PRAIRIE NORTH HEALTH REGION RECEIVES FUNDING FOR CREATING A HEALTHY WORKPLACE

Prairie North Health Region has received $220,950 to spend on a project devoted to developing a high-quality, healthy work environment.

Saskatchewan Health is providing Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) $1.79 million in funding to spend on quality health workplace initiatives. This funding is designated for nine new projects in seven health regions, through a competitive process, with priority given to partnerships between one or more health regions and/or other health organizations. Projects focus on areas such as employee morale, job satisfaction, turnover rates, absenteeism and injury rates.

Prairie North Health Region identified its priority for creating healthy workplaces. Its funding goes toward preparing managers to be better leaders through education and training.

"This funding will help us continue to create quality workplaces, a key component of our retention and recruitment efforts, as outlined in our Action Plan for Saskatchewan Health Care," Health Minister John Nilson said.

"We are thrilled to have been successful in our application for the funding," Prairie North Regional Health Authority CEO David Fan said. "Educational opportunity is a key component in a quality health workplace. We see the project as another means of positively influencing the work environment, as managers learn more and better skills with which to move our organization forward."

"By focusing on quality workplaces, we help make Saskatchewan a more attractive place for health care workers to stay and practice their profession," Government Relations Minister and The Battlefords MLA Len Taylor said.

Saskatchewan Health has distributed the funding from the $66 million pledged to the province at the 2004 First Ministers' Meeting, along with additional provincial funding.

Improving the work environment of health care professionals is one of a variety of initiatives aimed at retaining and recruiting key health professionals to Saskatchewan.

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For More Information, Contact:

Linda Lewis Prairie North North Battleford Phone: (306) 446-6625