(June 9, 2010) Saskatoon – Saskatoon Regional Health Authority has approved a balanced annual operating budget of $912.4 million for 2010-11. This budget includes measures to deal with a $25.4 million shortfall in funding.
The shortfall is a result of a $12 million deficit from 2009-10 and a $10 million dollar efficiency target from the Ministry of Health, which the Region is expected to achieve through operational efficiencies, shared services and reduction in sick time and overtime. The Health Region will reduce operating costs by an additional $3.4 million to self-fund investments in areas such as quality, safety, population health and technology.
“This budget is about balancing our responsibility to be stewards of taxpayer dollars while ensuring that quality health care is there when patients and clients need it,” says Jim Rhode, Chair, Saskatoon Regional Health Authority. “This budget involves pursuing operational efficiencies, including working more collaboratively with other regions to reduce cost of our health system.”
To address the funding shortfall, the Region will focus on reducing waste and improving services by applying Lean methodology to redesign how some services, such as registration processes and home care, are provided.
“While the operating budget is even tighter this year, it also presents us with an opportunity to be more innovative to achieve the Triple Aim of enhancing the patient experience, improving the health of our community and reducing the cost of health care,” says Maura Davies, President and CEO. “We are looking at whether we can offer a service in a different way rather than simply cutting service as well as examining ways to streamline operations with minimal impact on client or patient care.”
Some of the priorities this year will be implementing recommendations from the Patient First Review, including increasing the number of wards participating in Releasing Time to Care and continuing efforts to reduce surgical wait times, part of which involves negotiating a contract for 3rd party surgery services for some day surgery procedures.
The Authority, at its public meeting on Wednesday, also approved continuing with capital projects that were approved and funded prior to this fiscal year. These projects include the Humboldt District Health Complex, Oliver Lodge redevelopment, Calder Centre renovation, RUH intensive care unit renovation and planning for the Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan.
The Health Region spends close to $2.5 million dollars a day to deliver care and services to over 300,000 residents throughout the Health Region and thousands of people from across the province requiring specialized health services in Saskatoon.
Related Information:
-30-
For more information contact:
Linda Walker
Media Relations Consultant
Saskatoon Health Region
(306) 655-3328
Saskatoon Health Region
“Healthiest people, healthiest communities, exceptional service.”
|
