Sun Country News

Live Well program helps you to live better

SCN::Admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:09:40 +0000

The Live Well™ self-management program is for those people who are living with or caring for someone with a chronic illness. That includes diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, chronic pain, kidney disease, stroke, asthma, depression and others.

This community-based program is led by trained peer leaders, many who have chronic conditions themselves and can model healthy lifestyle choices.

Topics covered in the program include effective communication strategies for loved ones and health professionals, dealing with difficult emotions, goal setting and action plans, medications, nutrition and physical activity.

Since Sun Country Health Region started offering the Live Well™ program in 2008, its team of Peer Leaders have offered 15 sessions to 125 participants in eight different communities.

The free of charge, six-week program was offered in the fall of 2011 in Kipling, Weyburn and Carlyle.

Keep your eyes peeled for our brand new, bright green and orange, province-wide promotional posters and brochures. If you are interested in learning more about the program, becoming a Peer Leader or to register for future sessions please contact (306) 842-8711.

How to apply for a job

SCN::Admin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:03:38 +0000

1. Where to find a list of jobs available in Sun Country Health Region.
Jobs are posted in each designated facility area.
Jobs are posted on our website at www.suncountry.sk.ca

2. How long do you have to apply for a posting?
CUPE Postings are posted for 7 days.
CUPE Relief Postings are posted for 7 days or 48 hours.
SUN Postings are posted for 10 days.
HSAS Postings are posted for 10 days.
OSCOPE (Out of scope) Postings are normally posted for 7 days.

3. Postings are posted every Tuesday by noon (www.suncountry.sk.ca) Deadlines for applications are listed on each posting, applications must be received to Human Resources by closing date and time.

4. How to apply for a SCHR posting?
You can apply online at www.suncountry.sk.ca
You can apply in person to Human Resources department
Or Fax your application to 842-8740.

5. For internal applications for all Sun Country employees: please attach a copy of your qualifications if indicated on posting.

6. Internal Applications must be filled out for each posting for which you are applying. Applications for CUPE employees only – relief posting’s only (flagged with “R”)

7. It is the employee’s responsibility to ensure the application has been submitted and received at Human Resources department for each job. You should receive an email confirmation if the application was received.

* Applications must be received at Human Resources department before closing date and time.

Rural West makes the finals

SCN::Admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:54:47 +0000

The Rural West Primary Health Team in Sun Country Health Region has been selected as a finalist for the 2012 Saskatchewan Healthcare Excellence Awards. The Rural West team is dedicated to the continuous improvement of the health of the population in the Radville, Pangman, Bengough and surrounding areas. The team is made up of two physicians, three home care nurses, dietitian, office staff, facility manager, team facilitator, regional director of primary care, retail pharmacists in two communities, students from a variety of health care disciplines, and regional allied health care professionals like therapies and mental health services, nurse practitioner. In the back row, from left to right, are Candace Kopec, Shelley Hoffart, Colette Pierson, Wanda Miller, Dr. Werner Oberholzer, Kelly Fish, Dawn Geiger, Kim Borschowa. In the front row are Laura Wood, Susan Viergutz, and Deanna Nimegeers.

Missing from the picture are team members Natalie Bieberdorf, Delee Foley, Mary Deren, Debbie Donald, Marion Kerney, Pat Kessler, Lisa Knudsen, Pat May, Leila McClarty, Kristen Mitchell, Duane Schulz, Donna Wolfe.

Congratulations Team!

Wound Care workshop for staff

SCN::Admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:42:12 +0000

A workshop to promote excellence in wound care across the continuum of care will be offered in SCHR in Weyburn on April 26, 2012 at the Canalta Hotel. It is one-day course, jam-packed with excellent Wound Care Management education.
This is the same education session that was offered in Estevan in November. It was really great Wound Care education day with excellent reviews from the nurses that attended in Estevan!

Regional Expectations:
Offering educational sessions is one of recommendations from the Regional Skin & Wound Committee to increase staff knowledge on Wound Care in Sun Country Health Region. Managers have supported the educational philosophy of best-practice wound care.

Nursing Opportunities:
To increase their knowledge to feel confident and gain competence to provide evidenced based Wound Care to their patients/clients/residents in SCHR.

