Connecting Patients and Families: Free WiFi Now Available at Health Sciences Centre

Staying connected to family and friends while at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) has become a lot easier. Thanks to a partnership with Tbaytel, free WiFi is now accessible to patients, families and visitors throughout the hospital.

“We’re thrilled to be able to offer free WiFi to our patients, families and visitors,” said Jean Bartkowiak, President  & CEO.  “Providing WiFi is about more than convenience and technology – it’s another opportunity for us to enhance patient experiences. It is through partnerships and collaboration that we are able to advance and be healthy together. Fortunately, we have a great community partner in Tbaytel and they have enabled us to provide this much needed service without having to divert funds away from direct patient care initiatives.”

“Tbaytel’s free public WiFi network is helping to create a smarter, more connected city by providing reliable high speed internet access at meaningful locations across Thunder Bay where the people who live here can really benefit the most,” said Tbaytel President & CEO Dan Topatigh. “We are so pleased to now be able to add the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre to the list of hotspot locations that make up Tbaytel’s public WiFi network in the hope that the service will make each visit to the hospital easier for patients and their families.”

In the spirit of true partnership, the Tbaytel and Health Sciences Centre teams worked closely through the installation and testing of the WiFi service. “We couldn’t have done this without Tbaytel,” said Dawn Bubar, Senior Director of Informatics at the Health Sciences Centre. “We are absolutely committed to the integrity of our infrastructure system. Although we’ve known the demand for WiFi has existed for quite some time, fiscal restraint made it impossible for us to do it without compromising our existing infrastructure. Our partnership with Tbaytel is what made this possible and I thank them for their support and commitment.”

“Tbaytel has been instrumental in our community, across our region and even right here at the Health Sciences Centre, at the Tbaytel Tamarack House, in helping us connect to those we love,” said Glenn Graig, President and CEO, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation. “Today’s announcement expands on that service and follows Tbaytel’s commitment to making our neighbourhood the best it can be, by providing the missing piece in our ability to provide a connected environment for patients and families.”

Our Health Sciences Centre is a leader in Patient and Family Centred Care, consistently improving the overall patient experience. Offering free and convenient access to the internet contributes, and will greatly benefit patients, families and visitors of the Health Sciences Centre.

“When you or someone in your family has to stay in the hospital, the need and ability to stay connected becomes paramount,” said Keith Taylor, Co-Chair, Patient and Family Advisory Council, TBRHSC. “Free WiFi makes it so much easier to share important health updates and information with loved ones during what can be a difficult time. As a visitor, it helps to pass the time when we’re at the bedside of a sleeping family member. As patients, it helps us stay connected to our work while we are here for care. It’s something our patients have asked for, and I’m proud that today we have made that wish a reality.”

Media contact: