Board Chair Message - April 2010

I continue to marvel at how well we cope with the number of patients that come to TBRHSC to receive acute care treatment. Often, we are declaring “Code Gridlock” which means that we have no more room for patients. Yet, we care for all newcomers by placing patients in treatment rooms, in alcoves, and in corridors. It is not ideal. But, it is all we can do.

Our Emergency Department continues to see extremely high volumes and the latest reports indicate that if these rates continue, we will set new records. Congratulations to the teams of healthcare workers who provide great care and try to keep wait times to a minimum.

We do not anticipate this pressure to let up any time soon as the whole system of care needs to be streamlined so that acute care patients can move through their acute care phase and then to their rehabilitative phase elsewhere in the community and region. It is a capacity issue.

Our Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, Deb Matthews, visited us recently. She is being kept apprised of our issues. We are grateful for her continued support as we are now moving ahead with the planned expansion to the Angioplasty Suite. The Request for Proposal has gone out and work will begin soon. As we know, people who needed to travel great distances to receive cardiac care are now able to stay closer to home. A lot of great initiatives have been accomplished since we moved into this new facility six years ago.

TBRHSC continues to be an “economic engine”. The spring hire is underway and we are welcoming new graduate nurses to our facility. Among the life-long learning opportunities, the research arm of the Health Sciences Centre, TBRRI, will provide them with the chance to participate in bench-to-bedside care as they work in a state-of-the-art facility.

As I write this report, I must take a moment on behalf of the Board of Directors to extend our sympathies to the Perales family on the passing of Doctor Gonzalo Perales. He was a member of the medical/privileged staff at the Health Sciences Centre for over 25 years and will be missed by physicians, staff and his patients.

Finally, I look forward to seeing many of our coworkers from healthcare facilities in Northwestern Ontario at the Spring OHA Conference later this month in Thunder Bay.

Thank you for your continued support.

Ingrid Parkes, Chair
Board of Directors

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