This is a valuable course to maintain nursing competencies.
This course includes:
Evaluation and management of various types of wounds
Understanding Infection
Appropriate Dressing Selection
Management of Pressure Ulcers
Case studies

Cost: $40/participant includes course, meals & refreshments.
Time: 8:30-15:30
This program is a great opportunity for all nurses in SCHR and it is recommended for ALL nurses working in Home Care, ER, LTC, and Acute Care - from the BASIC to the ADVANCED wound care nurse. It will be presented by Convatec.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
Colleen Scharnatta, RN BScN
Sun Country Health Region
Home Care South – RN/Case Manager
Regional Skin & Wound Resource Nurse
Phone: 458-2300 or 637-3630

2012 Chronic Disease Inventory

SCN::Admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:39:18 +0000

Where can I find mental health services in Sun Country Health Region?
Where in this Region can I go for 24 sexual assault support, or some education about diabetes?Where is a Nurse Practitioner available?
The answers to all of those questions are available on the Sun Country Health Region Chronic Disease Inventory. The new 2012 version is posted here http://www.suncountry.sk.ca/service/170/88/chronic-disease-inventory.html

Lab Services in SCHR

SCN::Admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:21:47 +0000

Did you know Sun Country Health Region offers lab services close to you?
Lab services and hours of operation
Arcola Health Centre
607 Prairie Avenue
Arcola
455-2771
Monday to Friday, 7:30-5 p.m.

Bengough Health Centre
400-2 Street. W.
Bengough
268-2840
Monday to Friday, 8-4 p.m.

Coronach Health Centre
240 South Ave. E.
Coronach
267-2022
Monday to Friday 8-4 p.m.

Fillmore Health Centre
100 Main Street
Fillmore 722-3855
Monday to Thursday 8-4 p.m.

Gainsborough and Area Health Centre
312 Stephens Street
Gainsborough
685-2277
Monday to Thursday 8-1:30 p.m.

Galloway Health Centre
917 Tupper Street
Oxbow
483-2958
Monday to Friday 7:30-5 p.m.

Kipling Memorial Health Centre
803 1 Street
Kipling
736-2553
Monday to Friday 7:30-5 p.m.

Lampman Health Centre
309 2 Ave.
Lampman
487-2563
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 8-4 p.m.

Pangman Health Centre
211 Keeler Street
Pangman
442-2044
Monday 8-1:30 p.m.
Thursday 8-4 p.m.

Radville Marian Health Centre
310 Railway Ave.
Radville
869-3322
Monday to Friday 7:30-5 p.m.

Redvers Health Centre
18 Eichhorst Street
Redvers
452-6463
Monday to Friday 7:30-5 p.m.

St. Joseph’s Hospital
1176 Nicholson Road
Estevan
637-2408
Monday to Friday 7:30-5 p.m.

Wawota Memorial Health Centre
609 Choo Foo Crescent
Wawota
739-2306
Monday to Thursday, 8-4 p.m.

Weyburn General Hospital
201 1 Ave. N.E.
Weyburn
842-8447
Monday to Friday 7:30-5 p.m.

The View from the desk of Marga Cugnet, Interim CEO – January

SCN::Admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:43:29 +0000

Technology is not the sole answer to the provision of more efficient and effective health care. We know that without the human touch, and compassionate human thought, we might as well provide health services with robots.

But the effective use of good technology can be very exciting. Telehealth is a great example.

Sun Country Health Region has dramatically expanded the availability of this service in the past five years to patients, their families and our staff.

We now have sites at Arcola Health Centre; Bengough Health Centre; Coronach Health Centre; St. Joseph’s Hospital – 3 sites; Fillmore Health Centre; Galloway Health Centre, Oxbow; Radville Marian Health Centre; Redvers Health Centre; Wawota Memorial Health Centre; Weyburn Community Health Services Building; Weyburn General Hospital; Kipling Health Centre; Tatagwa View and Gainsborough Health Centre.

We have requests for seven more sites, which we hope to add in the near future.

These sites can be connected to any of the thousands of Telehealth sites in the world at any time, night or day, and inter-connected to one another.

What can this do for you?

1. Telehealth allows you to see a specialist close to home, rather than traveling hours or days for what might be a 15-minute appointment. That is a critical benefit for our residents, in a health region with as many small, rural communities as we have.

It saves driving time, expense and inconvenience, both for the patient and client, and for the health care provider. Imagine not having to worry about parking or driving to unfamiliar destinations!

Specialists don’t like to spend hours driving to appointments any more than patients do. In fact, with Telehealth, we potentially have better access to a wider variety of specialists that we did previously. Patients are booking regular appointments with physicians inEdmontonandToronto, as well as those inSaskatchewan.

