SHA unveils plan to restore health-care services

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is preparing to resume health-care services that were put on hold in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in the province.

But not everything will restart immediately. A number of the estimated 3,800 elective surgeries that were postponed won’t be done until the fourth and final phase — and a date for that phase has yet to be set.

Scott Livingstone, the CEO of the health authority, said Tuesday the plan will be flexible and the phases could start at different times in different parts of the province.

“It will not be a one-size fits all approach; it’s more of a framework,” he said during a conference call with the media. “It will be mindful of the different local dynamics in the province, including accounting for the outbreaks that may slow the service resumption in some areas of Saskatchewan.”

The first phase is the only one with a start date: May 19. The dates for the other phases will be determined by certain factors.

Livingstone said the implementation of the next phases will be dependent on things like outbreaks, capacity, availability of health-care workers and availability of key supplies like personal protective equipment.

The plan could be slowed or even shut down for a number of reasons, including an increase in COVID-19 cases, if staff needs to be redeployed and if new public health orders are issued.

Livingstone noted there are risks to resuming normal services, but there are also risks to not.

He said there are people in the province who haven’t been able to get their regular health care because of the changes made, and also some who have avoided the health-care system because they were concerned about the virus.

“Make no mistake, this plan is necessary,” said Livingstone. “When people don’t get every-day health care, their conditions can escalate. That is why we need a plan in place to ensure that people get the care they need.”

Phase 1

Surgeries will expand from emergency and three-week urgent cases to those considered six-week urgent cases. The list includes cataract, hysterectomy, cochlear and thoracic surgeries.

The SHA said that will lead to an increase in surgical services of between 10 and 25 per cent.

Other minor surgical procedures will be offered, as will endoscopy services.

Diagnostic imaging will increase, with MRIs going from 50 per cent of normal capacity to 75 per cent, and CT scans increasing from 55 per cent of normal capacity to 75 per cent.

Mental health short-stay units will reopen and harm reduction programs will resume regular hours. In-person appointments will be an option and more programming for groups under 10 will be permitted.

The SHA also will reopen more primary care clinics, routine immunizations will resume and the inspections of long-term care homes, personal care homes and group homes will be expanded.

The hope is that online programs and video visits will continue where possible, but in-person visits will be done with physical distancing in mind.

Phase 2

Specialty clinics operated by the SHA will start providing services, with virtual care being used where possible.

The services will include: Electrophysiology; cath lab; cardiac stress testing; outpatient heart monitoring; respiratory (Level 3 sleep disorders testing, outpatient clinics, and tuberculosis clinic and treatments); eye centre testing; dermatology clinics; cast clinics; and, increased fetal testing at high risk antenatal clinics.

Phase 3

More every-day health services will be offered.

Those are to include: Chronic disease management/wellness programs/stroke prevention; opioid agonist therapy; services for clients with developmental disabilities, autism and brain injuries; and, expanded mental health and addictions services, including the reopening of social detox and addictions inpatient treatment.

Phase 4

The final phase would see the resumption of all remaining services.

Those would involve long-waiting elective surgeries and previously postponed surgeries and services at hip/knee outpatient clinics.

Patients will receive phone calls with information related to their situations, including new surgical or procedure dates.