The evening began with a prayer from Elder Noel Starblanket from the Star Blanket Cree Nation.

Carter then provided an overview of the region’s focus on quality and safety, access and patient flow, as well as overall system sustainability.

Primary health care director Dan Drummond, alongside manager Lorie Mokelki, shared information about the area’s developing primary health care services in what’s known as the Touchwood Qu’Appelle Primary Health Care network. Primary health care is the everyday support for individuals and communities to better manage their own health. The region’s commitment is to provide coordinated health services that are client-centred, community designed and team delivered.

Some notable developments for the Touchwood Qu’Appelle network include enhancing nurse practitioner services, a strong focus on programming to address Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), relationship building with First Nations communities and several continuous improvement efforts. Further developing primary health care services throughout the RQHR is a key focus for the region; currently five other networks exist in both urban and rural. Community members also had an opportunity to ask questions and share concerns related to their health care in the area. Topics for discussion included physician recruitment, concerns about Grenfell Pioneer Home, and the government’s plans to reduce the number of health regions. “The Board very much appreciates the opportunity to engage with the community and hear feedback on what we can do better,” Carter said.

Community consultations such as this one occur annually in rural communities and complement existing public Board meetings that are held throughout the year in both urban and rural locations. You can learn more about the Regina Qu’Appelle Regional Health Authority’s Board and access Monday’s presentation at www.rqhealth.ca/RQRHA.