Health regions share services with neighbours

Prince Albert Parkland Health Region is sharing expertise with its northern neighbour.

When the chief financial officer in Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region resigned, officials looked towards a new way to fill the role.

“Rather than trying to fill that position they contacted Cecile (PAPHR CEO) and asked if we would be interested in providing some hands-on, some supervisory services,” said Morgan Kennedy, vice president of finance and information services for PAPHR.

Cheryl Elliot, director of budgets, is part of Kennedy’s staff. She will provide the services that will meet the northern region’s financial needs.

“We’re going to give this a try, we’ll certainly evaluate with (Prince Albert) Parkland Health Region as we go along to make sure our needs are being met and it’s working for them as well,” said Kathy Chisholm, CEO of Mamawetan Churchill River.

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She said she is glad they are moving towards a system to share health services.

“There is efforts beings made to work as a health system and to look at opportunities where we can collaborate on certain functions, maintain good quality and lower costs.”

Shared services are a recommendation from the Patient First Review completed in the province last year, Chishlom said. It helps the regions become more efficient, she said.

Kennedy said he sees the trend of sharing services growing.

“It can work and I think other regions will be doing it and other regions will pick and choose the position that they would like, maybe other people don’t think they can share the CFO, but they can share (human resources),” he said.

This is the first position that Mamawetan Churchill River is sharing, but the second for PAPHR.

ahill@panow.com