted to our Hospital, please contact the Telemedicine Department at Tel. (807) 684-6711 or email [email protected] between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. Travel restrictions can change frequently and will be updated as the situation evolves.

Clow Darling has been Thunder Bay’s source for plumbing, heating, and air conditioning for over 80 years. They want to contribute to a strong healthcare future ...in our community with full access to life- and limb-saving cardiovascular surgery. Their generous donation is bringing full cardiovascular surgery to Thunder Bay & Northwestern Ontario, to heal #OurHeartsAtHome! Thank you, Clow Darling! Learn more about the campaign at ourheartsathome.ca

A process is now in effect to schedule appointments at the #COVID19 Assessment Centre located at Confederation College. The Assessment Centre for student and school-related testing opens today. On Friday, it was announced that appointments would be made in person, on a first-come, first-served basis. In accordance with revised Ministry of Health direction, appointments must now be scheduled in advance. Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre has implemented a scheduling... process, effective immediately. To book an appointment for student and school-related COVID-19 testing, please visit www.tbrhsc.net and click on Student and School Related Testing. Appointments may also be scheduled by calling (807) 935-8100. Located in Confederation College’s Sibley Hall Residence Activity Room, the alternative COVID-19 Assessment Centre site improves access to COVID-19 testing for symptomatic students, parents and families, teachers and other school personnel including bus drivers. The COVID-19 Assessment Centre at Confederation College will be open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am 5:00 pm and serve 150 clients per day. Those visiting this Assessment Centre should access it via the College’s William St. (east) entrance. The COVID-19 Assessment Centre site at Confederation College is available ONLY to symptomatic students, parents or siblings, teachers, and other school personnel such as bus drivers. All other community members must visit www.tbrhsc.net or call (807) 935-8100 to secure an appointment at the COVID-19 Assessment Centre at the Hospital or an alternative testing option, as appropriate. The COVID-19 Assessment Centre at the Hospital provides COVID-19 testing to those experiencing symptoms, vulnerable populations and individuals identified as having been exposed to COVID-19. People who do not fit into these groups and who have no symptoms or specific risk factors for COVID-19 do not require testing and will not be seen at either Assessment Centre location.

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre has been recognized by the Ontario Renal Network (ORN) for being among the most improved Regional Renal programs in Ontario. Our Hospital’s Regional Renal Program achieved a high annual growth rate for the Home Dialysis Prevalence indicator. The program’s last four quarters average rate grew by 4.2% during the 2019/20 fiscal year, which is the third highest annual relative growth amongst all programs in the province. The program also achieved its target of a last four quarter average rate of 28.5% for the 2019/20 fiscal year. This means that more renal patients in our region are receiving their dialysis care from home, resulting in improved quality of life.

Effective immediately: we are recommending all residents avoid non-essential travel outside of Northern Ontario. Read the full media release detailing our updated travel recommendations: https://www.tbdhu.com//protecting-thunder-bay-district-tra

Happy #RTWeek2020! Today, we're featuring Dennis, another dedicated Respiratory Therapist at our Hospital. Dennis has worked clinically for most of his career but has recently taken on a new role in the pulmonary function lab. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are noninvasive diagnostic tests that show how well the lungs are working. The tests measure lung volume, capacity, rates of flow, and gas exchange. They are used to diagnose and determine treatment options for certain ...lung disorders such as COPD, asthma, interstitial lung diseases, auto-immune diseases and more. In order to properly conduct a PFT, a patient needs to sit inside a device called a plethysmograph. It's an air-tight box, which looks similar to a telephone booth. Once inside, the patient is instructed to perform various types of breathing techniques. This isn’t always an easy task. It can be difficult for some patients to perform these complex maneuvers. However, Dennis has become an expert at helping patients feel at ease and guiding them step-by-step through these tests. (w/ the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists and the Respiratory Therapy Society of Ontario)

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. For information about breast cancer screening guidelines and where to be screened visit www.tbrhsc.net/cancerscreening.... #BCAM

For today's #COVID19 Situation Report, Tracie Smith speaks with Michelle Hurlbert, a switchboard operator at our Hospital, about how her department responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. This video is also available on our YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/COVID-19-Sept-30 Your feedback is valuable to us and in order to protect our community during the COVID-19 Pandemic, we will only be accepting and providing feedback through our feedback form available on our website, by electron...ic mail at [email protected], or by telephone (807) 684-6019. Please provide us with your complete email address and a telephone number when submitting your feedback so that our Quality & Risk Management Team may contact you to acknowledge when your feedback has been received. Local residents who need a COVID-19 test can schedule one by calling (807) 935-8100 or going online at http://tbh.net/bookonline. For questions about COVID-19 symptoms, self-isolation and monitoring, or testing criteria, please contact the Thunder Bay District Health Unit's Infectious Disease Program at (807) 625-5900 or toll free at 1-888-294-6630.

