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Proceed with caution: Think twice before gathering

May 14, 2021

Over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all craving human interaction. We long to gather with family and friends.

COVID-19 vaccine: Upgrade to the Patient Booking System

May 13, 2021

The Saskatchewan Health Authority’s (SHA) COVID-19 Vaccine Patient Booking System now has the ability to hold appointments for five minutes.

Saskatchewan sends 100 ventilators to India

May 12, 2021

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is donating 100 ventilators to help India with its escalating COVID-19 situation.

Success of Saskatchewan’s drive-thru vaccination clinics shared

May 11, 2021

There’s been continued interest from jurisdictions across Canada and North America on what the SHA’s been doing with drive-thru vaccination clinics and how it’s being done.

HealthLine 811 offers Mental Health, Addictions support and Maternal Wellness Program

May 10, 2021

Do you or someone you know have a mental health and addictions related concern? Are you at risk of or experiencing postpartum depression and/or anxiety or feelings of loss following a miscarriage, stillbirth or death of a newborn?

Saskatoon resident all smiles receiving COVID-19 shot days before birthday

May 07, 2021

Harvey Anderson was happy to receive a polio vaccine in 1955, and a COVID-19 vaccine in 2021.

COVID-19 Vaccines: Benefits outweigh the risks

May 06, 2021

Most of us are not scientists, medical researchers or health regulators. Who then do we consider the most reliable source for vaccine information when we are not part of this circle of experts?

Faces of the Fight – Erin Ermel, LPN, Regina

May 05, 2021

I have been on the frontlines of this pandemic from the beginning, when everyone was afraid, to now, when everyone is tired and burned out.

Saskatchewan Health Authority’s statement of support for all vaccine types in the COVID-19 Immunization Campaign

May 05, 2021

Saskatchewan Health Authority supports COVID-19 immunization— the sooner the better and with the vaccine that is offered to you.

COVID-19 Vaccines: The real measure of a vaccine

May 03, 2021

ALL of our COVID-19 vaccines are effective in achieving the objective of preventing serious illness and death.

Show everyone that we can Stick it to COVID!

April 30, 2021

It's more important than ever to show your support and encourage colleagues, friends and family that together we can stick it to COVID-19!

Five Saskatchewan hospitals recognized for using blood wisely

April 29, 2021

Five hospitals sites across Saskatchewan are being recognized by Choosing Wisely Canada and Canadian Blood Services as Using Blood Wisely hospitals.

Swift Current staff receive Salus Global moreOB recognition award

April 28, 2021

The team from the Women and Children Health Service department at the Cypress Regional Hospital in Swift Current has been honored with the Salus Global’s moreOB Recognition Award.

SHA supports WHL in creating hub

April 27, 2021

The Western Hockey League (WHL) is one of those organizations that had to think differently and do differently in order to get in any league play in the 2020-2021 season.

Program supports oxygen-dependent COVID-19 clients at home

April 26, 2021

A home health monitoring service which provides home-based monitoring of patients with COVID-19 is expanding to include those who require oxygen therapy but who are otherwise safe to go home.

Facebook group offers hope for COVID-19 long haulers

April 23, 2021

Most people who have COVID-19 recover completely within a few weeks. But some people, even those with mild versions of the disease, continue to experience symptoms after their initial recovery.

Faces of the Fight: Trudy Hala, Environmental Services, Weyburn

April 22, 2021

To this day, we continue showing up every day. Exhausted and defeated, we continue on because this is our job and what we do.

Reminder: Second doses of COVID-19 vaccine for health-care workers

April 21, 2021

To ensure more members of the population receive protection from a first dose of vaccine, the time between a first and second dose will be extended up to 16 weeks.

Faces of the Fight: Natasha and Lisa, Regina

April 19, 2021

Because of COVID-19, many things have changed in our workplace (SHA Brief and Social Detox - Regina) which has brought many new challenges

Faces of the Fight: Lori Novik, RN

April 16, 2021

Many of us hoped this pandemic would have a shelf life of a year or less. No one could have predicted the current surge of cases along with a rise in variant strains.

