All links are best viewed in Google Chrome. Estimated read time: nine minutes | - Saskatchewan residents reminded to take precautions for hantavirus
- Major exterior upgrade underway at Lloydminster Hospital
- 162 doctors matched to residency training seats in Saskatchewan
- Province recognizes Canadian Fertility Awareness Week April 19 to 25
| - Saskatchewan hospitals making room for traditional healing
| - Volunteer recognition from Lakeside Manor Care Home
- April 28 is National Day of Mourning
| - Prescribing of Medications procedure training period
- Hemodialysis Water and Dialysis Fluids Policy SHA-08-001 and Procedure SHA-08-001P1 renewed
- Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) Capstone Project - call for submissions
| - 2026-27 Staff Safety Strategy Survey
| - Fundamentals of Fetal Health Surveillance
- Foundations for Anti-Racism Training - Saskatoon
- 2026 SHA Innovation Awards Ceremony
- Design Thinking Learning Series
- Learning Essential Approaches to Palliative Care (LEAP)
- Traditional Wellness and Healing Learning Series
- Library Lunch and Learns - May to August
- Continuing Medical Education - May
| - CoPilot AI Images in Clinical Documents
- Pharmacist Authority to Prescribe Drugs and Order Laboratory Tests
- Medication Administration: Direct Intravenous (IV) Push – ALL Ages
- Peripheral Venous Access – ALL Ages
- Aseptic Non-Touch Technique (ANTT)®
| Public Service Announcements and News Releases | Saskatchewan residents reminded to take precautions for hantavirus | Saskatchewan residents are being reminded to take precautions against hantavirus as they prepare for their spring cleanup. Hantavirus infection is caused by breathing in contaminated airborne particles from the droppings, urine or saliva of infected deer mice. It can cause a rare, but potentially fatal lung disease known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. | Major exterior upgrade underway at Lloydminster Hospital | The Government of Saskatchewan is investing $5.9 million to the Lloydminster Hospital exterior and building envelope renewal project, reinforcing a strong commitment to protecting health-care infrastructure and improving care environments for patients, residents, staff, and visitors. | 162 doctors matched to residency training seats in Saskatchewan | The Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) has released the final results for the 2026 medical residency match across Canada, confirming that all 162 residency seats at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) have been filled. | Province recognizes Canadian Fertility Awareness Week April 19 to 25 | Today, the Government of Saskatchewan acknowledges Canadian Fertility Awareness Week (CFAW), observed this year from April 19 to 25. Led by the national organization Fertility Matters, the annual initiative is dedicated to raising public awareness around fertility and its impact on over one in six Canadians. | SHA CARES - Living our Values | Saskatchewan hospitals making room for traditional healing | First Nations and Métis Health ensure Indigenous patients and families feel respected, supported and heard.
At the Saskatchewan Health Authority, cultural support workers, health educators and elders work together to advocate for care that is both culturally safe and patient-centred.
Healing spaces welcome smudging, prayer and elder visits alongside traditional treatment, because for many Indigenous peoples, traditional medicine is simply how they grew up understanding health and wellness.
Through partnership, respect and compassion, the team works every day toward optimal health and well-being for First Nations and Métis patients, families and communities across Saskatchewan. | Recognition and Appreciation | Volunteer recognition from Lakeside Manor Care Home | We are so grateful to celebrate and recognize our volunteers who truly help make our environment here feel like home. They give their time selflessly, always bringing kindness, comfort, and connection to those around them. Their dedication and generosity make a lasting difference to all of the residents, families, and staff here at Lakeside Manor Care Home. Thank you volunteers! | April 28 is National Day of Mourning | April 28 is National Day of Mourning, a day dedicated to honoring and remembering those who have lost their lives or been injured in workplace accidents. It is also a day to reaffirm our dedication to improving workplace health and safety and preventing future incidents.
SHA values - Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Equity, and Safety - define our principles. Safety encompasses physical, psychological, social, cultural, and environmental well-being, and we are committed to upholding it every day for everyone. We encourage everyone to observe a moment of silence at 11 a.m. on April 28 to reflect, remember, and recommit to creating a workplace culture where safety is a shared responsibility and core value. | Prescribing of Medications procedure training period | The Prescribing of Medications Procedure (SHA-08-010P8) and implementation checklist are available for training purposes on the SHA Policy and Clinical Standards document finder.
The pre-implementation period allows time for team training and preparation before the procedure takes effect on June 4, 2026. It is not expected that everything will be in place on the effective date of the new procedure. For many areas this will be a work in progress.