Now hiring at our Hospital: Respiratory Therapist, Cardio/Respiratory. https://bit.ly/35XwTph Social Worker, Social Work. https://bit.ly/2HIZAxV Washer, Laundry. https://bit.ly/3mxDYmV... Ultrasound Technologist, Diagnostic Imaging. https://bit.ly/2SMVSoJ Administrative Assistant, Regional Remote Patient Monitoring Project. https://bit.ly/2HFWKcP Process Improvement Consultant, Regional Remote Patient Monitoring Project. https://bit.ly/34E4R2C RN, Mental Health Forensic Community O/P. https://bit.ly/37LNWNr Clerk, Complex Centre for Diabetes Care. https://bit.ly/2TAfI7o Please apply electronically as we no longer accept paper applications. Also, please note that we do not accept general applications. You must apply to a specific posting. For more information, contact our Human Resources Department via email at [email protected] or by phone at (807) 684-6218. You can also visit https://jobs.tbrhsc.net/ for a full list of our career opportunities.

There's a relatively new role within the profession of anesthesiology that is getting a lot of attention at our Hospital. Anesthetic Assistants (AA) are specially trained health professionals. They participate in the care of stable surgical patients during various forms of sedation through medical directives under the supervision of the Anesthesiologist. Registered Respiratory Therapists or Registered Nurses who are interested in becoming an AA must enroll in a post-graduate ...program. Several Respiratory Therapists at our Hospital have pursued this training. Leanna (pictured on the right) is a current AA at our Hospital. Standing next to her is Samantha, who is completing her clinical rotation before she is eligible to write her final exams and begin taking on her new role as an AA. Thank you to all AAs out there for their vital contributions to patient care. #RTWeek2020 (w/ the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists and the Respiratory Therapy Society of Ontario)

#OrangeShirtDay is September 30th, a date which historically marks the time of year in which Indigenous children were taken from their homes and brought to residential schools. Orange Shirt Day began in 2013 as a result of residential school survivor, Phyllis Webstad, discussing her experience upon arriving at a residential school. Phyllis's experience is used today to teach students about residential schools and their assimilation practices. In addition to wearing an orange ...shirt on September 30th, this annual event encourages Canadians to learn about the history of residential schools. Many communities have held memorial walks, film screenings, and public lectures to raise awareness about Indigenous history. Additionally, school boards across Canada have begun to use this event to teach children about residential schools. Today, we show our support for Orange Shirt Day. We also encourage you to learn more about the experiences of residential school survivors by exploring the following: Wawahte - Stories of Residential School Survivors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGrJNUCQ-r4 Indian Horse (The life of Native Canadian Saul Indian Horse): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXOGgSFONqs The Secret Path (The story of Chanie Wenjack, created by Gord Downie): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGd764YU9yc In this photo: Crystal Pirie, Senior Director Indigenous Collaboration; Susan Bale, Regional Indigenous Cancer Lead Assistant; Jeannie Simon, Indigenous Patient Navigator; Leona Masakeyash, Indigenous Patient Navigator; and Michael Robinson, Indigenous Spiritual Care Provider. #EveryChildMatters

Investment in knowledge pays the best dividends. That quote by Benjamin Franklin is especially true today in our fast-changing world. For example, ongoing training is crucial to ensure laboratory staff at our Hospital can learn the latest techniques. Thanks to the Dr. Douglas Rathbone Scholarship Fund, lab staff can apply for $1,000 in funding to help them upgrade their knowledge and skills and ultimately improve patient care. The scholarships are provided thanks to an endowment that was created in Dr. Rathbone’s memory. Read more: http://bit.ly/RathboneScholarship

Today's ceremony commemorates our Hospital's support for #OrangeShirtDay, an annual event that encourages Canadians to learn about the history of residential schools and a reminder that #EveryChildMatters.

