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Health Services Policy and Procedure Document Library

The policies, procedures and guidelines listed here are for use by all health service providers and agencies, including the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the Ministry of Health, health care organizations and the public.

The Health Services Policy and Procedures Document Library is designed to:

  • Clarify and expand on legislative and regulatory provisions related to the operation and delivery of services provided by health service providers;
  • Provide a record of ministry policies, procedures, and guidelines regarding programs and services provided by health service providers' operations; and
  • Provide information that may form part of the basis of monitoring and/or evaluating programs and services.

You can find information related to a particular policy by clicking on links in the list below. Other relevant information that pertains to a policy may include guidelines or samples of agreements.

Categories of Documents

There are four categories or types of information contained within the electronic policy and procedure manual:

  • Policy;
  • Procedure;
  • Guideline; and
  • General Information.

The following are Saskatchewan Health's definitions of these categories for the purposes of this manual.

Policy

A policy is a statement of a mandatory course or method established by Saskatchewan Health that regional health authorities and health care organizations must comply with in their operations and decision-making.

Policies interpret or clarify legislative provisions (where further clarification or a description of process is necessary), or define those matters which are supplementary to specific legislation and are part of the ministry's mandate.

Policies define a required course of action. It is important to differentiate policy from those items which can be categorized as procedures, guidelines, or general information.

Procedure

A procedure is a series of steps to be followed or particular action(s) to implement to perform a function and may comply with policy or guidelines.

Guideline

A guideline is a statement or other explanation by which to set standards or determine a course of action. The guidelines may or may not be required to be followed in order to comply with policy.

General Information

General information is any additional information on a specific situation or topic which may be beneficial but is not required to comply with policy. This may include but is not limited to: educational material, ministry guidance or options for consideration.

The policies, procedures, guidelines, and general information contained on this page will be revised as changes occur.

The Ministry of Health reviews and revises all entries annually to ensure that all revisions have been included and obsolete policies have been removed.

Additions to the manual will be made as the process for documenting existing policies continues and new policies are developed.

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1. A Guide to Health Services

The Guide to Corporate Governance discussion paper outlines health services that must be available or accessible to all Saskatchewan residents to promote health and prevent illness or injury. This paper is designed to provide basic health service information to board members of regional health authorities and the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, or anyone who is interested.

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2. Acquired Brain Injury Partnership Project Guidelines

The Acquired Brain Injury Partnership Project Guidelines define the criteria for professional practice for Acquired Brain Injury Partnership Project Services in Saskatchewan to ensure that the quality of service is consistently delivered and continuously improved. These guidelines reflect the goals and strategies set out in Acquired Brain Injury: A Strategy for Services and are intended to assist in translating this vision into performance.

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3. Alcohol and Drug Services Program Guidelines

The Alcohol and Drug Services Program Guidelines are intended to define the criteria for professional practice for Alcohol and Drug Services in Saskatchewan to ensure that the quality of service is consistently delivered and continuously improved.

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4. Ambulance (Ground) Fees

The intent of the Ground Ambulance Fees Policy is to establish the maximum allowable rates to be charged by road ambulance services based in Saskatchewan, for road ambulance service.

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5. Approval to Construct, Renovate or Alter a Facility

The intent of the Approval to Construct, Renovate or Alter a Facility Policy is to provide direction to regional health authorities and affiliates regarding the construction, renovation or alteration of a facility, and to outline the specific requirements when requesting approval.

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6. Approval to Purchase, Lease or Otherwise Acquire Personal Property

The intent of the Approval to Purchase, Lease or Otherwise Acquire Personal Property Policy is to provide direction to regional health authorities and affiliates regarding the construction, renovation or alteration of a facility, and to outline the specific requirements when requesting approval.

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7. Approval to Purchase, Lease or Otherwise Acquire Real Property

The intent of the Approval to Purchase, Lease or Otherwise Acquire Real Property Policy is to provide direction to regional health authorities and affiliates regarding the purchase, lease or otherwise acquiring real property, and to outline the specific requirements when requesting approval to do so.

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8. Approval to Sell, Lease or Otherwise Dispose of Personal Property

The intent of the Approval to Sell, Lease or Otherwise Dispose of Personal Property Policy is to provide direction to regional health authorities and affiliates regarding the selling, leasing or otherwise disposing of personal property, and to outline the specific requirements when requesting approval to do so.

