Coughing, sneezing, sore throats, fever and muscle aches— respiratory illness season is here.

Hospitals across Ontario are seeing an increase in emergency department visits for flu-like and respiratory illnesses, which can contribute to longer wait times.

If you think you or your loved one has a respiratory illness, it’s important to monitor your symptoms. Antibiotics have no effect against a viral illness like the flu. Most healthy people recover from the flu on their own within 7 to 10 days with rest, fluids and over-the-counter medication to reduce fever or aches.

If you don’t start to feel better after a few days, your symptoms get worse or you are in a high-risk group, visit Health811 online or call 811 to speak with a health care professional 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You may also be able to use another healthcare option to get the care you need more quickly if your condition is not urgent: https://nbrhc.on.ca/patients-visitors/care-providers/community-resources/

If you or your loved one develops severe symptoms requiring medical attention, such as persistent or increasing difficulty breathing, signs of dehydration with dry mouth or no urination or a prolonged or very high fever (5+ days), do not delay seeking emergency care. Patients entering the hospital with fever or respiratory symptoms must wear a mask.

If you are coming to NBRHC for care, please be kind to our teams. They are working very hard to provide the best care possible as quickly as they can.

With the holiday season fast approaching, it’s important to take all necessary precautions to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy. Getting your flu shot is the best way to remain protected against the most severe outcomes of infection, including hospitalization caused by the flu.

Other protective measures include staying home when you are sick, washing your hands often, and covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze.

To learn more about symptoms of respiratory illness and the tools available to help you and your family stay protected, visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/protection-respiratory-illnesses

Today the North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC) is sharing some important changes the community can expect at the hospital over the next six months. These same changes were shared yesterday by NBRHC leadership with staff and will include an increase in parking, changes to how some services are accessed, and staff layoffs.

In order to meet budget requirements, NBRHC is making the difficult, but necessary, adjustments to its budget and operations for an annual reduction of $5.6M when fully implemented.

JOB LOSS

• 40 positions (full-time and part-time roles): it is anticipated that the number of employees impacted could be much lower based on new positions (14 roles), offers of early exit, retirements, attrition and movement to other positions.  

PARKING RATE INCREASES

• applies to all public rates effective January 1, 2026: one time exit pass will be increasing by $1.25 to $7.25. Other parking options include Day Pass $10.00; 7 day pass $30.00; 14 day pass $45.00; and 30 day pass $65.00.  (Lost ticket pays Day Pass rate $10.00)

 PHYSICIAN LEADERSHIP MODEL CHANGE

• reducing the number of physician leadership positions effective January 1, 2026: reduction of 20% with no change in physician numbers. 

“We have done everything in our power to meet our financial target and find savings equal to 2% of our budget,” says Paul Heinrich, President and CEO.

“Hospitals face a number of complex challenges including operational pressures, financial constraints and an increased demand for services,” Heinrich says. “Our priority is always to protect and maintain access to health care.”

Heinrich says it is important to openly acknowledge the stress this causes for our staff, physicians, volunteers, and patients. “NBRHC is focused on working collaboratively with the Government of Ontario to find both funding and operational solutions to create a more innovative and sustainable future for the communities we serve.”

Whether you’re a high school student exploring future career paths, a medical student planning your next steps, or a physician looking for new opportunities, don’t miss our Family Medicine Career Opportunities Open House.

Ask questions, gain insights, and connect with physicians for future opportunities.

Saturday April 19, 2025, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | North Bay Regional Health Centre (50 College Drive)

Register now: physicianrecruitment@nbrhc.on.ca

Download a pdf version of the poster here

Dr. Aaron Van Vliet is no longer a practicing physician at the North Bay Regional Health Centre. With this change, comes the need to reschedule some orthopedic patients.

We understand the disruption these changes are having on our patients and their families, and also appreciate the frustration many are feeling.

Please note that patients with referrals that were sent directly to Dr. Van Vliet’s office who have not yet been contacted for an appointment at the North East Joint Assessment Centre (NEJAC) should contact their primary care provider for a new referral.

All other patients will be contacted as follows:

Patients scheduled for surgeries: the Hospital will be contacting these patients to offer a choice of alternate surgeons to perform the surgery;

NEJAC patients: patients already assessed by NEJAC will be contacted by NEJAC staff and offered a choice of alternate surgeons to perform the surgery.

Thank you for your support and patience as we work as quickly as we can to contact all those impacted. Should you require additional information, please contact the office of the Chief Nursing Executive and Vice President, Clinical, Joanne Laplante.

