The Inside Story
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News Releases RQHR Third-Party Surgery Vendor Chosen (June 15, 2011) Patients should soon see shorter wait times for some surgical procedures as a new third-party surgical clinic begins operation in Regina this fall. The Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region (RQHR) has selected Surgical Centres Inc. (SCI) of Calgary as the vendor for the provision of some surgical services within the region. The contract will run from October 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013. “We are very pleased to welcome SCI to Saskatchewan,” said Trent Truscott, RQHR’s Executive Director of Surgical Care Services. “SCI has more than 20 years of experience in providing surgical services, and we are confident they will provide quality service to the patients of Regina Qu’Appelle.” SCI will provide surgeries in areas including: ear, nose and throat; orthopedics; and dental. As of June 2, 2011, there were approximately 1,500 patients waiting for services which could be provided through the SCI clinic. “We anticipate this expanded service will have a positive impact on wait times for these surgical procedures, which is good news for our patients,” Truscott said. “In addition, this frees up surgical time for other procedures in our acute care facilities, so patients with other surgical needs will also wait for shorter periods of time.” “Our goal is to deliver sooner, safer and smarter surgical care, so that patients receive timely surgery in a convenient manner,” Health Minister Don McMorris said. “This partnership will provide additional day surgeries outside of a hospital setting, and will have a positive effect on wait times and on patients’ surgical experiences.” SCI was one of the bidders responding to an RQHR Request For Proposals issued in January 2011. Bidders were evaluated on the basis of four primary criteria: credentials and experience; service factors; implementation schedule; and pricing. Each criteria was weighted in determining the successful bidder. SCI’s proposal scored highest overall, and offered the lowest cost. It is estimated SCI will provide between 3,000 and 4,000 surgeries over the life of the contract. SCI will provide these services at a cost which varies from approximately $1.2 million less than RQHR’s cost at the minimum level, to approximately $1.5 million less than RQHR’s cost at the maximum level. SCI’s costs are between approximately $2.9 million and $3.8 million depending on the number of surgeries performed. "We are honoured and proud to have been awarded this contract," said Fatima Fazal, Chief Operating Officer for Surgical Centres Inc. "For more than two decades we have been one of Canada's leading providers of surgical procedures, and we've achieved success by staying focused on our patients and by building effective and honest partnerships with various health care organizations. Through this new agreement, we can continue to provide the people of Saskatchewan with the health service they deserve, while maintaining a community-based setting. We look forward to serving the needs of the patients of Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region." RQHR has been offering a limited number of third-party surgeries through a sole-source, short-term contract with Omni Surgery Centre since August 2010. That contract is currently scheduled to end September 30, 2011. The Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative, which recommended third-party surgery as one strategy to reduce wait times, is working to reduce surgical wait times to no more than three months by 2014. By the end of 2011-12, the target is to provide all patients with an opportunity to have their surgery within 12 months. -30-
For more information, please contact: Lisa Thomson *Please note – To view the RFP click here, and to view the agreement click here. |
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