Board Chair Message - February 2006

As I mentioned in my January Note, the Board of Directors of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is embarking on an aggressive plan of renewal as we prepare our Strategic Plan for the next few years.

Within the Plan are numerous initiatives that must be carefully completed to ensure success. For example, we have surveyed our physicians and staff to gain a deeper understanding of their needs and working environment. From this large group of people of over 2,500, we have asked representatives to join us to assist with the development of our plan. We must assure our internal healthcare workers and our external stakeholders that we want to deliver “world-class health care” – as our Vision Statement declares.

Already, there is good news from Patient Care Services. They have received funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to enhance nursing worklife, recruitment, and retention initiatives. This valued and essential group of people is working on Mentorship, New Graduate, and Late Career Strategies.

As I reviewed the documents, the goal of Mentorship is to train senior nurses throughout the region, not just at TBRHSC, to act as clinical preceptors for new graduates and nursing students. It is my understanding that all hospitals in NWO will be sending staff for training. We know that our investment in telehealth, which connects us to our region, will greatly assist us in this regard. It speaks to our being “connected” at the press of a button, and yet able to carry on our personal and working lives no matter where we might live.

The second Nursing strategy is the creation of nine new graduate nursing internships which will provide additional training to new graduates being hired into specialty nursing areas such as the Operating Room, Critical Care and Oncology. As we look to the needs of the future, this is a welcome addition to our “teaching” Regional Health Sciences status.

A third initiative is a “Late Career” strategy. We want our nurses to stay with us. So, those over the age of 50 will be encouraged to move beyond traditional “bed-side” nursing to use their accrued experience. They could do this by taking positions related to education of our patients, staff and occupational health.

We are excited about our healthcare future. We have reason to be. Our leadership team, staff, physicians, volunteers, and our regional partners are preparing to serve the acute care needs of our area with a renewed vision.

In conclusion, I want to commend our President and CEO, Ron Saddington, for the exceptional work he is doing in leading us through turbulent waters while achieving great things for the people of Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario. He has been a courageous leader. I also commend him for his desire to assemble the best people he can find to assist him achieve the goals of TBRHSC. I want to name one recent addition - Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr. Gordon Porter. He has been hired as our new Chief of Staff. Dr. Porter has already made a significant impact on our institution. He brings a very positive and energetic presence to this all-important position. We are extremely grateful.

Until next time, the Members of the Board continue to thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Ron Nelson, Chair
Board of Directors

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