Social Paediatrics in Saskatoon in Association with St. Mary's

populations living in poverty; and that diseases in infants, children and youth
carry through to adulthood support the argument for service provision by
paediatricians as a part of a community based healthcare team in school
environments.
Our ‘wait’ times for elective, non-urgent cases have increased from 1-2 days in
2007 to 4 weeks in 2010. The ‘in-clinic’ days have increased from 3 to 4
days/week. Day 5 is generally reserved for case conferences, urgent cases and
meetings.
We continue to work flexibly with the schools in order to accommodate urgent
referrals in a timely manner, and accommodate walk-in patients. However, given
the increased mobility and transiency of patients and families (often secondary to
social issues related to housing concerns, placement changes for children in foster
care); the burden of environmental traumas that continuously contribute to
morbidity, the need to see patients in a timely manner is a priority.
ii.
Social workers who will see families and do outreach work and follow-up
between clinic visits (this would in no way replace the school social workers with
whom we have the privilege to work with).
iii.
Nurse practitioner
iv.
Subspecialists such as Developmental Paediatricians and Child Psychiatrists
doing regular clinics in school.
b) Financial resources/remuneration:
o For the majority of participants in the school-based clinics, being salaried
would enable consistent outreach services, and educational/therapeutic
sessions in groups or within classrooms therefore helping expand ways in
which to educate and treat our patients.
o Having to make choices in regards to patient management based on the
restrictions around billing and remuneration is not optimal.
© Greater Saskatoon Catholic School Division 2011 14