Service Disruption Process

As of November 2025 the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s service disruption process has been updated. 

What is a service disruption?

The SHA recognizes that health services experience disruptions for a variety of reasons, and disruptions vary in terms of length and impact. The following disruptions are considered especially significant and must be reported formally in Integrated Rural and Integrated North portfolios, Lab and Medical Imaging disruptions in rural/north as well as disruptions within the Maternal/Children's portfolio:

Complete ER, OR, Critical Care, Acute Care, MHAS inpatient unit service disruptions

• Example: Patients must be admitted or transferred outside their home community/network to receive care normally available to them due to the disruption.
• Example: Complete Operating Room shutdown due to the shortage of Anesthesiologists.
• Example: Emergency Room disruption due to physician, nursing or lab shortage.

Complete healthcare facility or unit disruptions

• Example: power outages, water line breaks or major weather events that require staff and patients or residents to relocate.

Rural/North Lab and Imaging services that will result in acute care, emergency room or health center disruptions

• Example: staff are re-directed from a Health Centre in order to maintain acute or emergency services elsewhere.
  
  Note: This reporting tool is not intended for Overcapacity Reporting or when bed reductions occur, but some service is maintained. Please report these events through existing processes.