Prairie North Health Region works with $278.5 M budget

Prairie North Health Region has announced a balanced budget for 2015-16, despite challenges of a “difficult fiscal year ahead.”

Board members from Prairie North Regional Health Authority approved an operating budget of $278.5 million, which, according to the organization’s news release, focuses on priorities of seniors’ care, primary health care and acute care.

The plans include $1.9 million in renovations and upgrades to facilities, $1.5 million on new and replacement equipment, and $1.6 million on information technology infrastructure and patient/staff safety and security systems. Capital management, capital equipment and IT budgets were also approved.

Highlights include the following:

• optimizing patient access and services at the new Primary Health Centre in Lloydminster, bringing the family physician complement to nine;

• developing a new physician clinic with walk-in, evening and weekend access for patients in North Battleford;

• enhancing access to physician, lab and medical imaging services on, and in partnership with, Onion Lake First Nation;

• expanding the Home First program to Battlefords Home Care and continuing the Home First program launched last year in Lloydminster;

• the new 60-bed Lloydminster Continuing Care Centre;

• improvements at Lloydminster Hospital including bringing the third operating room into operation, optimizing care for mothers and infants in the redeveloped Maternity Unit, and enhancing respiratory therapy services;   

• purchase of two new ambulances to replace one each in Cut Knife and Meadow Lake;

• new fluoroscopy equipment for Battlefords Union Hospital;

• new patient bedside monitoring system for Lloydminster Hospital High Care Unit;

• new nurse call systems at Cut Knife Health Complex, Battlefords District Care Centre and Battlefords Union Hospital to enhance patient safety;

• roof replacement at St. Walburg Health Complex; • 21 new full-time equivalent positions to support Better Care and Better Health enhancements identified above as well as IT services and support;

• 5.5 FTE term positions co-funded by the Ministries of Health and Corrections and PNRHA, going to planning and development of the new Saskatchewan Hospita.

PNRHA also continues to work toward replacement of Northland Pioneers Lodge in Meadow Lake and remains committed to the project.

“A lot of hard work and soul searching has gone into what is to be funded this year, when there are many needs and significant financial pressures,” said board chair Bonnie O’Grady in a statement.

“To be able to deliver the investments approved in the 2015-16 operating and capital budgets when we expected that dollars would not be found or available is incredible.”

She commended RHA’s Finance Committee, senior leadership team, directors, managers and staff for their hard work in developing the balanced budget.

Prairie North CEO David Fan noted the work done to come up with the budget as Prairie North had faced a potential $4 million deficit at the start of the process.

“Through the diligence and creativity of proposals through our senior leaders, their directors, managers and staff, we have been able to present a balanced budget plan – without cuts or drastic changes,” said Fan in a statement.

“The budget maintains programs and services at last year’s levels and meets the most critical needs for enhancements for 2015-16."

The priorities and improvements from last year’s budget plans are also being implemented, he said.

Credit was also given to the region’s foundations, trust funds, auxiliaries and communities toward many of the capital purchases and improvements in the news release.

“We would not be able to proceed on these acquisitions and improvements without the contributions of these organizations and individuals,” O’Grady said.