Noting that the Canora Hospital renovations were on track for the move to be completed October 19, the Sunrise Health Region board members discussed at their September 30 meeting the official opening planned for November 19.
With the renovations completed, the newly-renovated space in the Canora Hospital is now called the Canora Health and Wellness Centre.
The board was told that as the public becomes acquainted with the medical clinic services now being offered at the hospital, the public will have to be informed that patients are being asked to use the northwest entrance when attending for appointments at the new Centre.
During the grand opening event on November 19, tours will be available for the general public.
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Lawrence Chomos, the board chairman, reported that he attended two of the region’s Rapid Process Improvement Workshops (RPIWs) and three Mistake Proofing Projects. The first RPIW focused on increasing access of diabetes clients to the diabetes education team. The second RPIW focused on reducing the time it takes for long-term care admissions and enhancing the experience for future residents and their families.
The mistake proofing projects that took place in the region focused on reducing wait times in the emergency department, creating a sling inspection process and creating a process to ensure that falls risk assessment documentation is done within 48 hours after a patient falls so that corrective action can be put in place to prevent future falls.
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Two meetings were held over the summer with representatives of the Saulteaux Pelly Health Initiative to discuss partnering. Proposals for a formal partnership are being developed, Chomos said.
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In her report to the board, CEO Suann Laurent said that the region will be welcoming surveyors from Accreditation Canada. During the week of November 16, the health region’s fifth-annual accreditation survey will be conducted.
Accreditation is a voluntary process that allows the region to evaluate and improve the quality of services and assesses services using national best practice.
Surveys are conducted once every three years and assure clients that the health services they receive are safe, efficient, and reliable because they meet established national standards of quality.
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One of the two nurse navigator positions arising from the work of the Saulteaux Pelly Health Initiative has been filled, Laurent reported. The successful candidate began orientation on September 21. The interview process has begun for the second position.
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A team of Sunrise employees and a family member of one of the residents at the Invermay Health Centre, came together recently to focus on how they could ensure that every interaction they made with their residents was a purposeful one.
On September 17, 2015, the team reported the results to the rest of the region.
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The board was told that transition to the new KBro linen processing plant in Regina took place on September 14.
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Based on a study of bed utilization and needs in the region, changes were made to some bed designations in long-term care, the board was told.
Due to underutilization, a respite bed in each, the Invermay Health Centre, the Lakeside Manor Care Home and the Norquay Health Centre was converted to permanent longterm care beds.
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Dr. Deborah Djan has been hired effective September 30 as the full time regional locum. She will be primarily located in Preeceville until the new physician arrives.
The board was told that a physician newly recruited for Preeceville is currently in the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA) program.
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The board was informed that Sunrise Health Region is now on Facebook. The page can be found by searching Sunrise Health Region when signed into Facebook. The page will provide updated community health information.
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The Information Services Plan for 201516 was presented to the board and approved. The plan includes roll out of the Radiology Information System, RIS/PACS, to Canora Hospital, Kamsack Hospital, Preeceville Hospital, St. Anthony’s Hospital and St. Peter’s Hospital. RIS/PACS allows for diagnostic information to be available securely and electronically to physicians in the region.
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The next meeting of the board is scheduled for October 28.
