Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Strategy: 2005-2006 Annual Report

Health Canada
2006
ISBN: 0-662-44014-5 (PDF Version)
Cat. No.: H1-9/19-2006E

Help on accessing alternative formats, such as Portable Document Format (PDF), Microsoft Word and PowerPoint (PPT) files, can be obtained in the alternate format help section.

The 2005/2006 Annual Report describes the key initiatives of the Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Strategy and outlines the important progress that was made during the 2005/2006 fiscal year.

Table of Contents

• Executive Summary
• Contributions and Complementary Activities
• The Initiatives of the Pan-Canadian HHR Strategy
  • Pan-Canadian HHR Planning
  • Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice (IECPCP)
  • Recruitment and Retention (R&R)
  • Healthy Workplace Initiative (HWI)
  • Provincial/Territorial/Regional Projects
• Establishment of the Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative
  • International Medical Graduates Initiatives
  • Aboriginal HHR Work
• Delivering the Pan-Canadian HHR Strategy
• Pan-canadian Health Human Resource Planning Contributions Initiated/Continued in 2005/2006
  • Health Human Resources Databases Development Project (HHR-DDP)
  • Health Cross-Jurisdictional Labour Relations Database (HCJDB)
• Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice (IECPCP) Projects Initiated/Continued in 2005/2006
  • Educating Future Physicians in Palliative and End-of-Life Care (EFPPEC)
  • Action in Diversity: National Nursing Associations Meeting the Health Human Resource Challenges of the Global AIDS Pandemic
  • Interprofessional Education (IPE) - Conference and Database Enhancements
  • Faculty Development Program for Teachers of Internationally Educated Health Care Professionals
  • Proposal to Advance Nursing Education within the Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Strategy
  • Legislation and Regulation Issues for Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice
  • Understanding Liability Issues for Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice
  • A Toolkit to Facilitate Successful Transition of Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) to Full Scope of Practice in Continuing Care
  • Paradigm Shift in Interprofessional Education: The Unique Roles Academia Can Successfully Play in Effecting Lasting Change
  • Interprofessional Collaboration for Patient Centred Health Care - A Strategy for Health Human Resource Management
  • Patient-Centred Care: Better Training for Better Collaboration
  • The McGill Educational Initiative on Interprofessional Collaboration: Partnerships for Patient-Family Centred Care
  • Institute of Interprofessional Health Sciences Education
  • Interprofessional Education for Geriatric Care
  • Building Capacity and Fostering System Change
  • Creating an Interprofessional Learning Environment through Communities of Practice: An Alternative to Traditional Preceptorship
  • Patient-Centred Interprofessional Team Experiences
  • Collaborating for Education and Practice: An Interprofessional Education Strategy for Newfoundland and Labrador
  • QUIPPED - Queen's University Interprofessional Patient-Centred Education Direction
  • The SCRIPT Programme: Structuring Communication Relationships for Interprofessional Teamwork (SCRIPT)
  • Seamless Care: An Interprofessional Education Project for Innovative Team-Based Transition Care
• Recruitment and Retention: Projects Initiated/Continued in 2005/2006
  • Enhancement of Physician Health Human Resources in Rural Canada
  • Increasing Support for Family Physicians in Primary Care and Promotional Strategies to Enhance the Image of Family Medicine to all Canadians
  • Enhancing the Role of Family Medicine in the Undergraduate Medical School Curriculum and Strengthening Links between Primary and Specialty Care
  • Mainstreaming Health Human Resources Innovations Conference, Proceedings, Fact Sheet and Video
  • Toward 2020: A Proposal to Strengthen Canada's Health Human Resources
  • Understanding the Costs and Outcomes of Nurses' Turnover in Canadian Hospitals
  • Quality Worklife - Quality Healthcare Collaborative: Linking Quality of Work Life, Human Resource Practices, and Health System Results
  • Retaining and Valuing Experienced Nurses
  • Evaluative Action Research to Create Healthy Workplaces
  • Healthy Workplaces Related to Home and Community Nursing and the Impact on Recruitment and Retention
  • Organizational Health: Integration of Quality and Healthy Workplace
  • Creating a Culture of Safety
  • Provincial Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention Strategy for Health Care Workers: An Expansion and Enhancement Project
  • Quality of Worklife Project
  • Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Healthy Workplace Program
  • Kailo Workplace Wellness Program
  • A Healthy Workplace Best Practice Initiative
  • MRHA Workplace Wellness Initiative
  • Inter-Hospital Action-Research Program on Work Climate
  • A Collaborative Approach to Supporting Health in the Workplace
  • Electronic Survey Tool (EST)
• Provincial / Territorial / Regional Projects Initiated/continued in 2005/2006
  • Health Human Resource (HHR) Strategy - Western and Northern Canada
  • Human Resource Strategy for Nova Scotia Department of Health
  • Health Human Resource Strategy - Yukon Projects
  • Service Provider System Replacement - New Brunswick Department of Health and Wellness
  • Health Human Resource Strategy - Saskatchewan Projects
  • Health Human Resource Strategy - Manitoba Projects
  • Health Human Resource Strategy - Ontario Projects
  • Health Human Resource Strategy - Prince Edward Island Projects
  • Health Human Resource Strategy - Newfoundland Projects
• Internationally Educated Health Professionals: Projects Initiated/Continued in 2005/2006
  • Western Alliance for Assessment of International Medical Graduates (IMGs)
  • Faculty Development Program for Teachers of Internationally Educated Health Care Professionals
  • Establish an Interactive Web-Based Learning Program on Cultural, Legal, Ethical, and Organizational (CLEO) Aspects of Medical Practice in Canada
  • Establishing a National Assessment Collaboration for International Medical Graduates (IMGs)
  • Professional Development Program for Educators of Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs)
  • Building Capacity for IMG Assessment - New Brunswick Projects
  • Clinical Skills Assessment and Training for International Medical Graduates - Newfoundland and Labrador Projects
  • Clinical Assessment for Practice Program - Nova Scotia Projects
• Internationally Educated Health Professionals: Provincial / Territorial / Regional Projects Initiated in 2005/2006
  • Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative - Newfoundland and Labrador Projects
  • Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative - Nova Scotia Projects
  • Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative - Ontario Projects
  • Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative - Manitoba Projects
  • Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative - Saskatchewan Projects
  • Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative - BC Projects
  • Internationally Educated Health Professionals - Collaboration Development of Support Services and Products for Internationally Educated Health Professionals in the Western Provinces and Northern Territories
  • Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative - Nunavut
• Aboriginal HHR Projects Initiated in 2005/2006
  • Inuit HHR Specific Initiative
  • Health Human Resources
  • Health in the Classroom
  • Addressing Curricula and Admissions/Support Policy Changes
  • Forum on Aboriginal Midwifery
  • Aboriginal HHR Framework
  • Blueprint for the Future
  • First Nations Health Human Resources Planning
  • Health Human Resources - Northern Ontario School of Medicine
• Complementary Activities
  • Pan-Canadian HHR Planning
  • Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient-centred Practice (IECPCP)
  • Recruitment And Retention
  • Healthy Workplace Initiative (HWI)
  • Internationally Educated Health Professionals Activities
  • Aboriginal HHR Work
• Conclusion

