It's a new step for the healthcare sector in the province, but if everything goes according to plan, the average patient shouldn't even realize there has been a change.

The 12 health regions across Saskatchewan, including the Saskatoon and Kelsey Trail Health Regions serving the Humboldt area, are now the Saskatchewan Health Authority as of Monday morning.

Chief Executive Officer Scott Livingstone says it's been a lot of work to get here and they still have more to do.

"The strategy has been to roll all existing staff into the organization on day one, to ensure that people in leadership roles have the opportunity to apply for new roles and also to ensure that those leaders, who are currently in the system are available to ensure that care is provided seamlessly to our patients and safely."

Roughly 44,000 people that work in the healthcare sector will be shifted into the SHA, making it the largest organization in the province.

While the new authority is officially off and running, Livingstone says it will take years for the organization to truly evolve into what they want it to be.