The holidays can be one of the busiest time for emergency departments. Increases in respiratory illnesses like influenza and gastro bugs; slips and falls; and reduced hours for other health care services can contribute to longer wait times in the ED.

Hospitals are a 24/7 operation and are often the back up when other health care options are not available.

To help avoid non-urgent visits to the ED, consider refilling medications, scheduling any needed medical appointments, and making sure all medical equipment (such as inhalers, respirators) are in good working order. Check out the holiday availability of walk-in clinics for our area, or connect with a registered nurse day or night for free, secure and confidential health advice by calling all 811 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007) or chatting online. Take time to find supports and put your mental health first.

If you do need to come to the Emergency Department over the holidays, here are some things you can do to have a more comfortable wait:

• Bring any medication you might need to take in the next few hours
• Have food and drinks available (there are vending machines located near Emergency and throughout the facility, if needed)
• Come prepared with electronics and a charger

Our team works to prioritize patients needing emergency medical care and the sickest—or most emergent—patients are seen first. Patients who come in with an issue that is not urgent will be triaged accordingly.

We are grateful to our dedicated healthcare workers and administrative staff for your continued care for our community and wish everyone a safe and happy holiday. We thank you for your continued understanding, patience and kindness.

Today, the North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC) issued an emergency department (ED) wait time alert for July and August. The Health Centre continues to see higher than average patient volumes, combined with ongoing health human resource and capacity pressures, resulting in longer wait times for care in our ED.

Hospitals across the province are facing similar challenges, as visits to the ED increase during the summer.

“Summer can be a very busy time for the ED, when individuals are put at a higher risk of injury due to an increase in popular outdoor activities and an influx of people visiting northern Ontario,” explains Dr. Lisa Harman, Medical Director for the Emergency Department. “These factors, coupled with ongoing staff and physician shortages, means we are operating above capacity and seeing double digit wait times (over 10 hours) in our emergency department.”

When patients first arrive at the ED, the sickest—or most emergent—patients are seen first. Patients who come in with an issue that is not urgent will be triaged accordingly. And when volumes are as high as they have been, unfortunately that means wait times for lower acuity care goes up.

Dr. Harman acknowledges it can be frustrating to wait when volumes are high, but staff try to see patients as soon as they can. “We want to help you, we want to be there for you,” she says. “We will provide the fastest quality care that we can, but please be aware that it is busy in the ED and things can change minute to minute.”

Know your health care options: how our community can help

• Patients who do have access to a primary care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner) are encouraged to book a visit for non-urgent care, or attend one of the community walk-in clinics.
• Seek health-related advice from a registered nurse by calling Health Connect Ontario, 24/7 at 811 or chatting online.
• Book an appointment to speak to your local pharmacist. Some pharmacists in Ontario can now assess for 13 minor illnesses or conditions (urinary tract infection, cold sore, pink eye, tick bites, skin rashes).
• For a mental health concern, call the crisis line at 1-800-352-1141.
• For non-urgent care that requires an ED visit, explore other emergency services.
• Visit NBRHC’s wait time tracker to familiarize yourself with the current time to see a physician.  Peak time is usually Sunday to Tuesday with the longest wait times occurring in the afternoon to early evening.
• For critical or life-threatening conditions that need immediate attention, continue to call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency department.

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Contact:
Communications Department
communications@nbrhc.on.ca

National Public Safety Communicators Week April 9-15, 2023
Patient and family thank the Ambulance Communication Officer who helped save his life

When Krista Tucker Petrick woke up to her husband Marc in cardiac distress, she knew she had to call 911 immediately.

“I called 911 while trying to remember all the things I learned in my First Aid and CPR course,” Tucker Petrick says. “Thanks to the amazing 911 operator on the other end of the line, I was able to do CPR for six minutes until EMS could arrive.”

It was Ambulance Communication Officer (ACO) Scott Levasseur who answered that 911 call on September 29th, 2022. Levasseur quickly took control of the situation, determining the exact address of the emergency and other critical information from the caller.  He determined that the patient had suffered a sudden cardiac arrest and remained on the phone while ensuring the caller started CPR immediately.

At the time, Tucker Petrick didn’t know the person on the other end of the line. In honour of National Public Safety Communicators Week (April 9-15, 2023), she and her husband had the

opportunity to meet and thank the ACO who helped save his life. “Because of CPR, I kept his blood moving long enough for professionals to take over.  Because of CPR, he came home,” Tucker Petrick says.

