Released on November 29, 2013
Residents in Shaunavon and surrounding areas will benefit from improved stability and access to health care services through the new Collaborative Emergency Centre (CEC). The CEC is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and provides extended hours of primary health care and 24/7 emergency care.
Rural and Remote Health Minister Randy Weekes joined municipal officials, representatives from the Cypress Health Region, CEC staff and local residents for the grand opening ceremony at the Shaunavon Hospital and Care Centre.
Rural and Remote Health Minister Randy Weekes joined municipal officials, representatives from the Cypress Health Region, CEC staff and local residents for the grand opening ceremony
Many communities in rural Saskatchewan still face challenges in recruiting and retaining family physicians. By utilizing a team-based approach, CECs offer predictable and sustainable emergency coverage in communities that may have previously experienced disruptions in hospital services.
“Our health region is pleased to have partnered with the community leaders from the area, our team of health care providers, and the Ministry of Health during the planning phases of the CEC implementation here in Shaunavon,” Cypress Health Region CEO Beth Vachon said. “This model of care will offer enhanced primary health care and more consistent, stable emergency care to the residents of Shaunavon and surrounding communities. We are very optimistic that the model will create a workplace that will result in improved recruitment and retention of our health team including physicians, nursing staff, EMS providers, and all others.”
A team of three physicians and a nurse practitioner offer extended hours of primary health care between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily. Same-day or next-day appointments are available.
Other health professionals including public health, mental health, chronic disease educators, and home care staff will also work together to provide a continuum of primary health services.
Urgent and emergent care during the daytime (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.) is provided by nursing staff with support from a local primary care physician. Overnight (8 p.m. – 8 a.m.), a Registered Nurse and Paramedic will lead assessment, minor treatment and urgent care, in consultation with a STARS (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society) physician. A local primary care physician will continue to support acute inpatient (hospital) and long-term care 24/7 at Shaunavon Hospital and Care Centre.
“The Town of Shaunavon is very pleased about the new developments at the Shaunavon Hospital as there have been some struggles in the past with consistency of operations,” Shaunavon Mayor Sharon Dickie said. “It’s exciting to know that the CEC will not only ensure improved services, but will provide extended hours of primary health care and 24/7 emergency care to the region. We are thankful for everyone’s hard work during the development of the CEC and are excited to continue to work with the Cypress Health Region in the sustainability of health care for our region.”
The province’s first CEC opened in Maidstone earlier this fall, and several other communities will open CECs in the coming months.
Saskatchewan’s CECs are based on the Nova Scotia model. The model was endorsed in the first report of the Council of the Federation’s Health Care Innovation Working Group, co-chaired by Premier Brad Wall and PEI Premier Robert Ghiz.
For more information on CECs and primary health care in Saskatchewan, visit the Ministry of Health website at www.health.gov.sk.ca/primary-health-care.
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For more information, contact:
Tyler McMurchy
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: tmcmurchy@health.gov.sk.ca
Bryce Martin
Cypress Health Region
Swift Current
Phone: 306-778-5117
Email: bryce.martin@cypressrha.ca