SASKATOON HEALTH REGION AWARDED RETENTION GRANTS

Saskatoon Health Region's health employees at Royal University Hospital can look forward to an improved workplace, thanks to retention initiatives funded by workforce retention grants offered by the provincial government.

One of the Saskatoon Health Region's projects involves providing funding for a clinical nurse to offer on-the-spot support and mentorship for nursing staff in Royal University Hospital's Intensive Care Unit. This support contributes to increased job satisfaction and improved patient care.

Another project is to develop and implement enhanced employee engagement that will create a sense of belonging through relationship building, which will enhance employees' productivity.

Another project is to develop and implement a curriculum for RNs caring for high acuity adult patients outside of critical care. This will improve professional development and result in a safe and supportive workplace. Funding for the these retention initiatives is $238,200 in total.

Health Minister Don McMorris announced today approximately $1.9 million in funding for 37 innovative projects - recommended by health professionals - that will benefit a wide range of workers through out the province. This funding is part of the Health Workforce Employee Retention Program, which supports creative, grassroots initiatives designed to help keep health employees working in Saskatchewan's health care system.

"The enthusiastic response to our retention grants has been great," Saskatoon Sutherland MLA Joceline Schriemer said. "The best retention innovations often come from health providers themselves - they know what will work best in their workplaces - and this program makes use of that valuable knowledge."

"These grants will directly benefit the people we serve in Royal University Hospital's fast-paced intensive care unit, which admits more than 900 high acuity patients each year," Saskatoon Health Region president and CEO Maura Davies said. "The clinical resource nurse will be highly visible and responsive to the needs of staff for advanced problem solving, mentorship, equipment troubleshooting and overall support, which will reduce pressures on senior staff and increase retention in the unit."

Projects were initiated by health employees and other providers, employers and provincial health sector organizations. Details on the workforce retention program are posted on the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health website at www.health.gov.sk.ca. This completes the $25 million funding for the retention and recruitment plan previously announced.

The government has identified retention and recruitment of health care workers as a priority. The Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) and government of Saskatchewan signed a partnership agreement in 2008 committing to work together to solve Saskatchewan's shortage of registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses. Under the SUN/Government Partnership Agreement, any retention initiatives specific to nursing can be forwarded to the Joint SUN/Health Region Recruitment and Retention Committee for consideration. The government has committed $60 million to support this work.

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For more information, contact:

Karen Hill
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083

Linda Walker
Saskatoon Health Region
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-655-3328