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9. Approval to Sell, Lease or Otherwise Dispose of Real Property

The intent of the Approval to Sell, Lease or Otherwise Dispose of Real Property Policy is to provide direction to regional health authorities and affiliates regarding the selling, leasing or otherwise disposing of personal property, and to outline the specific requirements when requesting approval to do so.

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10. Blood Shortage Management Plan

Saskatchewan's regional health authorities, through the Transfusion Medicine Working Group, have developed the Blood Shortage Management Plan to help hospitals and/or health regions develop a contingency plan for managing blood shortages.

These policies and procedures are consistent with the National Plan for the Management of Shortages of Labile Blood Components. (View full report on the NAC website under Related Links.)

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11. Brief Orientation to Public Health Act

The powers and responsibilities of a regional health authority appointed as a local authority under the Act, to outline powers and responsibilities of medical health officers and the minister, and to make members aware that they may be called upon from time to time to sit on an appeal board when hazard abatement orders are appealed.

For more information, please see the A Brief Orientation to The Public Health Act, 1994.

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12. Chiropractor Information

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13. EMS Protocol Manuals

Guidance for the assessment and treatment of both emergency and non-emergency patients in the pre-hospital setting. Use the manual appropriate for your level of practice.

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14. Guidelines for the Management of Exposure to Blood and Body Fluids

The Guidelines for the Management of Exposures to Blood and Body Fluids (2013) is the Saskatchewan resource for health care providers managing an individual who has experienced an exposure to blood or body fluids. The guidelines include a number of tools to assist health care providers in assessing and responding to exposures in a standardized way and outline the process that will facilitate the transition of care among the health care team to support continuity of care for the patient.

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15. Hospital Reciprocal Billing Reference Manual

Outpatient and inpatient services provided in Saskatchewan to residents of other provinces, territories and countries.

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16. Infection Control Manual for Child Care Facilities

The Infection Control Manual For Child Care Facilities is intended to provide information regarding infection control in the operation of a day care setting.

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17. Infection Prevention and Control Program

Documents prepared by the Saskatchewan Infection Prevention and Control Program cover a range of topics for Infection Control Practitioners, Medical Health Officers other health care professionals, and the public.

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18. Institutional Supportive Care Information System Manual

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19. The Northern Medical Transportation Program

Provides funding for emergent and non-emergent medical transportation in northern Saskatchewan. It is an insured service administered by Saskatchewan Health. The program has two components:

  • emergency transportation provided by private air carriers, medical taxi, or road ambulance for all northern residents, and
  • non-emergency transportation to assist social assistance clients with access to medical treatment and appointments outside their community.
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20. Optometrist Information

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21. Physician Payment Schedules Newsletters and Bulletins

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22. RHA SCA Quality Workplace and Safety Initiatives

Funding Parameters and Reporting Guidelines for regional health authorities (RHAs) and Saskatchewan Cancer Agency (SCA) regarding Quality Workplace and Safety Initiatives. Assist the RHAs/SCA in outlining eligible funding to support their proposed initiatives for Quality Workplace and Safety Initiatives.

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23. Saskatchewan Aids to Independent Living Program (SAIL) General Policies

The SAIL program is comprised of 14 sub-programs. Several of these programs are universal benefits and offer services to people who require them while the remaining programs are considered to be special benefit programs meaning a qualified applicant must meet specific program eligibility criteria before receiving benefits.

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24. Saskatchewan Immunization Manual (SIM)

As the primary immunization resource for public health personnel and other health care providers, health care students and post-secondary institutions in the province, the Saskatchewan Immunization Manual provides evidence-based and standardized immunization-related information.

Also, the manual will help ensure that Saskatchewan residents continue to receive publicly funded immunization services for the purpose of preventing the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases. Bookmark the manual for quick reference.

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25. Specialized Procedures in Personal Care Homes

The Specialized Procedures in Personal Care Homes guide describes responsibilities both for nurse professionals and personal care home licensees when a resident in a personal care home requires a specialized procedure.

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26. Special Care Home Program Guidelines

All special care homes and other designated facilities that provide this care must operate in accordance with the standards set out in the Program Guidelines for Special Care Homes.

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