The Critical Care Unit (ICU) is a 22-bed Level 3 unit that serves Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario. ICU cares for approximately 1350 critically ill patients per year including approximately 20 paediatric patients. Types of patients include respiratory failure, heart failure, stroke, and postoperative patients requiring close observation. The Emergency Department (ED) provides a wide array of clinical services ranging from acute critical care management (trauma, cardiac arrest) to non-urgent care conditions (sore throats, chronic disease management) for all ages, as well as access to a full range of specialty care. In 2011/2012 there were 109,165 patient visits compared to 103,374 visits the previous year. The Trauma Program provides coordinated specialized trauma care to patients in Thunder Bay and region. In addition to inpatient services, the trauma team provides outpatient trauma follow-up, expertise in wound care, and is involved with several strategies related to injury prevention. The program provides care to approximately 300 patients per year. The Northwest Region Base Hospital Program provides medical direction, online medical control, advanced care skills training & certification, quality management, continuing medical education, and guidance to land ambulance paramedics between Manitouwadge and the Manitoba border. This area includes 29 land ambulance service stations and over 300 Primary Care (PCP) and Advanced Care (ACP) paramedics.

Patient Outcomes

  • Working with Adult Mental Health, the Emergency Department (ED) identified key components to improve psychiatric care and management, patients now have increased privacy thanks to two new interview rooms in the ED;
  • Improved transitions in care thanks to a recently developed Critical Care (ICU) inter-facility policy for chronic ventilator dependant patients in collaboration with community partners;
  • Low wait times for non-admitted patients and physician initial assessment, in part thanks to a new triage registration process, Rapid Assessment Zone for select patients and strategies to help patient flow;