The 112-page Prairie North Regional Health Authority annual report for 2015-16 has been released.
The report covers the period April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016, and reports on a number of key areas and initiatives in the health region over that period.
Heading up the highlights, according to PNRHA, is the start of construction for the replacement 284-bed Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford. The project is targeted for a June 2018 completion at a cost of $407 million.
Other highlights cited include expansion of the Home First/Quick Response pilot program to the Battlefords. The program, already in place for a year in Lloydminster, enables clients to stay and be supported at home and progress to other care options as their needs change.
The opening of a new 60-bed Lloydminster Continuing Care Centre, built and owned by the province of Alberta and operated by Prairie North, and the launch of the first-ever Adult Day Program in Lloydminster for clients and their caregivers, was cited as another highlight.
There has been expansion in access to primary health care with more appointments available at primary health centre sites in Lloydminster, Maidstone, Meadow Lake, North Battleford and Turtleford. The percentage of patients who have missed appointments has decreased and wait times have also been reduced.
The report also points to improved access to Mental Health and Addictions Services.
Reduced emergency waits and improved patient flow due to the purchase of the Twin City Medical Clinic in North Battleford and addition of two family physicians has been achieved.
Enhancements to mandatory occupational health and safety training for workers was implemented.
A Patient- and Family-Centred Care Advisory Committee was established and an Open Family Presence policy adopted that eliminates set visiting hours in acute care hospitals.
Finally, there has been expanded education in quality improvement concepts and principles.
Prairie North CEO David Fan pointed to the annual report itself as an example of the health region’s ongoing improvement.
“The report clearly connects our 2015-16 improvement plan – what we said we would do at the start of the year – with what we achieved or fell short of achieving by the end of the year,” Fan said in a statement.
“Our work targeted four key service lines: emergency department waits and patient flow, mental health and addictions, primary health care, and seniors' care – all in support of the four goals of the provincial health system, which are better health, better care, better value and better teams.”
Looking back on the past year, PNRHA board chair Bonnie O’Grady noted the focus was on health care delivery.
“Our focus was on delivering patient- and family-centred care – our overarching principle – based on our foundational principles of employee and patient safety and a region-wide culture of improvement in all of our daily work,” said O’Grady in a news release.
“I commend the efforts, initiative and commitment of our team of nearly 3,700 health professionals in direct care, supportive services, administrative and governance roles for doing their very best for our patients, residents, and clients.”
The Prairie North 2015-2016 annual report is online at www.pnrha.ca.
