March, 2011

Message from: Angèle Brunelle, Chair, Board of Directors, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

Many people are taking the time to express how grateful they are to have received great care at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. These expressions of gratitude are coming to us from patients and families around the world. I am thankful that our TBRHSC healthcare team members are immersing themselves into people’s lives, making a noticeable difference.

Great care doesn’t just happen. Our caregivers plan for it. For example, you may have heard that we are moving through the initial phase of our next ”Strategic Plan”. During this process, we are seeking to engage people who will take a moment to share their thoughts about the future of acute care and how we and our partners can improve it in the future. We want to hear from community stakeholders and from regional stakeholders. We want diversified representation of lay people and seasoned professionals. And, we want to do it in a way that will garner consensus.

As we seek ways to achieve our goals together, I was reminded recently how vulnerable our regional partners-in-healthcare are. Members from communities north of Superior met in Marathon with leaders from the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) to think about ways to improve care even though resources are constrained. It was obvious, the challenge is formidable.

Besides basic primary care, time, distance and related costs to get to specialist care is a challenge. Each community hospital has local issues not unlike ours at TBRHSC in that a critical mass of resource is needed just to meet local needs. For example, even Alternate Level of Care (ALC) strategies are daunting. Most small communities that are forestry and/or mining based are comprised of citizens that have come from elsewhere and do not bring extended families with them. So when authorities propose that patients go “home first” before deciding on a longer term care option, there is no one at home to receive them. These are matters that healthcare leaders are going to have to deal with if we are going to influence short and long term outcomes.

We can do it. I know that we can do it. As we develop our new TBRHSC Strategic Plan we will forge innovative renewal that will make us all proud. I am aware that in these times of dwindling resources, it is clear that we must build consensus with our partners in order to move ahead. We can’t “go-it-alone”; collaboration will get us to our destination. That is why we are being so diligent. People’s lives matter.

Respectfully,

Angèle Brunelle, Chair
Board of Directors