Released on September 28, 2007
Sun Country Health Region's health employees can look forward to improved workplaces, reduced burnout and more professional development opportunities, thanks a series of new projects funded by retention grants first introduced by the provincial government in January.
Health Minister Len Taylor today announced approximately $1 million in funding for 17 innovative projects - recommended by health professionals - that will benefit a wide range of workers throughout the province. This funding is part of the $6 million Health Workforce Employee Retention Program, which supports creative, grassroots initiatives designed to help keep health employees working in Saskatchewan's health care system.
"Keeping and attracting key health providers remains a top priority of this government," Taylor said. "The enthusiastic response to this second round of our retention grants is very pleasing. The best retention innovations often come from health providers themselves - they know what will work best in their workplaces - and this program capitalizes on that valuable knowledge."
The joint intitiative between the Sun Country Health Region and the Canadian Union of Public Employees involves developing an enhanced employee orientation program and staff scheduling system at St. Joseph's Hospital in Estevan. Project funding is $35,000.
"We are pleased to learn our employee retention proposal for St. Joseph's Hospital in Estevan is successful," Sun Country Health Region CEO Cal Tant said. "We are also happy to work in partnership with the Canadian Union of Public Employees on this submission."
Projects can be initiated by health employees and other providers, employers, and provincial health sector organizations. Details on the program are posted on the Saskatchewan Health website at www.health.gov.sk.ca.
Funding for the retention program flows from the $25 million retention and recruitment plan announced in September 2006. The program has been designed and recommended by committees that were established to provide advice on how the retention and recruitment plan money should be directed, working within the framework of the nationally recognized strategy, the Health Workforce Action Plan.
They build on other new programs aimed at recruiting valuable health providers, including the creation of a provincial recruitment agency - HealthCareersinSask.ca - the Saskatchewan Relocation Program and the Saskatchewan Rural, Northern and Hard-to-Recruit Program. Since these grant programs were introduced in October 2006, 377 health care workers (244 nurses and 133 other health workers) have received recruitment grants and will be providing care to Saskatchewan residents.
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For more information, contact:
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Sun Country Health Region
Weyburn