Executive Summary

At the heart of any health care system are the people who deliver care - health human resources (HHR). The sustainability of Canada's HHR is an issue which has received increased attention in recent years. Canada's health care providers are a part of a constantly evolving health care landscape in which factors such as an aging population and work-force, new technologies, and health care reforms related to a Public Wait Times Guarantee are all con-tributing to the need for change.

These human resources are the health care sys-tem's greatest asset. Canada's ability to provide access to high quality, effective, patient-centred and safe health services depends on the right mix of health care providers with the right skills in the right place at the right time.

With respect to HHR, Canada faces a number of challenges in terms of supply, mix, distribution, retention, recruitment and training.

The 2004 Health Accord, signed by all First Ministers, sets out a health care renewal agenda based on a broad consensus from consultations with Canadians, including the Romanow Commission.

The Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Strategy (HHRS) seeks to respond to the Accord commitments by securing and maintaining a stable and optimal health workforce in Canada and supporting overall health care renewal. The HHRS is comprised of three initiatives:

Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Planning:

Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice; and

Recruitment and Retention of Health Care Providers/Professionals

In response to the Health Accords, Health Canada has worked collaboratively with provincial/territorial (P/T) governments, professional associations and other federal departments to advance the HHRS.

The Government of Canada committed $85 million in the 2003 with $20 million allocated for on-going annual funding to address Pan-Canadian HHR needs.

Stemming from the 2004 Accord, the federal govern-ment committed $5.5 billion over ten years to wait times reduction, as well as $75 million over five years for the Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative (IEHPI).

The work undertaken during 2005/06 will form the foundation for continued success towards the real-ization of a more optimal health care workforce. This report describes the key initiatives of the Strategy and outlines progress to date.

Pan-Canadian initiatives for a range of professions were also an important part of the activity in 2005/06.

Recognizing the challenges faced by International Medical Graduates (IMGs) in Canada, the Canadian Taskforce on Licensure of International Medical Graduates was established in 2002, and the recom-mendations it made to federal/provincial/territorial governments in 2004 were endorsed. Through a strong partnership among federal departments, provincial/territorial governments, regulatory bodies, academic organizations and key stakeholders, sig-nificant progress continued to be made in 2005/06 to develop and implement new initiatives.

The Internationally Educated Nurses Taskforce, established in 2004, continued to bring together numerous Canadian nursing stakeholders and Health Canada to collaborate in addressing the issues faced by internationally educated nurses (IENs). Nursing along with the five other profes-sions identified a common need for development of an orientation program to the Canadian health care system for internationally educated health profes-sionals. These professions worked collaboratively to begin the scoping and development of such a pro-gram and work will continue in 2006/07 on this ini-tiative.

Contributions and Complementary Activities

The objectives of the Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Strategy are achieved through contribu-tions as well as a large number of complementary activities.

