The Saskatchewan Health Authority is a young organization with almost three years under its belt and over nine months of dealing with the pandemic. CEO Scott Livingstone told the SHA board this week that with the number of cases of COVID-19 surging, it’s critical for employee morale to look at what has been accomplished.

In less than a year, the SHA has developed an entirely new service of care in the pandemic response which includes ramping up to over 50 testing centres, increasing contact tracing from 62 employees to now at 362 with more people being hired.

Livingstone also noted that when the lockdown began and long term care homes were no longer allowing visitors, through donations of electronics from a number of local companies residents were able to visit with family online, and that strategy is back now with the newly announced restrictions.

Something that Livingstone expects will continue after the pandemic is virtual medical care. He says it’s something they have been working a long time to make a reality. The third anniversary of the SHA amalgamation is December 4th.

Livingstone reminded board members about of some of the progress this year despite also dealing with COVID-19. They include building health networks, advancing ER stabilization, adding more community health centres and building capacity. Livingstone says the health networks will be the building blocks of how the SHA transforms care in the future. The idea is to bring services together in one facility.

He also highlighted the new treatment beds for crystal meth in Estevan and distributing over 4,000 naloxone kits this year. Work continues on the Calls To Action with Truth and Reconciliation. Livingstone gives the example of a traditional pathways program in Regina which enables better access to traditional medicines. Also, mental health supports for SHA staff have expanded because of the increased need throughout the pandemic.