Regina summit highlights benefits of health region amalgamation

Doctors, nurses and otherprofessionals gathered in Regina Wednesdayto hear from experts about how to improve Saskatchewan's health-care system, including what to expect with the impending amalgamation of 12 health regions into a single, province-widehealth authority.

Alberta Health Services' vice-president of collaborative practice, nursing and health professionals Sean Chilton and Brenda Huband, vice-president and chief health operations officer,were among the registered keynote speakers.

They were scheduled to deliver a presentation called "How to Mobilize 100,000 People into the 21stCentury."

• Saskatchewan moves to amalgamate health regions into single authority
• Health Region CEOsand VPs offered to buyouts in move to single health authority

Nearly a decade ago, Alberta amalgamated its nine different health regions and three provincial organizations into a single province-wide health region a transition the Sask. Party government is hoping to replicateby Dec.4.

"As one of the largest mergers in Canadian history, the literature would say that to find and realize the benefits of something like that, it does take nine or 10years," Huband told reporters.

$600M in admin savings

Chiltonsaid that about $600 million has been saved in administrative costs since the AHS superboard replaced the smattering of health regions, adding that the province now boasts one of the lowest percentages of expenditures going towardadministrative costs.

Saskatchewan's health minister, Jim Reiter,said that cost savings are certainly anticipated when the Saskatchewan Health Authority comes into effect for example, having to only pay the salary of one CEOas opposed to 12. But he said that's not the primary reason for the transition.

"The primary driver is to get rid of the arbitrary boundaries that have been affecting patient care," he said.

Access to medical equipment improved

Chilton said other efficienciesnoted in a single-health authority model have been realized around the procurement of medical equipment and pharmaceuticaldrugs.

He said because a province-wide health region has morepurchasing power than smaller ones, access to certain types of equipment is increased for residents in smaller ruralcommunities.