The approximately 40 people who attended the Prince Albert Parkland Regional Health Authority annual general meeting Sept. 14 at the Big River Community Centre heard a presentation on strategies to improve aboriginal health care.
Information was provided on the Southcentral Foundation in Alaska, which is a world-class primary care delivery system delivering services for aboriginal peoples in communities throughout Alaska.
As part of a provincial delegation, region staff and some community members learned how the organization has been able to reduce emergency rooms visits and hospitalization rates by focusing on primary care, chronic disease management and the promotion of healthy lifestyle choices.
The presentation focused on the organization's team approach, which included physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, therapists and other providers. The clients are seen by the most appropriate professional who can meet the care requirements.
Other presentations included a review of the 2010011 auditor and financial results, population health status and physician recruitment. In addition, the region's 2011-12 priorities for infrastructure, the surgical value stream and cost containment were profiled.
Lesley McLeod, infection control practitioner, made a presentation, which reviewed the results of the 2010 Accreditation Canada survey, and outlined efforts to ensure the Region is meeting standards for both infection control and sterile processing during the regular board meeting in Big River. Issued identified by Accreditation Canada have been addressed.
This includes: policies and procedures for loaned, shared, consigned, and leased medical devices; written requirements for education, qualification, and competency of staff involved in the reprocessing of endoscopy devices; and a system of shared tasks to ensure the sterilization area is properly cleaned and that cleaning is documented
Other efforts to ensure best practices for infection control include: the centralization of sterile processing, which has been in place since May 2010; significant decrease in number of flash sterilizations in the Victoria Hospital Operating Room since last accreditation survey; hand hygiene audit with a plan to improve compliance with best practices; policy and procedure developed and implemented for involvement of infection control in high risk construction and renovation projects.
Prince Albert Parkland Health Region has an operating surplus of $1,073,593 for the month of July 2011. This brings the year to date surplus to $1,215,269.
The quarterly statistical report shows Victoria Hospital has experienced a slight increase in the number of inpatients, while the emergency room visits have declined by about nine patients per day. The community oncology program has experienced a significant increase in patients and visits. Laboratory volumes are increasing throughout the region. The brief and social detox program has seen an increase in the brief detox admissions and a decrease in social admissions, but with total admissions having increased from 931 to 1,033. Ambulance trips have increased for the region as a whole.
The next regional health authority meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011 in the main boardroom at 1521- 6th Ave. W., Prince Albert. The meeting begins at 1 p.m. There is no meeting scheduled for October.