Faces of the Fight: Darla Rugland, LPN

April 15, 2021

I wanted to share my experience as a health care worker, as well as someone who has had COVID-19 myself.

AstraZeneca: Safe option that saves lives

April 14, 2021

The World Health Organization, Health Canada and other agencies around the world have stated that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine far outweigh the risks.

COVID-19 Vaccines: Who gets a vaccine, how, where and when?

April 13, 2021

Scheduling the administration of vaccines is like being an air traffic controller.

Protective Services: among the unsung heroes of COVID-19

April 12, 2021

Saskatchewan Health Authority protective services officers are among the unsung heroes of the pandemic in this province.

Fact Check: Questions and answers about vaccine

April 09, 2021

With so much information coming at a person about COVID-19, sometimes it is difficult to tell fact from fiction.

Research by Regina physicians could directly improve patient access

April 08, 2021

Pediatrician Dr. Susan Petryk and dermatologist Dr. Rachel Asiniwasis are both conducting research as part of the Clinician Research Support Program (CRSP).

Provincial forces combine to reach booking target

April 06, 2021

The health care version of the Saskatchewan way was front and centre when staff from multiple locations pitched in to help fill almost 3,000 immunization clinic appointments.

Encouraging letters help fill Kidney Health vaccination clinic

April 06, 2021

Good communication and teamwork are behind the success of a March 11 and 12 COVID-19 vaccination blitz at Regina’s Kidney Health Centre.

Regina experience a wake-up call for us to Make it Right

April 03, 2021

A message from Dr. John Froh, pandemic physician lead, SHA COVID-19 Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).

Faces of the Fight: Dr. Jason Gatzke, Swift Current

April 01, 2021

Saskatchewan is entering the worst phase of the pandemic right now. The COVID-19 variants are causing sickness and hospitalization in a younger age group than what we have seen thus far.

Take a drive through a COVID-19 Drive-Thru Immunization Clinic

April 01, 2021

See a Drive-Thru COVID-19 Immunization Clinic in action.

What to expect at a COVID-19 Mobile Immunization Clinic

March 31, 2021

Mobile clinics ensure vaccine access for people in more rural or remote areas, or those who are unable to travel for immunization.

What to Expect at a COVID-19 Mass Immunization Clinic

March 30, 2021

Take a tour of a COVID-19 Mass Immunization Clinic, which are by appointment only.

Physician deployment aids communities in need

March 26, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on every physician in Saskatchewan, and as of last December, a new initiative is providing relief for those areas most in need.

Inside one of Saskatoon’s drive-thru COVID-19 testing centres

March 25, 2021

It’s called the COVID-19 drive-thru testing centre in Saskatoon, but it’s so much more.

COVID-19 vaccines for children

March 24, 2021

As the adult world waits for the opportunity to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, it raises the question of if and when children will be immunized.

Jabs and joy: Patients thrilled with family medicine vaccination pilot

March 23, 2021

On March 6, the Family Medicine Unit (FMU) at Regina Centre Crossing achieved a provincial first by hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for its patients 80 and older.

COVID-19 Vaccine: My Drive-Thru Experience

March 22, 2021

Last week, with the AstraZeneca drive-thru opening to my age group in Regina, it was my chance to actually receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

French is important in Saskatchewan

March 19, 2021

The Saskatchewan Health Authority recognizes French as the second official language of Canada and strives to deliver equitable services to its francophone clients.

Assiniboia staff strike balance in outbreak

March 18, 2021

Assiniboia Union Hospital Integrated Facility (AUHIF) successfully struck the delicate balance in the midst of a COVID-19 outbreak earlier this year.