NOSM welcomes the School’s first internationally sponsored clinical fellow. Dr. Abdulrahman Ahmad of Kuwait recently started a year-long fellowship hosted by NO...SM and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. The fellowship marks a historic first for NOSM. http://ow.ly/SH1F50BElcS L’EMNO accueille le premier titulaire d’une bourse de recherche clinique subventionnée par un commanditaire étranger. Le Dr Abdulrahman Ahmad du Koweït a récemment commencé un stage de chercheur-boursier d’une année à l'EMNO et au Centre régional des sciences de la santé de Thunder Bay. https://www.nosm.ca//nosm-welcomes-the-schools-first-inte/

Happy #RTWeek2020! Respiratory Therapists (RT) are an important part of the medical teams that provide care within hospitals, clinics, the community and in the homes of patients. There are 30 Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT) employed by our Hospital. They work in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Neonatal ICU, Emergency Department, Operating Room, stress lab, pulmonary function lab, and on the units that provide care for inpatients with respiratory needs. Vince Ruberto is... the new face of the Cardio Respiratory Services department at our Hospital. Vince, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology, began his career as an RRT at Port Arthur General Hospital in 1991, and returned to school to complete his Bachelor of Education in 1996 at Lakehead University. He worked casual as an RT and as a substitute teacher for many years, working his way up in the Cardio Respiratory Services department. These days, Vince provides leadership for the Cardio Respiratory Services team, works as the department's charge therapist, and is the Clinical Coordinator for the student RTs from Canadore College (w/ the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists and the Respiratory Therapy Society of Ontario)

We're celebrating Respiratory Therapy Week from October 25th-31st. Respiratory Therapists (RTs) are highly-skilled health care professionals. They have specialized medical expertise and use their knowledge and skills to provide safe, high-quality care. If you have medical problems that may be caused by cardiorespiratory or respiratory-related issues, RTs are the experts who will work with you to diagnose, treat and manage your condition. Within our Hospital there are always R...Ts working hard 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They can be found in the Emergency Department (ED), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Neonatal ICU, Paediatric ICU, and are on call for all inpatients. RTs perform a number of vital roles throughout our Hospital. They are called for all high risk deliveries including C-sections, traumas, conscious sedations, cardioversions, puffer administration and education, arterial blood gases, insertion of arterial catheters, non-invasive mechanical ventilation, (like CPAPs or BiPAPs), high flow oxygen therapy, and so much more. This year, throughout the #COVID19 pandemic, RTs at our Hospital and across Ontario have been working tirelessly to keep the community safe from the novel coronavirus. They have been an absolutely vital part of the front line care team working against COVID-19. Pictured here in the Ibn Sina Simulation Lab at our Hospital are some members of our Respiratory Therapy team: Erin, Tanya, Robyn, Robynn and Bruno. You may recognize them from running around our Hospital, preforming some of the tasks in their wide scope of practice. Join us in thanking the dedicated people that work in this highly-skilled, highly-specialized profession. Happy #RTWeek2020! (w/ the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists and the Respiratory Therapy Society of Ontario)

Saturdays Are For The Girls is an annual charitable golf tournament, and we're so grateful that this year they chose to donate to our Northern Cancer Fund for B...reast Cancer! This past weekend these fantastic women raised $3,835 to support better breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and research right here in Thunder Bay & NWO. Thank you!

The chance of getting breast cancer increases with age. In Ontario, breast cancer usually develops later in life, with over 83% of cases diagnosed in women over age 50. The Ontario Breast Screening Program recommends that most women ages 50 to 74 get screened with a breast cancer screening mammogram every 2 years. For information about breast cancer screening and where to be screened visit www.tbrhsc.net/cancerscreening.

The members of the Italian Society of Port Arthur are proud to support the Our Hearts At Home campaign to bring cardiovascular surgery to Thunder Bay so patient...s and their families don’t have to travel for this life- and limb-saving care. Thank you to all members of the Italian Society of Port Arthur! Your donation is bringing cardiovascular care to Thunder Bay & Northwestern Ontario, so we can heal #OurHeartsAtHome. Learn more at www.ourheartsathome.ca

Our Hospital is committed to helping patients and families stay connected with virtual visits through FaceTime and Skype. If you would like to arrange a virtual care visit with a patient admitted to our Hospital, please contact the Telemedicine Department at Tel. (807) 684-6711 or email [email protected] between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Rod Morrison & Lesley Bell support care close to home and want to ensure our future includes local access to cardiovascular surgery. Thank you, Rod & Lesley! Yo...ur donation is bringing cardiovascular surgery to Thunder Bay & Northwestern Ontario, so we can heal #OurHeartsAtHome. Learn more about the campaign at ourheartsathome.ca

Effective immediately, the Hospital’s #COVID19 Assessment Centre is implementing the guidelines set by Ontario Health. Those who contact the Assessment Centre but do not have any symptoms, no known contact with an identified case and are not part of a high risk group such as health care workers, education workers or first responders, will be turned away in order to prioritize testing for those who really need it. Some exceptions will be applied, such as for those who require a test in order to visit a loved one who is in Long-Term Care.