Get ready for Clinical Practice Redesign - Saskatchewan Medical ...

Specialist Directory a user-friendly resource
Submitted letter
This letter is to update you on some exciting developments
regarding the Saskatchewan Specialist Directory.
The online Directory is accessed by about 750 different
visitors every month. You play an important role in ensuring
the continued success of this important resource.
The Specialist Directory was created because primary care
physicians asked for information to assist them in referring
patients to the appropriate specialists. Championed
by the Senior Medical Officer Committee and supported
by the Saskatchewan Medical Association, it was the first
tool of its kind in Canada and supports shared decisionmaking
between doctors and their patients.
The Specialist Directory is being promoted through a
province-wide television commercial that began airing in
mid-February – one of a number of initiatives underway
to promote this user-friendly resource. The commercial
features a Saskatchewan family physician who has found
the directory to be a valuable tool that helps him better
serve his patients.
The Specialist Directory can be found at www.health.gov.
sk.ca/specialists. With only two mouse clicks, it allows doctors
and patients to view all the surgeons who perform a
particular procedure. You can use the information to find
the timeliest option for patients, and feel confident that
the surgeon selected can provide the required procedure.
Patients still need a doctor’s referral to see a specialist.
Doctors and patients can work together to find useful information
on all surgeons who perform surgeries in hospital
operating rooms in Saskatchewan. The Specialist Directory
simply shows them their options and helps them
choose a surgeon based on what’s important to them,
whether that is location, surgeon or timeliness of service.
It may be especially useful to physicians who are new to
the province and unfamiliar with practising surgeons.
Over the past year, we gathered feedback from primary
care physicians and patients and used it to improve the
Directory. Plans are now underway to expand the Directory
to include other specialties.
Saskatchewan physicians inspired these efforts to im-
your SMA
The Specialist Directory is
accessed by about 750 different
visitors every month.
prove surgical referral processes. We would like to encourage
you to work with your patients in using the directory
and thank you for supporting our mutual goal of
reducing surgical wait times.
Sincerely,
Dr. Phillip Fourie
President, Saskatchewan Medical Association
AND
Dr. Brian Laursen, Chairperson
Senior Medical Officer Committee
SMA News Digest Spring 2012 5