Recent audits have unveiled significant shortcomings in Saskatchewan’s healthcare services, raising concerns about the timeliness, efficiency, and security of critical systems.
Healthcare Sector Under Scrutiny
Critical incident reporting in the healthcare sector fell short. Saskatchewan healthcare organizations reported 215 critical incidents in 2023–24, a notable increase from 145 the previous year. However, weak corrective actions and significant delays in implementing recommendations—94% of recommendations were overdue as of June 2023—point to systemic inefficiencies. Delays in meeting reporting deadlines further jeopardize patient safety, with 62% of initial notifications and 90% of reports arriving late.
The Ministry of Health has not issued a patient safety alert since 2019, despite numerous opportunities to use these alerts to inform system-wide improvements. The audit calls for better analysis of critical incidents and timely enforcement of corrective actions.
IT System Challenges Persist
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) faces ongoing issues with its Administrative Information Management System (AIMS), launched in June 2024 after years of delays and cost overruns. Initially budgeted at $86 million, the project has already reached $190 million, with projections climbing to $250 million. While the new system promises to improve efficiency and financial oversight, the SHA has yet to document lessons learned from the implementation, a step crucial for future IT projects.
eHealth Saskatchewan, the province’s primary healthcare IT provider, also came under scrutiny. The agency lacks adequate service-level agreements with the SHA and has not fully tested disaster recovery plans for its 52 critical IT systems. Without proper safeguards, the healthcare system remains vulnerable to security breaches and downtime, potentially disrupting care delivery.
Recommendations and Next Steps
The audits urge the SPSA, Ministry of Health, SHA, and eHealth to address deficiencies promptly. Recommendations include:
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For SPSA: Establish clear targets for 911 dispatch times, enforce IT security requirements, and improve financial oversight of CanOps.
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For Ministry of Health: Strengthen corrective actions for critical incidents, enforce reporting deadlines, and analyze incidents for systemic improvements.
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For SHA and eHealth: Finalize service agreements, implement robust IT safeguards, and document lessons learned from AIMS.
Addressing these gaps is vital for safeguarding public resources and improving the safety and effectiveness of Saskatchewan’s healthcare and emergency services.
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