NEW 18-BED UNIT INCREASES SURGICAL CAPACITY AT ST. PAUL'S HOSPITAL

Released on September 12, 2012

Reducing Wait Times for Surgeries

Saskatoon Health Region patients can receive their surgeries sooner thanks to the new 18-bed Rawlco Radio Surgical Unit at St. Paul's Hospital. The new $6.5 million unit, which will contribute to the plan for the Health Region to perform 500 more surgeries this year, began receiving patients in August and celebrated with a grand opening ceremony today.

The Saskatchewan government, through the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative, contributed $4.7 million for the inpatient surgery unit and the St. Paul's Hospital Foundation contributed $1.8 million, including $1 million from Gordon and Doug Rawlinson and Rawlco Radio.

Saskatoon Sutherland MLA Paul Merriman on behalf of Health Minister Dustin Duncan joined Saskatoon Regional Health Authority Chair Jim Rhode, St. Paul's Hospital Board Chair Katherine Daniels and St. Paul's Hospital Foundation Chair Mercedes Montgomery for the ceremony.

"This partnership puts patients first by supporting better access to surgical services," Merriman said. "These extra surgical inpatient beds get us closer to our goal of offering all surgeries within three months."

The major renovation of the fourth floor of St. Paul's Hospital incorporated Lean concepts to the ward's design and workflows to minimize waste, ensure efficiencies and improve service quality. The ward features many new technologies and processes to improve safety, patient care and communication with patients and between care providers.

"We are already hearing from patients that their recovery was eased thanks to the unique care and quiet they found on this new unit," Rhode said. "The unit is a shining new example of sooner, safer, smarter surgical care for Saskatchewan residents."

"St. Paul's Hospital Foundation was very proud to partner in the establishment of this much-needed 4th floor surgical unit, serving as an essential component of the Leslie and Irene Dubé Urology Centre of Health," Montgomery said. "We appreciate the generous donor support for our Embracing the Future Campaign that helped make this unit a reality."

The Rawlco Radio Surgical Unit:

• 18 private patient rooms 
• For urology, ear, nose and throat or plastics surgical patients who need a hospital stay.
• Designed to current infection control standards.
• Patient safety lifts in each room.
• One room has negative-pressure system for enhanced infection control.
• First patients admitted August 14, 2012.
  www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca (click on Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative logo at bottom of home page)

The Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative:

• Patient wait times steadily declining.
• 97 per cent of patients receive surgery within 12 months (as of June 2012).
• 89 per cent of patients receive surgery within 6 months (as of June 2012).
• Province-wide collaboration is resulting in many safety and efficiency improvements.
• Interim goal - by March 31, 2013, all patients offered surgery within six months.
• Ultimate goal - by March 31, 2014, all patients offered surgery within three months.
  www.health.gov.sk.ca/surgical-initiative

-30-

For more information, contact:

Tyler McMurchy
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083 Linda Walker
Saskatoon Health Region
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-655-3476