SUNRISE HEALTH REGION RECEIVES FUNDING FOR CREATING A HEALTHY WORKPLACE

Sunrise Health Region has received $106,715 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.

Sunrise Health Region identified its priority for creating healthy workplaces. Its funding goes toward hiring a healthy workplace coordinator, whose occupational health and safety activities will help reduce absenteeism and increase job satisfaction.

"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 very excited about this funding and the opportunities it affords," Sunrise Regional Health Authority CEO Joe Kirwan said. "Creating a healthier work environment that is sustainable for employees benefits our entire organization and the residents that we serve."

"By focusing on quality workplaces, we help make Saskatchewan a more attractive place for healthcare workers to stay and to practice their profession," Deputy Premier and Yorkton MLA Clay Serby 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:

Scott Donaldson Sunrise Health Region Yorkton Phone: (306) 786-0733