Surgical Information System

The Surgical Information System (SIS) is intended to provide comprehensive decision support for the planning and delivery of surgical care. The implementation of a SIS in each of the five mid-sized regions and the Saskatoon Health Region will provide the base for improved surgical management information. The project scope includes surgical scheduling, surgical charting and integration with regional materials management systems. The system will also support improved data exchange between the surgery booking offices, physicians and the Saskatchewan Surgical Care Network (SSCN) Surgical Registry through automated interfaces.

The benefits of this type of system include improved information for wait list management (wait time reporting); improved information for surgical productivity (theatre utilization) and cost effectiveness; improved time savings in documenting and accessing information; and, increased quality of care delivered to patients, based on the availability of comprehensive information from which health care providers can make informed decisions.

Initially, the SIS intends to function as a partially integrated system, interfaced with each region's Central Patient Index (CPI)/Registration, each region's materials management system and the SSCN Surgical Registry. Eventually, it is anticipated that clinical information captured within the regions will form part of an Electronic Health Record (EHR).

The SIS project will involve a number of region staff, including the following: Operating Room (OR) (manager, nursing, support staff, OR scheduling staff, surgeons and anaesthetists, Recovery Room (manager, nursing staff and anaesthetists), Pre-admission Clinic (manager, nursing clerical and anaesthetists), Admitting (manager and staff), Materials Management (manager and staff) and Central Supply-Sterile Processing (manager and staff).