Please be informed that our office building is closed until further notice due to a water main break. There are issues with the fax machine off and on, please email any faxes that may not have gone through to oxygentest@lungsask.ca

Thank you for being patient with us while we work out our renovations and work process. Please reach out if you have any questions.

There are an increasing number of questions SAIL has been receiving in regards to the SAIL palliative oxygen program.

Palliative Coordinators - Questions from care homes (and from vendors about care homes) not having access to palliative coordinators who can sign palliative forms. Home can call and be added to the approval list with SAIL. This is separate from Home Oxygen Tester numbers.

SAIL has heard concerns that palliative coordinators are being asked to sign for patients they do not support. The decision to do so is a choice based on professional judgement and discretion. Guidelines for palliative funding is in the SAIL policy.

Work has already begun to consider more stringently enforcing the SAIL policy with regards to Palliative Oxygen in line with other provinces. For example, Ontario does not allow palliative renewal; Alberta allows one palliative renewal. In both provinces, clients must then qualify for other types of oxygen coverage.

Frequency - Complaints from physicians about the frequency of palliative renewals (i.e. every 4 months). As a reminder, the Home Oxygen Program End-stage Palliative Oxygen coverage is meant to be for end stage oxygen needs – terminally ill patients who have been assessed as requiring end stage care measured in days or weeks. This is why palliative coverage is 4 months and will not be increased.

Hospital RT's only doing ABG's do not need a Home Oxygen Tester Number to submit the results. 

It is helpful to take the Home Oxygen Tester course to understand the SAIL program and other oxygen information for Saskatchewan. All RT's are encouraged to take this training. Please check your local SHA policy and SAIL policy to ensure you are following protocol.

Any printed oximetry results submitted to SAIL requires testing from a Certified Home Oxygen Tester.

SAIL is considering authorizing qualified nursing staff at private care homes in rural areas not serviced by SHA to do testing. There have been many instances where patients at these facilities struggle to access testing. If you have questions or concerns about this, please feel free to contact Karol Douglas at karol.douglas@health.gov.sk.ca

Some Community Paramedics who are affiliated with the SHA are being trained to provide oxygen testing in areas that may not currently have others that can provide this service. With any questions regarding this, please reach out to jaimie.peters@lungsask.ca

The Professional Education Portal (PEP) contains articles and video presentations on the most recent research, position papers and guidelines. These presentations are conducted by leading experts in respiratory health. New presentations are added throughout the year.

The portal also provides an easy way for respiratory educators to track CE hours towards re-certification with the CNRC or any other licensing body.

Registering for a FREE account allows you to:

1. View video presentations and read articles on respiratory health.
2. After completing a short questionnaire about each video, the video time will automatically be added to your logbook.
3. Record additional CE hours in an easy format, that can be sent to the CNRC or any other licensing body.