A random sampling of time, between Jan. 12 and Feb 4 of this year, shows that patients and clients from all over the Region will avoid driving 23,870 kilometres by using Telehealth services. That’s just in three weeks!

This number does not include the large amount of driving time saved in that same period by our staff members, who often attend education sessions or meetings by Telehealth. Those are sessions they may not have been able to attend because of cost or the lack of replacement staff.

2. Telehealth allows for more collaborative medical practice, which is the way of the future.

Our Telehealth interconnections make it possible for many different kinds of health care providers to hear directly what the specialist has to say about a patient/client. In other words, with the patient’s approval, another member of your health team, like a public health nurse, Autism Spectrum Disorder worker, Group Home Supervisor, Teacher or member of the Regina Wascana Rehabilitation Team can join your appointment with your specialist.

A family member from another health region can even join your appointment.

This team approach can reduce mistakes and misunderstandings and help both patients and providers understand what’s going on.

The opportunities are endless: appointments for mental health counselling, wound checks for post-operative care, disease management for dialysis patients. In fact, research shows that patients feel they get a better service and, in some circumstances, are more satisfied with the services provided by Telehealth than with a personal encounter.

Telehealth is only one of the new technologies we use to help us help you. It can work wonders. For further information, discuss options with your specialist, family physician, or other health team professional.

Stomach flu making the rounds in the Region

SCN::Admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:25:38 +0000

Sun Country Health Region (SCHR) has experienced an increase of gastrointestinal illness (stomach flu) during the last couple of weeks. The Region has seen the impact in its emergency rooms, and has two norovirus outbreaks in its health care facilities.
Dr. Shauna Hudson, Medical Health Officer and Dr. Alain Lenferna, Vice President, Medical for Sun Country Health Region want to remind people of the steps to take to limit its spread.
The gastrointestinal illness making the rounds can be caused by many different viruses and bacteria. Norovirus is on common cause of the vomiting and diarrhea.
The steps to take to prevent the stomach flu can be found on the website at http://www.suncountry.sk.ca/

The View, from the desk of Interim CEO Marga Cugnet – December

SCN::Admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:24:49 +0000

Physician recruitment is one of the most difficult subjects in health care in Saskatchewan today.
In spite of the fact that health regions, local citizen/municipal committees and the provincial Saskdocs recruitment agency are all working hard to find more doctors, there are still 130 vacancies all around the province.
The CBC found 22 communities affected by doctor shortage in a survey it conducted this summer. We are not the only Health Region struggling.
Recruitment is not the only solution. Retention is just as important. In Sun Country Health Region, we recruited 26 physicians to the Region between 2008-11. Only eight of those recruited are still active in the Region.
We need to change that trend. We need to attract doctors, and then keep them.
We need to ensure that doctors will have the kind of practice that allows them to enjoy a life outside the office; a manageable patient workload, sufficient remuneration, and professional colleagues available when they need them.
Research into rural recruitment in Canada tells us this is what young doctors want. To keep them, this is what we need to provide. The old-fashioned doctor working solo to serve a community 24 hours a day is no longer possible.
That change does not always coincide with what the rural communities want.
While residents of the Region want doctors close at hand for medical treatment, many of their elected councils also think of access to doctors and emergency departments as part of an economic development plan. They know it’s harder to attract residents and business to a community once the school closes and/or the doctor leaves.
Unfortunately, it hasn’t been possible here for many years in many communities. For good reasons. The World Health Organization (WHO) says there is a worldwide shortage of physicians, with more than 50 countries experiencing a severe shortage. In 2006 (the latest information available), Canada had 2.1 practising physicians per 1,000 people, compared to the average (in economically developed countries) of 3.1.
The provincial government is working with us. It just announced several new programs. Up to $120,000 in student loans for new physicians and $20,000 in student loans for new nurses and nurse practitioners will be forgiven for those agreeing to practice for five years in rural and remote communities. The government also announced a pool of 20 doctors will be available on a temporary basis (as locums) to provide relief for existing rural doctors.
This is helpful for our retention plan and makes it possible for doctors to take vacations, or professional upgrading, and for us to avoid temporary closures at our emergency departments.
Insanity is defined as doing the same old thing and expecting different results. We need to change our strategies to achieve better and different results.

SCN::Admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:34:39 +0000

Yvonne McNeil, Home Health Aide for Home Care in Weyburn has been collecting Christmas hats for some time and now has one for every day in December. Her clients, and even the other residents of buildings wait to see what hat she’ll be wearing each day! On Christmas day, Yvonne dresses as Santa and if she is not working she visits some of her clients.