Staffing the main challenge after the pandemic - says Hildigunnur Svavarsdóttir, director of the hospital

Operations and statistics

An operating deficit of 460 million ISK was adjusted in 2022, and in addition the hospital received 270 million ISK in its current operating base. However, financial contributions must continue to be increased to ensure better access and safer healthcare services in the community.

The number of patient visits to day care centers increased by 23% year-on-year, but at the same time the number of visits to ambulatory ward decreased due to the decline in phototherapy. The number of surgeries decreased by 17% year-on-year due to limited operating services in the first months of 2022 due to staffing shortage and restrictions due to the pandemic. Emphasis continued to be placed on shortening the waiting list for prosthetic surgeries in the country, but there was a decrease in the number of them at the hospital due to staffing shortage and limited operation services. There is still a steady increase in air ambulances, which amounted to 10%. It is worth noting that in 45% of cases a doctor is involved and consideration must be given to establishing a doctor's duty in air ambulances.

Hospitalization days were similar to the previous year, but the number of patients increased by 11% year-on-year.

Education and training of healthcare professionals

On average, there are 14,3 students in health sciences in vocational training at the hospital every week. SAk also participates in the education of specialist primary care doctors and the further education of specialist doctors. The hospital operates a simulation center which comes very handy because it is important to strengthen the cooperation and skills of different healthcare professions – especially with regard to the lack of specialized healthcare staff that looms over the entire healthcare system.

Policy formulation and organizational structure

During the working year, work was started on strategic planning, and in the fall, work began on changes to the management structure, which led to the fact that in the fall of 2023, the new executive board of SAk took over according to the organization's new management structure. "In the new management structure, the emphasis is on the teamwork of the executive board and other managers, and I fully believe that in this way, better opportunities and possibilities are created to face operational challenges and develop them together with efficiency and a better overview as a guide, patients and staff in favor," says Hildigunnur Svavarsdóttir.
"We are optimistic about the future and we certainly want to take advantage of the opportunities. But for everything to work out, we need to rely on the government's even better understanding of the statutory role of the Hospital in Akureyri with regard to projects and resources," concludes Hildigunnur.