The Saskatchewan Health Authority’s phased resumption of health care services is targeted to begin on May 19, on the same day that Phase Two of Re-Open Saskatchewan is scheduled to roll out.
The SHA laid out their four-phase plan at a news conference in Regina Tuesday.
The plan was described by officials as “centrally developed” and “locally delivered”. Implementation will depend on their ability to successfully limit the spread of COVID-19, depending on such factors as outbreaks, capacity, ability to adhere to public health orders and the careful consideration of timing between phases.
Phases are outlined as follows:
Phase one starting on May 19 consists of resumption of some everyday health services, expansion of surgeries and diagnostic imaging. These include surgical services, diagnostic imaging, more everyday services such as a primary care clinics, routine immunizations, public health nursing and expanded public health inspections, mental health services, and gradual re-introduction of services like home care, kidney health, rehabilitation and therapy programs.
Phase Two focuses on resumption of specialty clinics on dates to be determined and service delivery in specialty areas including electrophysiology, cath lab, cardiac stress testing, outpatient heart monitoring; respiratory including testing for level three sleep disorders; eye testing; cast clinics and fetal testing.
Phase three, also at dates to be determined, will see further expansion of everyday health services including Chronic Disease Management/Wellness Programs/Stroke Prevention; opioid agonist therapy; apecialized services for clients with developmental disabilities, autism and brain injuries; expansion of mental health and addictions services including social detox and addictions inpatient treatment.
Phase four will see full resumption of remaining services to a “new normal” on dates to be determined. These include addition of elective surgeries and previously postponed surgeries and re-opening of hip/knee outpatient clinics.
Also identified at the news conference were a number of resumption and slowdown “triggers” between stages have been identified to decide whether to expand capacity.
Resumption triggers that will determine when to open services back up include such things as available staff, physician availability, supply chain availability and current capacity.
There are also slowdown triggers, instances that would help decide when to pull back. Signs that it is time to pull back include when there is an increase of COVID-19 patients in hospitals, having to redeploy staff or prioritize COVID-19 treatments, impacts of workforce illnesses impacts, supply chain availability issues, and community transmissions and outbreaks. External factors such as possible disasters like fire or floods are also to be taken into account.
The next steps, say SHA, are to focus on pre-requisites for service resumption, regular communication as services are brought back online, the contacting of patients on waitlists by health car teams, and commencing work on patient flow and the sharing of local information where available.
Dr. Susan Shaw, chief medical officer of Saskatchewan Health Authority, said as they navigate the first phase “we will proceed thoughtfully, to maintain a balance of providing care to all people while ensuring the needs of our COVID-19 patients are met.”
She also noted the importance of being flexible and adaptive. While there were risks to service resumption, there were “also risks to patients not getting the services that they need.” She noted instances where earlier interventions could have improved patients’ outcomes.
“If we continue to operate the way we are, these risks will mount,” said Shaw.