A day for double-takes: Merlis Belsher gets vaccinated at Merlis Belsher Place

March 17, 2021

March 12 was a curious day for Merlis Belsher. He went to the facility which bears his name to get his COVID-19 vaccination.

NEO-Natal nursing pioneer and COVID-19 vaccine recipient: Ellen Ross

March 16, 2021

Ellen Ross has spent her fair share of time working in a health care environment, having begun her training to become a registered nurse in 1945.

Faces of the Fight: Chantal Kozinski, LPN

March 15, 2021

My name is Chantal Kozinski, I am a Licensed Practical Nurse. I work at the Turtleford Hospital, primarily in acute care and in the emergency department.

New isolation area strategic response to COVID-19

March 12, 2021

The creation of a new area at Pasqua Hospital for people suspected of having COVID-19 provides a safe place for patients to isolate.

COVID-19: So many vaccine options

March 11, 2021

There are similarities and differences between the COVID-19 vaccines, but they all work toward community immunity.

COVID-19 vaccine versus the flu vaccine

March 11, 2021

There are both similarities and differences between the COVID-19 vaccine and the seasonal influenza (flu) vaccine.

Living well with kidney disease

March 11, 2021

Meet Terran “Spanky” Keewatin, a band councilor on Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, who has been on hemodialysis for five years.

Checking-in with Saskatchewan’s first COVID-19 vaccine recipients: Brittany Favel

March 10, 2021

Registered nurse Brittany Favel was the first person in Saskatchewan’s far north region to be vaccinated and she shares her vaccination experience.

SHA continues important accreditation work virtually

March 10, 2021

COVID-19 did not delay the accreditation efforts of the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), even though the pandemic came during the second year of a four-year accreditation cycle.

Checking-in with Saskatchewan’s first COVID-19 vaccine recipients: Dr. Jeffery Betcher

March 09, 2021

ICU physician Dr. Jeffrey Betcher was one of the first two people in the province to be immunized for COVID-19. We caught up with Jeff for his insights on his vaccination experience.

Walking in her mother’s footsteps

March 08, 2021

Soon after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, Registered Nurse Crystal Kuras let her manager at Tisdale Hospital know she was open to being redeployed.

Faces of the Fight: Carolyn Brost Strom, Registered Nurse

March 07, 2021

February 22 was quite possibly the best work day I have had in a very long time. Why? Because I did not have to deliver bad news today.

Fact Check: COVID-19 vaccination

March 05, 2021

With so much information coming at a person about COVID-19, sometimes it is difficult to tell fact from fiction.

Saskatoon field hospital now COVID-19 mass immunization site

March 05, 2021

The field hospital space within Merlis Belsher Place, located on the University of Saskatchewan campus, is the first COVID-19 mass immunization clinic to be set up in Saskatoon.

Celebrating COVID-19 immunizations with Facebook profile frame

March 04, 2021

Encourage colleagues, friends and family to get their vaccinations by updating your Facebook profile pic with a “Get Vaccinated!” frame.

Checking-in with Saskatchewan’s first COVID-19 vaccine recipients: Leah Sawatsky

March 03, 2021

Registered nurse Leah Sawatsky was one of the first two people in the province to be immunized for COVID-19. We caught up with Leah for her insights on her vaccination experience.

COVID-19 Vaccine: Symptoms are normal, expected

March 03, 2021

Christine Firman-Depeel, a Nurse Practitioner at the Cumberland Health Centre, never questioned whether she would accept the COVID-19 vaccine when it became available, or that she might experience side effects from the vaccine.

Weyburn care home manages outbreak

March 02, 2021

A COVID-19 positive case at Weyburn Special Care Home (WSCH) was not a Christmas present anyone wanted to receive.

Working together to support immunization

March 01, 2021

On February 22, a pipe ceremony was held to initiate a journey that includes community Elders supporting immunization clinics in Regina for First Nations and Métis people greater than 70 years of age.