Each April, the North Bay Central Ambulance Communications Centre (CACC) joins other Emergency Communications Centres across Canada in celebrating the second full week of April as National Public Safety Communicators Week. This week honours the thousands of men and women who answer emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment and render life-saving assistance to citizens.

Ambulance Communications Officers in our region receive more than 36,000 medical and fire calls a year for assistance. On-duty 24/7, 365 days a year, this work is critical to the chain of survival—but the staff performing this vital function are rarely visible.

Marc Picard, CACC Manager, says while an emergency call takes only a few minutes, in a crisis it can feel much longer and the call taker must remain calm when most callers are anxious, distraught or confused. “Despite the short time they are involved with the caller, the dispatchers are an essential part of the circle of care,” Picard says. “Dispatchers rarely get to meet the people they help, who are usually just a voice on the end of the line they talk to until the ambulance arrives.”

Picard also says two ACOs were presented with their first stork pins. Stork pins are presented to CACC staff involved in a baby’s delivery — a joyous part of a job that is often filled with tragedy. Erin Lamont and Ian Wassink both played critical roles in two separate calls, each coaching parents through the safe delivery of babies after calling 911.

This year three North Bay CACC employees also received their years of service pins from Mark Daniw, Director Emergency, CCU and Ambulatory Services. These employees were: James Sutherland; 5 years, Raymond King, 15 years; and Marc Picard, 25 years.

For many, the emergency department (ED) is not always the most appropriate place to seek medical care. In fact, many health issues can be better addressed at another care setting—if patients know how and where to access it.

That is the goal of a new partnership between the North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC) and the AIDS Committee North Bay and Area (ACNBA), which sets out to expand health care options for patients in vulnerable communities.

The NBRHC and ACNBA’s collaboration is providing more options for treating wounds in the early stages, minimizing complications before they can occur, helping reduce emergency visits and hospitalization.

Wounds are a disruption of the normal structure and function of the skin. Factors like age and chronic illnesses have a direct impact on the body’s natural ability to heal from a wound, putting individuals at risk of developing infections and other complications. To support ACNBA to be able to respond effectively to common injuries, the Health Centre is supplying products for wound care.

“ACNBA has long been a low-barrier access point to the medical system and place to access wrap-around medical care for those in our community who are vulnerable, stigmatized, underserved, and unhoused,” explains Stacey Mayhall, Executive Director, ACNBA.  “This collaborative partnership supports us in a very tangible way in continuing to provide low-barrier care and follow-up treatment in the community. We look forward to the ideal of a community with no wrong door when it comes to accessing care and the benefits to both patient and providers of that model, and we look forward to collaborating for the benefit of our clients and community.”

This partnership comes at a time when hospitals across the province are facing staffing and capacity pressures. “With the usual seasonal surge in respiratory illnesses combined with the sustained strain on our healthcare system, our ED continues to be extremely busy, leading to long wait times for some non-urgent care needs,” says Paul Heinrich, President & CEO, NBRHC. “The opportunity to collaborate with ACNBA allows many patients to receive low barrier medical care and follow-up treatment in the community, diverting as many as 125 emergency visits a month.”

This new, collaborative effort is part of the City of North Bay’s Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Plan to foster a safe, healthy and inclusive community.

The plan, which is required under the Police Services Act, sets out how partners across different sectors can work together to build upon the community’s strengths while also addressing gaps in the community’s safety and well-being landscape. Ultimately, the Plan aims to meet locally identified goals, outcomes and objectives through evidence-based outputs and actions.

“This simple acknowledgement and sharing of medical supplies for greater efficiencies, demonstrates what can be done when we take a step back, listen, and learn, with our community partners,” says Brent Kalinowski, City of North Bay CSWB Coordinator. “Guided by our Community Safety and Well Being Plan, the emergency room benefits, the systems benefit, and most importantly, our community and medical patients benefit when we adopt a collaborative mindset for common goals.”

For more information on the CSWB Plan, visit https://www.northbay.ca/our-community/community-safety-and-well-being/

PICTURES:

Paul Heinrich, President and CEO of North Bay Regional Health Centre; Keri McGuire-Trahan, Hepatitis C Nurse Practitioner at AIDS Committee of North Bay and Area; Brent Kalinowski, Community Safety and Well Being Planner at the City of North Bay; and Stacey Mayhall, Executive Director at AIDS Committee of North Bay and Area.

Keri McGuire-Trahan, Hepatitis C Nurse Practitioner at AIDS Committee of North Bay and Area; Paul Heinrich, President and CEO of North Bay Regional Health Centre; and Stacey Mayhall, Executive Director at AIDS Committee of North Bay and Area.