The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has released its organizational structure as preparations continue toward the transition from 12 health regions in the province to a single body.
The SHA will launch operations on Dec. 4, 2017.
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Along with a CEO, the senior leadership team will be made up of a chief operating officer, a chief medical officer, eight vice-presidents and four physician leaders who will work in partnership with the vice-presidents.
Once the senior leadership team is assembled, they will determine the rest of the organizational structure, which will include management and support services across the province.
Scott Livingstone, who was named CEO of the SHA in August, said the organizational structure was drafted to stress the importance of each region.
“The separation with northern, rural and urban was one to represent the importance of portfolios across the province, not just inside the two urban centres,” Livingstone said.
“(This will ensure) services are aligned across the province both from a quality and a service delivery mechanism.”
He also said patients should see a system that is more coordinated and easier to navigate.
“What we hope to see from a patient perspective is a much more coordinated system that’s easier to navigate, and that’s not going to happen overnight, but that is in touch with the needs of that community and also supporting primary health care on the ground so that patients are receiving the care they need closer to home in a timely fashion.”
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The SHA also revealed its logo on Thursday.
They said this is an important step in establishing the single authority and communicating the primary purpose of the SHA:
“One provincial health authority focused on better coordination of health services across the province to ensure patients receive high quality, timely health care, regardless of where they live in Saskatchewan.”
Officials said the logo was inspired using a stylized outline of the province along with the provincial colours and incorporating the health cross.