COVID-19: Supply Chain’s vaccine distribution hubs

February 24, 2021

If you think of a car without gas, then you will have some understanding of how important the Saskatchewan Health Authority Supply Chain’s operations are to the provincial health system.

Faces of the Fight: Rosanne Gill, Licensed Practical Nurse

February 23, 2021

Last year, I dared to do something new, taking on a new position as COVID-19 tester and educator.... What has been one year has felt more like 10.

Faces of the Fight: Jennifer Reid, Public Health Officer

February 22, 2021

When the pandemic first began, I couldn’t have foreseen what my job would be like as the months went on and COVID-19 cases increased across the province.

Team working to limit and combat outbreaks in long-term care

February 18, 2021

The Continuing Care Resource Team has been formed to help manage outbreaks in long-term care.

Mobile COVID-19 testing meeting community at points of need

February 17, 2021

Testing for Saskatoon’s vulnerable population is increasing thanks to a partnership that’s allowing for more mobile COVID-19 testing sites around the city.

Bea McGrath: Looking on the positive side of COVID-19

February 12, 2021

Bea McGrath is the person we’d all want to be if we were blessed to live 99 years, and she feels grateful to have received the COVID-19 vaccine.

Heart to heart: Students share the love with health care workers

February 12, 2021

When Regina teacher Sara Weese asked her students who they’d like to send a little extra love to this Valentine’s Day, health care workers were at the top of their list.

Celebrating women in science and technology

February 11, 2021

The Saskatchewan Health Authority asked a few of our fearless female leaders: what does it mean to be a woman working in science?

Wilkie care home marks end of outbreak, mourns those lost

February 11, 2021

On February 1, residents and staff of the Wilkie Health Centre celebrated the end of the COVID-19 outbreak that had consumed them for 53 days.

COVID-19 Vaccine: Facing down COVID-19, one person at a time

February 10, 2021

Understanding the risk that COVID-19 poses to the elderly in particular gave Judy Pelly the incentive she needed to agree to receive the vaccine.

Everybody’s birthday celebrated at Kelvindell Lodge

February 09, 2021

Recreation staff at Kelvindell Lodge in Kelvington had their own unique approach to ensure their residents’ birthdays weren’t missed during the pandemic.

Fact check: COVID-19 PCR testing in Saskatchewan is accurate

February 09, 2021

Our lab staff meet the highest standards possible and work very hard every day to ensure quality control and that results are accurate.

My COVID story: a caregiver’s perspective

February 08, 2021

On January 6, 2021, both of my parents were diagnosed with COVID-19. As both of them live with long-term health conditions, the gravity of the COVID-19 situation suddenly hit very close to home.

COVID-19 and masks – why it’s so important to wear one in the hospital

February 05, 2021

It is extremely important – and actually required – for those who are visiting and supporting loved ones in hospitals or other health care facilities to comply with the public health order and wear a mask.

Faces of the Fight: The Environmental Services Team at River Heights Lodge, North Battleford

February 04, 2021

River Heights Lodge is a long-term care home located in North Battleford where a COVID-19 outbreak was declared in November. These are the thoughts of the Environmental Services team now that the outbreak has been declared over

Unity and District Health Centre "crushes" COVID-19

February 03, 2021

The Unity and District Health Centre recently decided to exercise their creative muscle to put on a themed celebration for their day of COVID-19 immunizations.

COVID-19 point-of-care testing improving patient care across the province

February 03, 2021

Point-of-care testing is being deployed to acute care locations across the province.

Point of Care Testing (POCT) in Saskatoon and Regina gets patients moving

February 02, 2021

Providing Point of Care Testing (POCT) – where a patient receives the results of a COVID-19 test in just minutes - has been a goal of the SHA since last March.

Faces of the Fight: Jodie Johnson, RN, Population and Public Health

February 01, 2021

Recently, I had the privilege of helping provide the first dose of Pfizer vaccine in part of the province. The following stories are the true heroes in Saskatchewan.

