The new CEO of Prairie Mountain Health says she is honoured to have been warmly welcomed into her new duties by staff and stakeholders across the region.
Treena Slate was hired to replace Brian Schoonbaert, who retired from the position earlier this month.
She sees recruitment and retention of health staff being both the biggest short-term and long-term issues facing PMH.
"We have a very high vacancy rate, which of course leads to excessive overtime and agency use to fill the needs to staff our programs and units. It is an issue that has been plaguing us more so since the pandemic. And I think it is incumbent on us as health leaders in the province to work to re-invigorate health care and to develop that passion that existed to work in health care."
Slate says the need for more doctors, nurses, and lab technicians has also played a big role in the closure or reduction of hours at several emergency rooms throughout the PMH coverage area.
"We always work to ensure that we are looking at things from a geographical perspective. Making sure that we have services available within a geographical area, that people have access that is required, and ensuring that they are aware of what to do if they are in need of emergency service. And just trying to shore up those resources so that we can provide as much service as possible."
Slate adds while Dauphin is well-staffed with physicians, the same can not be said for other parts of the region, where she says there are significant gaps with regards to primary care coverage.