The implementation checklist is a tool designed to help operational managers or clinical designates and educators facilitate the transition to the new procedure. For information on the release of upcoming Medication Management procedures, see the Approved Medication Management Status Report.
| Hemodialysis Water and Dialysis Fluids Policy SHA-08-001 and Procedure SHA-08-001P1 renewed | The Hemodialysis Water and Dialysis Fluids Policy and Procedure have been renewed for another four years.
This policy applies to the following team members who work in dialysis units or home hemodialysis programs, manage hemodialysis water treatment equipment or test water for safety: - Staff
- Practitioner Staff
- Contracted Individuals
- Learners
- Contractors
Staff are required to review all renewed policies and procedures in SHA's e-Learn. | Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) Capstone Project - call for submissions | The Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) Capstone Research Project is accepting project proposals from May 4 to August 21, 2026. This project offers a unique opportunity for students to engage in research, and for faculty to continue contributions in their field. | 2026-27 Staff Safety Strategy Survey Deadline: May 8 Complete a short survey focused on your day-to-day experience and perception of safety within your department and across Saskatchewan Health Authority. Your perspective is essential in helping us understand how safe, supported, and prepared you feel in your work environment. Insights gathered will directly inform the evolution of our Staff Safety strategy and priorities, ensuring they reflect the realities of our teams and meaningfully support staff across the organization. | Fundamentals of Fetal Health Surveillance Date: April 30 and May 1
Time: 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual The course is intended for practitioners (nurses, physicians, registered midwives) with clinical experience as part of their regular review of fetal health surveillance knowledge, skills and clinical decision making as well as new obstetrical care providers as an adjunct to their facility orientation program. The course consists of three components: Pre-study of the “Fundamentals of Fetal Health Surveillance Online Manual”, successful completion of the Online Exam, and participation in a Fetal Health Surveillance interdisciplinary workshop. | Foundations for Anti-Racism Training - Saskatoon Date: May 6, 13, and 20
Time: 12:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Saskatoon City Hospital Join us for a three-part training series that supports the SHA CARES values. Through thoughtful discussions and practical strategies, participants will deepen their understanding of the hidden realities of racism and the promise of more inclusive, equitable environments for patients and colleagues. Open to all SHA staff, allied professionals, and other health practitioners. Each session builds on the last. All three must be taken to obtain a certificate of completion. - Module 1 – Foundations for Action
- Module 2 – Indigenous-specific and Anti-Black Racism
- Module 3 – Being A Changemaker
Email shellan.gerlinsky@saskhealthauthority.ca to register. | Date: May 11
Time: 12 - 1 p.m.
Location: Virtual Join us over the lunch hour on May 11 as we celebrate outstanding innovation across our organization. Discover inspiring projects, hear the stories behind them, and be among the first to find out this year’s Innovation Award winners. These innovations reflect our SHA CARES Values—demonstrating compassion, accountability, respect, equity, and safety in action across the work we do every day. You wil leave feeling energized by the passion, creativity, and dedication that continue to drive meaningful change in our work. | Design Thinking Learning Series | Dates: May 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28
Time: 12– 1 p.m.
Location: Virtual This six-part virtual series is designed to immerse participants in the principles and practices of design thinking—a proven approach to tackling complex challenges in healthcare and beyond. Over six sessions, you’ll gain practical experience and tools to help you: - Build empathy and define real-world problems.
- Generate innovative, human-centered solutions.
- Test and refine ideas through hands-on prototyping and feedback.
- Translate creative thinking into actionable change.
The learning series encourages active participation and applied experimentation—not a passive learning experience. You'll be joining a community of like-minded health-care professionals who are committed to driving positive change across the system.
Who Should Attend?
Anyone across the SHA looking to build innovation capacity and apply fresh thinking to real challenges. Whether you’re new to design thinking or looking to deepen your skills, this series is for you.
Seating is limited.
Email Robyn.Mcgonigle@saskhealthauthority.ca to secure your spot. Have questions? Contact Vince for more information. | Learning Essential Approaches to Palliative Care (LEAP) Date: May 16, June 16, or July 14
Time: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Virtual
We are starting (LEAP) Learning Essential Approaches to Palliative Care sessions for this upcoming year. Pre-work is required before attending a session. If you would like to attend, please ensure you have approval from your manager (if applicable) before filling out the form below. | Traditional Wellness and Healing Learning Series | Dates: May 19
Time: 9 a.m.– 12 p.m.
