The board of directors for the Sun Country Health Region held their monthly business session in Weyburn on Jan. 29 and learned that the physician shortage is easing, especially in Weyburn. A new primary care clinic has now opened in that city and will be staffed with four new doctors, they heard.
Marga Cugnet, CEO and president, reported the overall time lost to illness or other medical needs has been reduced and that 73 per cent of Sun Country's 2,400 employees received flu immunization shots this year.
On the financial front, John Knoch, the region's vice-president of finance and corporate services, noted that the system continued to run on a modest surplus as of Dec. 31 even with a slight increase in maintenance costs associated with some unforeseen repairs.
"We need to remain vigilant through this quarter so we can get to the end of the fiscal year with a balanced budget," Knoch said.
Knoch also reported on the Radville long-term care construction project, noting there had been completion schedule changes and that the completion date has now been moved forward to April of this year with a resident move-in date set for July.
The construction of a new long-term care and primary care facility in Kipling is moving on schedule, he said even with a few work order changes that have involved consultation with the local health foundation.
The board was also pleased to hear of a generous donation schedule established by Mainprize Manor in Midale to be directed toward the construction of a new hospital in Weyburn. They also approved the purchase of just over $54,000 in equipment for the manor that will be carried out by their trust fund.
Contained within the CEO's report was information regarding the physician count within the region, where it was noted that in April 2013, Estevan and Weyburn had nine doctors each while Oxbow and Radville had two. There were single physician practices in Arcola, Redvers and Carlyle while Kipling did not have any. That total came to 25 physicians whereas the count is now 33 and does not include specialists, physicians working in administration, locums or itinerant physicians.
She said the goal is to attract at least seven more physicians to practice in the region.
Cugnet also noted the wait list for physiotherapy in Weyburn had been growing and there were currently two vacancies in that department that needed to be filled.
During the past two months, SCHR hired 17 registered nurses, one licensed practical nurse, one occupational therapist, two cooks and one out-of-scope staff member.
Resignations during that same period included seven RNs, three LPNs, one occupational therapist, and two out-of-scope staff.
Fifty bursaries have been awarded since April 1 of last year including three for medical doctors, 40 in RN programs and one LPN and one in occupational therapy along with two in emergency medical training and two in the primary care paramedic program.
The report noted that one medical student who is currently a resident physician will be completing his studies in 2014, and the region is in discussion with him regarding a placement.
In December, it was also noted that seven non-physician medical students had accepted placements at St. Joseph's Hospital in Estevan to support their training, primarily in nursing programs. In January, there were 12 clinical placements for students with one in St. Joe's emergency room, one in St. Joe's dialysis program, one in Estevan's home care services, four in obstetrics and four in pediatrics.
The board also voted in favour of an incremental increase in Cugnet's wages. Board chairwoman Marilyn Charlton said the increase will be noted and recorded after it is enacted in time for the February business session.
