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By Kenneth Cheung

Innovative fund

Saskatchewan supports physicians with $10 Million funding

Aug 23, 2024 | 10:30 AM

The Government of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) have partnered to set up the Innovative Fund for family physician-led healthcare clinics in the province.

Dr. Jess Melle, president of the SMA’s Section of Family Medicine, said that the Innovation Fund is unique to Saskatchewan, as it is the first province to have it.

“We are leading the way in Saskatchewan in developing family medicine-led team-based care.”

According to the Government of Saskatchewan, team-based care in healthcare involves providers working together in teams, leveraging each other’s strengths to deliver coordinated and expanded services, and improving patient access to care.

Health minister Everett Hindley said in a news release, “When I have spoken to physicians, they have expressed to me the significance of the Innovation Fund and how it will improve health care for both doctors and patients.”

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“The fund is now accepting applications from family doctors who have ideas of how they might like to start building a family physician-led team to help better provide patients with wraparound care and to help improve patient satisfaction, “ Melle said.

Melle mentioned that the healthcare community has been facing a crisis, so the government agreed upon the new Transitional Payment Model (TPM). These changes will likely benefit the recruitment and retention of new family doctors, and help patients be more connected with their family physicians.

The Transitional Payment Model (TPM) in Saskatchewan is a new way of paying doctors. It combines the current fee system with a new capitation payment based on patient numbers and group size. The aim is to promote long-term care, identify patient needs, allow doctors more time with patients, and improve access to primary care.

He explained that many recent graduates are dissatisfied with the current fee-for-service model and the way physicians are paid. They are also eager to find ways to enhance the care they can provide to their patients.

The fee-for-service model is a healthcare payment method where providers charge patients for each individual service or procedure provided.

Therefore, he said that SMA is seeking new methods to offer more extensive patient care, dedicate more time to their patients, and feel confident in providing care without feeling rushed while seeing multiple patients daily.

“And so moving towards a system favouring more comprehensive care rather than a walk-in system is certainly what we’re trying to improve,” Melle said.

The funding application started on August 20, 2024. Learn more at saskatchewan.ca/health-innovation-fund.

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedis.com