There were several motions passed at the monthly board meeting of the Sun Country Heath Region, on March 29. One of these was a motion to approve the demolition of the old location of the Kipling Memorial Health Centre.
“We have been in the new facility for just over two years now, and have been discussing demolition of the old building with the town and ministry,” said retired CEO Marga Cugnet, in a call with the Mercury.
A motion was made to reject a request to construct a helipad at the Galloway Health Centre in Oxbow. Cugnet stated that after a consultation with the Ministry of Health and STARS, it was determined that STARS could safely land their helicopters in Oxbow, without use of a formal helipad.
Cugnet stated that Sun Country has begun its work on preparing a 2017-18 budget, adding, “The board got an overview of what we received from the ministry, with a target of the status quo.”Cugnet said now that the board has the actual fiscal numbers, they are analyzing what the specific impacts of the provincial budget will entail, and what needs to be done to present a balanced budget. More details on Sun Country’s 2017-18 budget will be available after its May board meeting.
Sun Country’s long-term care (LTC) survey’s results were released at the meeting, and indicated an overall 95 per cent general satisfaction rating across the region from patients, and an overall 93 per cent rating from their families. There was a strong degree of approval of experiences with, and services provided at facilities across the region in the survey.
At the meeting, it was disclosed that 88 per cent of direct care staff were trained within LTC guidelines by March 17. This is above the provincial average for direct staff training, which is 43 per cent.
The subject of primary health care goals within the region was given attention at the meeting, with the board discussing a review of a series of measures of primary health-care success.
“We actually review how long it takes for patients to get an appointment, to measure how well we’re doing, in meeting patient needs,” said Cugnet. “Our target is four days, and even with all the recruitment of physicians, we’re not yet meeting that target.”
In a primary health-care update, it was disclosed that the regional wait time for the month of February was 18 days.
“It’s something we review with staff, to see if there’s a different way to be booking appointments, trying to look at the process, to ensure our patients are getting good access to physicians, and appointments in primary health care,” said Cugnet.
Cugnet said recent work done to meet the expectations entailed in region hoshin goal improvement project. She said the board has those objectives continually tracked to ensure that the region is meeting the goals entailed in each hoshin improvement.
“One hoshin was a partnership between primary health and mental health. We have two hoshins a year,” said Cugnet.
It was reported that the project was on target for the goal to improve access to patients and reduced emergency departments by 60 per cent – a goal that is set to be achieved by 2019.
Another aspect of that hoshin is a 10-year mental health and addictions action plan that outlines how to enhance access to support, improve prevention and intervention, co-ordinate services, respect diversity, partner with First Nations and Métis people, reduce stigma, create awareness, transform the system and sustain that change.
Recruitment was discussed at the meeting as well. Cugnet said that recruitment efforts in the region are an ongoing effort, as they try to fill vacancies for physicians.
A physician candidate summary released at the meeting, for Feb. 28, indicated that Dr. Ishpinder Singh Ranu has joined the Carlyle primary health care clinic, and that Dr. Saloomeh Oudji joined the Radville practice on March 1. Oudji will also be providing weekly clinics in Coronach. Dr. Amir Minoo started in Redvers on Feb. 2, and will be transferring to Kipling in May.
“For the most part, Sun Country has all its vacancies filled. We were in a tough spot five or six years ago. Fifty per cent of our physician spots were empty and we didn’t have any candidates,” said Cugnet. “It’s very deliberate, and there’s lots of work by the province and region done, in recruitment and working with local communities that services are in place in a timely fashion.”
