Respect. Continues to Grow: Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Joins City-Wide Initiative

Joined by representatives from the City of Thunder Bay, the Crime Prevention Council, and the Anti-Racism Advisory Committee, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) staff and Patient and Family Advisors announced their commitment to the respect. initiative, showcasing what it means for the care they provide and its goal in creating a respectful community.

TBRHSC knows that excellent patient care is built upon their fundamental core values: patients first, accountability, excellence, and respect. With one the of the core values being ‘respect’, TBRHSC saw a great fit with the city-wide respect. initiative, which they are proud to officially embrace in the way they deliver care to patients as well as the way staff interact with each other.

“Respect is a core value in our organization and is interwoven into our everyday business of providing excellent patient and family centred care. As a core value of TBRHSC, respect means that we will honour the uniqueness of each individual and his/her culture,” said Rod Morrison, Executive Vice President, Health Human Resources, Planning and Strategy. “This initiative is a powerful one, because it provides the foundation for which our ability to provide excellent patient and family centred care is supported, and it applies to everyone.”

For patients at TBRHSC, respect can define how patient care is delivered and received. “As patients, we expect that when we come through the hospital doors that we will experience a certain level of respect. As Patient and Family Advisors, it is our obligation to make sure patients, their families, and staff practise a high level of respect each and every day,” says Keith Taylor, Lead Patient and Family Advisor.

The respect. initiative was originally developed by students and staff at Confederation College. The City saw the need to expand the initiative to the broader community, and with the College’s support, they launched the initiative on March 21, 2012 – the annual International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Since then, more than 50 community organizations, City departments, local schools and agencies have embraced the initiative. From a grassroots initiative, its deep-seeded roots in human rights speak to all citizens of Thunder Bay and the way they want to experience this community.

Councillor Paul Pugh thanked TBRHSC for joining the initiative, saying “Given the significant role that TBRHSC plays in our community, their commitment to respect. reflects the values of the organization and demonstrates their commitment to creating a workplace where respect is the norm, and where the uniqueness of each individual is honoured.”

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