Faces of the Fight: Laveena Tratch

January 29, 2021

The immunization campaign brings hope: hope to our most vulnerable; hope for families; hope to our healthcare workers, our essential service workers, our teachers, our community.

Victoria Hospital Foundation: Keeping long-term care residents connected and engaged

January 29, 2021

COVID-19 has been difficult for many residents in long-term care homes. Victoria Hospital Foundation saw that and has helped residents of two homes connect with their loved ones virtually.

Free psychology services for health-care providers on the COVID-19 frontlines

January 28, 2021

Health-care providers working on the frontlines of COVID-19 can access free psychology services.

Getting the COVID-19 vaccine where it needs to go

January 28, 2021

It's challenging to keep health-care inventory suppied to a province with far-reaching needs like Saskatchewan, and the COVID-19 vaccine is no different.

My COVID story: Jude Ratt and family

January 27, 2021

Jude Ratt knows one thing for sure: COVID-19 is real. He, his wife, his grandson, his mother, and other family members have all tested positive for it.

Home Health Monitoring expands to COVID-19 patients

January 26, 2021

The Home Health Monitoring (HHM) service is expanding to include COVID-19 patients who are self-isolating.

COVID-19 Vaccine: Is it safe?

January 25, 2021

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that vaccine hesitancy or the reluctance to be immunized is one of the top 10 global public health threats

SHA drive-thru testing wait times site now live

January 25, 2021

As of January 25, the Saskatchewan Health Authority will be posting the wait times for all of the drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites on their website.

COVID-19 positive resident recovers, is first in line to get vaccinated

January 22, 2021

Seventy-nine year-old Robert Jesse—known as Bob to most—lives at Oliver Lodge Special Care Home in Saskatoon.

Dr. Hassan Masri: My COVID-19 Vaccine Diary

January 22, 2021

Dr. Hassan Masri recounts his experience receiving two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

My COVID story: Jennifer Lessard, Saskatoon

January 21, 2021

Jennifer Lessard from Saskatoon shares the story of her experience with COVID-19.

Program receives recognition from Government of Canada on 25th Anniversary

January 21, 2021

The Food for Thought program in Saskatoon recently received recognition from Canada’s Minister of Health on 25 years as a successful community-based program.

Code Orange in the middle of a pandemic

January 19, 2021

On Thursday night, Saskatoon hospitals declared one Code Orange, but ended up spilling into two.

Callbacks with negative test results hitting targets

January 19, 2021

With some extra help over the holidays, the team who are contacting those who have tested negative for COVID-19 are hitting their targets.

Tackling misinformation

January 18, 2021

With so much information coming at a person about COVID-19, sometimes it is difficult to tell fact from fiction.

Faces of the Fight: Erin Bruce, Public Health Nurse

January 15, 2021

Since the beginning of the pandemic, I have heard well over 100 stories from those who have tested positive for COVID-19. This is our story, which was terrifying for me, personally.

Faces of the Fight: Carol Scrivener, Registered Nurse

January 13, 2021

Carol Scrivener is a Registered Nurse who works in Saskatoon's emergency departments and writes and performs music. She's written a song called “We’re Gonna Be Okay."

COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care: what happens and the work being done to prevent them

January 06, 2021

What exactly happens during an outbreak in a long-term care home and how it will impact your loved one and you?

Shaunavon Hospital and Care Centre offers residents special Christmas portrait

January 05, 2021

Staff at the Shaunavon Hospital and Care Centre knew they needed to do something special to raise spirits during the Christmas season this year and they came up with some fresh ideas, including a resident Christmas portrait session in early December.

Volunteer’s knitting skills help her community

January 04, 2021

Since coming to Canada in 2004, Kathleen has provided countless donations to Regina clients over the holidays.

Faces of the Fight: Heather Ellis, purchasing clerk

January 04, 2021

When the pandemic was first declared, my daily life did not change much. But I was not prepared for the emotional roller coaster.