Story Posted: 2024-07-16
Hospital Highlights 2023-24: Mental Health and Addiction Services
From the St. Paul’s Hospital & SPH Foundation 2023-24 Annual Review.
Mental Health and Addiction Services (MHAS) provides a range of services for clients of all ages who face moderate to severe issues involving mental health and addictions.
The Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic located at St. Paul’s Hospital has been operational since February 2020. To date, the RAAM team has supported 10,789 client visits, demonstrating that there is great need for swift and barrier-free access to medical and psychological supports for those who use substances. As well, the Clinic welcomed Dr. Isaac Cheveldae, a contracted psychiatrist and a tremendous addition to our community addictions teams.
On August 31, 2023, a number of teams within MHAS, including the Opioid Assisted Recovery Services team (OARS), RAAM, the Overdose Outreach Team, and our partners from the Saskatoon Fire Department, participated in an event to recognize International Overdose Awareness Day. The event honored the lives of those lost to overdose. It also served to support the loved ones they have left behind, to raise awareness and provide education for reducing stigma, and to recognize the ongoing efforts made to reduce overdoses in our community. The staff from MHAS provided take-home Naloxone training and kits, as well as resources regarding opioids, overdoses and sources of support. The event was open to all, and was very well attended by community members. The teams plan to participate in a similar event alongside community partners in the Summer of 2024. We are optimistic about the new Drug Alert System implemented by the Government of Saskatchewan, which will allow the Ministry of Health to better coordinate the issuance of drug alerts while partnering with organizations who monitor the toxicity of illicit drugs across the province. This is an important investment and resource for bringing safety to our clients and community.
The Brief and Social Detox Unit implemented a new staffing model in early 2023, increasing nursing staff to ensure services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This has positively impacted client care, and expanded services that can be delivered within the program. With this new staffing model, we hope to reduce client transfers to the Emergency Department and offer enhanced medical supports for those who require detox from substance use. We have seen record requests for service, with a demand that exceeds capacity of these units. The team works tirelessly to provide care to those that request this service.
Generosity Powers Education
St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation was very pleased to support Pharmacist Amy Wiebe as she participated in the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use Addiction Pharmacy Fellowship Program. Amy is the first pharmacist from Saskatchewan to participate in this program, which trains highly skilled pharmacists in ensuring the safe and effective use of medications, optimizing treatment outcomes and assisting in the development of protocols that focus on best serving patients living with addictions. Amy is an accomplished professional who has received numerous awards for leading innovative projects within our province. In addition to more than fifteen years of clinical experience, policy development, leadership and educational programming, including important work at St. Paul’s Hospital, Amy is a founding member and clinician contributor to the USask Chronic Pain Clinic, a pharmacist-led clinic located at the University of Saskatchewan. SPH Foundation is glad to support this educational opportunity and anticipates the positive health outcomes that Amy’s increased education will bring to patients and their loved ones in our community.