SASKATCHEWAN TAKES LEAD TO IMPROVE SURGICAL ACCESS FOR PATIENTS

The provincial government and the Saskatchewan Surgical Care Network (SSCN) launched two initiatives today as part of the government's strategy to improve the surgical care system for patients, as outlined in The Action Plan for Saskatchewan Health Care.

The first initiative, the Surgical Patient Registry, will track all patients needing surgery in the province. The second, the Patient Assessment Process, will help doctors determine a patient's level of need for surgery. For example, patients needing a hip or knee replacement would be assigned a rating by their doctor based on various criteria, such as pain level and loss of mobility. Taken together, these initiatives will improve fairness among patients requiring surgery, and will assist with surgical management decisions.

"Saskatchewan is leading the country with the implementation of the most comprehensive surgical care system strategy aimed at giving patients fair and timely access to surgery," Health Minister John Nilson said. "As a result of placing priority on surgical access, Saskatoon and Regina Health Regions are showing fewer people on wait lists and an increase in the number of surgeries being performed. The SSCN led initiatives that we are announcing today will help us continue with that trend."

The health regions of Five Hills (Moose Jaw), Prince Albert Parkland (P.A.) and Sunrise (Yorkton) have fully implemented the Registry and Patient Assessment Process. Other health regions with surgical services (Regina Qu'Appelle, Saskatoon, Cypress, Prairie North, Kelsey Trail, Heartland and Sun Country) will begin using these new processes in the coming weeks. The Five Hills Health Region tested the initiatives in a pilot project earlier in the year.

"No other province has stepped forward with such a comprehensive strategy to improve surgical care and ensure patients fair and timely access to surgery. The Saskatchewan Surgical Care Network is very pleased to be working with health partners from across the province on innovations like these," SSCN Chair Dr. Peter Glynn said.

"Saskatchewan specialists were consulted in the development of this promising and innovative method of assessing patient urgency," Chief of Surgery for Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region, and SSCN member Dr. Mark Ogrady said. "The SSCN plans to continue to work with physicians to change and perfect the tools and the process to ensure the best possible outcome for all surgical patients in the province."

"With the reports generated by this registry, administrators and physicians will have a better understanding of the Region's surgery waitlist and the relative urgency of each patient, providing a useful tool to help us continue to manage our health system resources effectively," Chair, Five Hills Regional Health Authority Dale Toni said.

Health Action Plan initiatives already underway include the government's investment of $13.2 million in 2003-2004 to enhance surgical services in the Health Regions of Regina Qu'Appelle, Saskatoon, Five Hills and Prince Albert Parkland, where the majority of surgeries are performed.

The SSCN is an advisory body of physicians, health care providers, provincial regulatory agency members, health training organization representatives and health system administrators, appointed by the government to oversee improvements in Saskatchewan's surgical care system. The SSCN's public Web site is at www.sasksurgery.ca

Each year in Saskatchewan about 90,000 surgeries are performed. Data gathered from Saskatoon and Regina Health Regions show fewer people on surgical wait lists, and a higher volume of surgery being done. Between April 2002 and March 2003, Saskatoon and Regina had 53,192 operating room cases, an increase of nearly 2,000 over 2001-02.

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For More Information, Contact:

Mark Rathwell Health Regina Phone: (306)787-4083