Report from Susan Fraser Chair, Board of Directors September, 2014

I am thrilled to begin my third term as Chair of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s (TBRHSC) Board of Directors. It is my pleasure to welcome two new members to the Board of Directors: John Friday and Gerry Munt. I am proud to serve alongside a dedicated group of volunteers who are committed to ensuring the success of the Strategic Plan for the benefit of patients and families.

TBRHSC is in the final year of its current Strategic Plan, and I am pleased to report that it is over 87% complete at this time. As autumn approaches and many of us gear up for the return to busy routines, it is clear that, at TBRHSC, the pace is constant. Over the summer months, we celebrated several successes that demonstrate our progress.

• Representatives from Cancer Care Ontario signed a relationship protocol with Nishnawbe Aski Nation. This agreement is a way for our organization to strengthen the relationships within the First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. We celebrate working together to advance healthcare that is centred on the patient and takes into account the unique needs of Aboriginal peoples.
• A new End of Life policy at TBRHSC gives patients greater control over the level of resuscitation they receive in the event of a cardiac or respiratory arrest or unexpected deterioration. The new policy brings greater clarity in the form of five “Code Status Levels”. These levels will give patients a better understanding of their options and of the level of resuscitation they will receive should they become unstable or critically ill.
• This summer TBRHSC and local farmers teamed up to bring healthy, local produce and products to the third annual TBRHSC Fresh Market. Eating healthy and locally go hand-inhand when it comes to health education and healthy behaviour change; the TBRHSC Fresh Market combines education about both as well as the fresh produce and products.
• The release of the 2013 Cancer System Quality Index revealed that TBRHSC continues to demonstrate its commitment to quality cancer care. While we can take great pride in the services we offer, there are areas where we can improve and we are committed to taking action to achieve better results. As well, we are appealing to the public to be more active in cancer prevention. Healthy lifestyle choices are the first, and a critical, line of defence in the fight against cancer.

I take this opportunity to thank the dedicated staff, physicians and volunteers for their ongoing dedication to patient care. They are responsible for all of our successes.

Respectfully,

Susan Fraser

TBRHSC Board Chair