Location: Battlefords Family Health Centre Basement, North Battleford, SK Learn from Knowledge Keepers, physicians, patients and family partners, and health-care providers about Traditional Wellness and Healing Practices for Indigenous People. Whether you are a health-care provider or a decision-maker, this is an opportunity to learn and reflect about the role you can play working in parallel alongside Indigenous Wellness and Healing practices. See poster below for more details. | Library Lunch and Learns - May to August | Time: 12 - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Hungry for knowledge? Join the SHA Clinical Library over your lunch break to learn about: - Copyright, citation, and image use (May 12 and July 7)
- Library resources and services (May 28, June 25, July 23 and August 25)
- Zotero for citation management (June 9 and August 13)
Register for one date per topic at least a week in advance to secure your seat. | CoPilot Artificial Intelligence (AI) images in Clinical Documents | When developing clinical documents, teams should refer to Images and Citations - Quick Guide for Clinical Document Development (CS-G-0250) for guidance on using images.
AI generated images must not be used in clinical documents at this time.
With the addition of Copilot with Microsoft Teams, it does not change SHA direction in the use of finding or creating AI images for use in clinical document development. After review with the SHA cybersecurity team, the following applies:
From an SHA perspective: - AI generated images cannot be assumed to be free of copyright or licensing risk.
- Responsibility for compliance with applicable legislation and SHA standards remains with the user and our organization.
- Use of AI generated images are not permitted in SHA clinical document development.
| Pharmacist authority to prescribe drugs and order laboratory tests | Effective today, April 28, 2026, CS CP 0097 Pharmacist Authority to Prescribe Drugs and Order Laboratory Tests bundle is available for training purposes.
The procedure standardizes and enhances processes to support consistent, high quality pharmacist practice across SHA sites, reduces variability, and clarifies scope of practice for pharmacists employed within public health care institutional settings.
New Documents Now Available: A town hall for SHA pharmacists and their leaders will be held on May 7, 2026, from 12:15 to 1 p.m., with a virtual option available via Microsoft Teams. Further town halls for leaders and other stakeholders will be scheduled in the near future. For more information, please contact dtcsupport@saskhealthauthority.ca. | Medication Administration: Direct Intravenous (IV) Push – ALL Ages | Training Period: April 28, 2026
Implementation: May 12, 2026
NEW: CS-CP-0109 Medication Administration: Direct Intravenous (IV) Push – ALL Ages - Outlines safe and consistent practice and management of potential complications and ensures patient safety of Direct IV Push medication administration within the SHA.
Guidance Documents: Education and Training for Direct IV Push - CS-LM-0027 Direct IV Push available on MyConnection
- SHA-0718 Direct IV Push Skills Checklist
- UPON HIRE
- Review clinical procedure and accompanied guidance documents
- Complete CS-LM-0027 Direct IV Push Learning Module on MyConnection
- Return demonstration of skill
- BEYOND ENTRY LEVEL COMPETENCIES
- Return demonstration of skills as personal competency indicates and as indicated by clinical practice area.
- CONTINUING COMPETENCE
- Review clinical procedure, associated guidance documents and complete learning module, with updates/changes and based on self-assessment of competency and as indicated by clinical practice area
- Return demonstration as needed based on self-assessment or by clinical practice area
A CS-P-0071 Huddle Talk – Direct IV Push has been developed to support implementation. For more information, visit: Direct IV Push webpage or email clinicalstandards@saskhealthauthority.ca. | Peripheral Venous Access – ALL Ages | Training/Education period: April 28, 2026
Implementation: May 12, 2026
NEW: CS-CP-0108 Peripheral Venous Access – ALL Ages - Provides guidance to healthcare providers regarding peripheral venous access devices for patients of all ages within the SHA.
Guidance Documents Education and Training for Peripheral Venous Access - UPON HIRE
- Review CS-CP-0108 Peripheral Venous Access all ages clinical procedure and accompanying clinical guidance documents
- Complete training on the deployment of Safety Engineered Sharps Devices (SESD), using devices available in the clinical area of employment
- CONTINUING COMPETENCE
- Review clinical procedure with updates / changes based on self-assessment of competency and as indicated by clinical practice area
A CS-P-0073 Huddle Talk - Peripheral Venous Access has been developed to support implementation. For more information, visit: Health Provider Resources > A-Z List > Clinical Equipment and Products > Vascular Access Devices > Peripheral Venous Access or email clinicalstandards@saskhealthauthority.ca. | Aseptic Non-Touch Technique (ANTT)® | TO PRINT AND POST: Just print this email. DO YOU HAVE A SUBMISSION? See our guidelines here. DID YOU MISS AN ISSUE? See our archives. | | | | |
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