Sun Country Regional Health Authority learned about several new initiatives in the Health Region at its meeting on September 29.
Regina Ear, Nose and Throat specialist Dr. J.R. Fritz will begin holding clinics the first week of October at Weyburn General Hospital (WGH). Dr. Fritz plans to provide surgical services in subsequent months.
Interim Sun Country Health Region (SCHR) CEO Marga Cugnet told the Regional Health Authority "we will be training local staff to perform audiology screening for him while he has his clinics." She said local operating room staff members are pleased with the prospect of assisting in more surgeries.
Implementation of the Releasing Time to Care (RTC) program is proceeding at WGH. Staff members have developed a new vision for their ward and are starting work on what is called the Well Organized Ward (WOW) module to identify wasted time and methods that need to be changed to release time for patient care.
The Mental Health In-patient Unit at Tatagwa View will be the first program in SCHR to join the RTC program in January.
Consistent with SCHR's mandate to increase access to primary health care by planning and educating how these services are organized, funded and delivered, Cugnet noted that Primary Care Services have been expanded in several areas in SCHR.
"The Arcola Health Care Corporation is providing physician services to Stoughton two days per week and to Lampman one day per week. The communities are happy with the arrangements to date," she said.
Since the Arcola/Carlyle area now has four physicians, one nurse practitioner has returned to providing services to Lampman and Midale.
Two new physicians, Dr. Lettie Kgobisa and Dr. Milly Hlatshwayo, have arrived in Redvers. Clinics commenced in the summer and final arrangements are being made for the second physician to complete requirements.
An EMS radio replacement project for all ambulances within the Region was also completed this past summer.
"Some of the "bugs" are being worked out, but staff members have accepted the new system readily," said Cugnet.
