Health Care Providers Week recognizes front line personnel
Everyday, Saskatchewan’s health care providers work to ensure that every resident receives quality health services throughout the province.
October 27, 2013 marks the beginning of Health Care Providers’ Week, highlighting the important work these professionals provide every day to improve the lives of the Saskatchewan people.
“Health care providers play a vital role in our province,” says Saskatchewan Health Minister Dustin Duncan. “Their dedication and professional service has a significant impact on the lives of patients and their families.”
Health care providers are the front line of health services. They provide everything from caring for long-term care residents, to Registered Nurses working in hospitals and public health, to surgeons. In addition to providing services like diagnostic exams and vaccines, they also offer patients advice and support to help them navigate a complex health system. By working collaboratively, they enhance the experience of every patient and family.
Their commitment goes beyond their day-to-day responsibilities. Many health care professionals assist in training the next generation of health care workers by helping students with practicum and clinical placements.
The provincial government has many initiatives designed to improve health care across the province. The Northern Health Sector Training initiative offers training opportunities for northern Saskatchewan residents. This is a partnership with employers, training institutions, federal and provincial governments and First Nations stakeholders. Training to date has been in the areas of practical and registered nursing, community health care workers, addiction counselors and health directors.
Nurse training is offered in a distributed model, making it easier for more students to participate in the training. Practical Nursing programs are offered across Saskatchewan and Registered Nursing programs are now offered in five communities.
Also, under the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses and Saskatchewan Government partnership, 800 new Registered Nurses/Registered Practical Nurses have been added to the system, many in urban areas.
Recruitment focuses on physicians, as well, to meet growing demand for doctors across the province.
Saskdocs, the provincial physician recruitment agency, supports the system by recruiting physicians from across Canada and the world as well as by engaging students at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine about practice opportunities in the province.
In order to ensure the best possible candidates are available to work in the province, Saskatchewan’s physician assessment program – Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment – evaluates the skills and abilities of physicians from many countries for eligibility to practice in the province.
The government’s commitment to enhancing the work health providers do also focuses on improving care models and practices like a collaborative emergency centre.
There are also grants and bursaries available for continuing education and the Ministry of Advanced Education offers the graduate retention program.
Looking ahead, the Ministry of Health, together with health sector partners, is working cooperatively to ensure the province has a sufficient number of qualified skilled providers to meet Saskatchewan’s future needs.
Planning for the future also includes aligning health care programs with priorities, and providing better technologyenabled education supports to providers. Giving the right people the tools and supports they need to do their jobs will create a stable and positive future for health care in Saskatchewan.
“We’re working to ensure we have the right complement of health care providers to offer the best possible patientfirst care for our province,” says Minister Duncan. “We are grateful for the role they play in all areas of the health care sector.”