(SASKATOON) June 10, 2005– Saskatoon and area residents and those from across the province continue to have access to services that meet or exceed national averages for most key performance indicators, according to information contained in an annual review released Wednesday by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).
More hip replacement surgeries are done on a per capita basis in Saskatoon than anywhere else in the country, according to CIHI’s review of 71 of the largest health regions in Canada. Saskatoon Health Region did 104.5 hip replacement procedures per 100,000 population, well above the national average of 61.5 per 100,000 population.
The CIHI report, based on information from the health regions for the fiscal year 2002-03, indicates that the Saskatoon Health Region:
- Performs more knee replacement surgeries (#7) on a per capita basis than most other communities
- Treat significantly more patients from outside the health region (#4) than do other centres across the country
- Has more specialists (#8) and more family physicians (#19) per capita than most places in Canada
- Very good obstetrical outcomes related to Cesarean sections (#18)
- Has fewer overnight stays for conditions where adequate primary health care in the community can prevent hospitalization (#25)
The results are consistent with the findings of previous years, says Jean Morrison, interim CEO, Saskatoon Health Region.
"These findings highlight the work we continue to do in addressing key government and public priorities around access to service, recruitment of health care providers and primary health care," says Morrison. "Thanks to the hard work of our dedicated staff, physicians and managers, we are able to provide some of the best care and access to services that surpasses what is available in many other parts of the country and will continue to work together in addressing areas of concern to ensure even better care in the future."
The CIHI report also indicates that Saskatoon Health Region is at the national average related to heart attack and stroke recovery rates, low birth weight rate and infant morality rate. Lower rankings were in areas such as hospitalization rates due to injuries in the community, in-hospital hip fractures, and hysterectomy, heart attack and prostatectomy readmissions.
Saskatoon Health Region is one of the most complex and integrated health delivery service agencies in Canada. It is responsible for providing services ranging from hospital, long term and home care to primary, public and mental health services. Saskatoon Health Region is the largest employer in the province with 11,000+ staff members and 750 physicians. It spends $600 million a year, or $1.6 million a day, meeting the health needs of almost 300,000 residents who live within the region and thousands of others who come to Saskatoon for specialized health services each year.
- 30 -
For more information, call:
Leanne Nyirfa
Corporate and Public Affairs
Saskatoon Health Region
(306) 655-3386
Saskatoon Health Region
"Healthiest people, healthiest communities, exceptional service."
Back to 2005 archives |
