The Sunrise Health region has approved the operational budget for 2014-15. The budget consists of revenue totaling $214,850,836, with expenditures of $212,839,986 and $2,010,850 going towards replacement reserves and repayment of mortgages and loans.
This budget comes on the heels of a budget shortfall in the 2013-14 year, which saw a reduction in the general operating fund of $1,843,071. Lawrence Cmos, board chair, says that the shortfall puts extra pressure on in the new year, as they have to come back from the deficit and avoid a similar shortfall.
The primary reason for the shortfall is employee overtime and sick time, Cmos says. Seventy-seven per cent of the expenditures for the region, and Cmos admits that the region has work to do in this area.
"We certainly don't want anyone to come to work that is ill, and employee wellness is very important to us. I think it's a matter of monitoring our facilities to see if there are things that we can do to assist our employees into better health."
Reduction in injuries is going to be a priority, Cmos says, and they plan on working with employees in order to find safer practices, in order to improve both employee health and reduce the number of expenses due to sick leave.
The region is not looking at dramatic change, Cmos says, but they're going to try strategies like lean management and inventory controls to save money over the year. He says that the lean management has seen benefits in care already, and they want to keep going in that direction.
There will be investments in the coming year as well, Cmos notes, all with the goal of improving patient health.
There will be continued efforts in recruitment and retention of employees, which Cmos says is a challenge in today's market.
Key for the region is also investments in technology, and Cmos says that the region wants to keep up to date because it's in the patients' best interest, and there will be investments in that area as a result.
Two big openings for the region will be the Integrated Primary Health Care Centre in Yorkton and the Collaborative Emergency Centre in Canora, and Cmos says that the quality of delivery of care will improve significantly with the new facilities, as well as contribute to the region's goal of reduced emergency room wait times.
"The key is to have to have the right service for the right person for the right time, and a strong primary healthcare centre will do that."
The budget as submitted is balanced, and Cmos says it's going to be hard work to make sure the budget is met and keep the quality of service high at the same time.