Many projects described within this report are being implemented as contribution agreements between Health Canada and various recipients. Health Canada provides funding to recipients (i.e. external organizations) and P/Ts to accomplish work which furthers the objectives of the Strategy. In addition to the wide variety of contribution agreements, Health Canada also actively manages and collaborates on concurrent activities.

This report details all projects implemented during the 2005/06 fiscal year. Descriptions of the wide range of contributions that were funded this fiscal year can be found on pages 17 to 104. The concur-rent complementary activities are highlighted on pages 105 to 109.

Snapshot: the History of the Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Strategy

September 2000
Accord 2000: First Ministers identify HHR as a P/T priority.

February 2003
Accord 2003: First Ministers reaffirm HHR as an F/P/T priority and the federal government allocates $85M to HHR Renewal. On-going funding of $20 M annually for Strategy.

September 2004
Accord 2004: First Ministers commit $5.5B over 10 years to wait times reduction, including ongoing collaborative work on HHR.

February 2005
Budget 2005: Provided $75M in funding over 5 years for the Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative.

The Initiatives of the Pan-Canadian HHR Strategy

Pan-Canadian HHR Planning

In 2003, the First Ministers requested that collaborative strategies be undertaken to strengthen the evidence base for pan-Canadian HHR planning. In recent years, it has become clear that there is a lack of appropriate data, forecasting models, and research on HHR. In the case of existing data, there are gaps and a lack of consistency concerning how and what data is currently collected. In addition, the traditional methods of HHR planning in Canada had limited collaboration between federal/provincial/territorial (F/P/T) governments with respect to address-ing the supply and demand issues of Canada's health care workforce.

The Pan-Canadian HHR Planning Initiative seeks to address collaborative planning issues by achiev-ing the following objectives:

• enhance and strengthen the evidence base and capacity for coordinated HHR planning to better support F/P/T, jurisdictional and nation-wide activities; and
• create a culture in which key HHR issues of jurisdictional, inter-jurisdictional and pan-Canadian concern can be identified and addressed.

Projects funded under this initiative of the Strategy are outlined on pages 17 to 19. These projects rep-resent a critical step towards accomplishing the objectives of this planning initiative, such as colla-borating with the Canadian Institute for Health Information on the development of a pan-Canadian supply-based minimum dataset and initiating the creation of five national HHR databases.

Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice (IECPCP)

Recent trends towards interprofessional team-based care suggest that the roles and responsibilities of various health care providers are changing.

Changing the way we educate health care providers is key to achieving system change and to ensuring that health care providers have the necessary knowl-edge and skills to work effectively in interprofessional teams within the evolving health care system. In the 2002 report, Building on Values: The Future of Health Care in Canada , Roy Romanow recommend-ed a review of "current education and training pro-grams for health care providers to focus more on integrated provider education approaches for preparing health care teams."

Furthermore, in the 2003 Accord, First Ministers agreed that among other HHR activities, collaborative strategies are to be undertaken to promote interpro-fessional provider education.

The objective of the IECPCP initiative of the Pan-Canadian HHR Strategy is to facilitate the adoption of these approaches across all health care sectors.

The goals are to increase patient and provider satis-faction, and ultimately improve patient care. The IECPCP Initiative began in 2003 and is embarking on a 5-year plan, with the following objectives:

• promote and demonstrate the benefits of interpro-fessional education for collaborative patient-centred practice;
• increase the number of educators prepared to teach from an interprofessional collaborative patient-centred perspective;
• increase the number of health professionals trained for patient-centred collaborative practice before, and after, entry-to-practice;
• stimulate networking and sharing of best educational approaches for collaborative patient-centred practice; and
• facilitate interprofessional collaborative care in both the education and practice settings.

Year One (2003/2004) focused on building the foun-dation for IECPCP through the creation of a National Expert Committee, and the examination and assessment of issues related to IECPCP. Best practices for interprofessional education were identi-fied through a literature review and environmental scan. In May 2005, Health Canada funded the publi-cation of a series of discussion and synthesis papers which were commissioned to examine key issues in interprofessional education and collabora-tive patient-centred practice. These issues included: attitudes, perceptions, structural and regulatory bar-riers to interprofessional education, principles and methods of IECPCP and faculty development.

A two-cycle Call for Proposal funding program was implemented in November 2005 for projects lasting up to June 2008.

Descriptions of contribution agreements funded dur-ing the 2005/06 fiscal year related to IECPCP can be found on pages 21 to 42.

Recruitment and Retention (R&R)

As the health workforce continues to age, the popu-lation becomes increasingly diverse, demand for health care increases, and the need to appropriately recruit and retain health care providers becomes progressively more essential. This need is often emphasized in more remote geographical areas of Canada where undersupply of providers is a signifi-cant challenge. This imbalance threatens the sys-tem's capacity to deliver health services to Canadians.

The R&R Initiative seeks to address these issues by accomplishing the following objectives:

• increase interest in health careers, both generally and in specific areas of shortage;
• increase diversity of health care providers to reflect the Canadian mosaic;
• increase the supply of health care providers to ensure availability, when and where needed;
• reduce barriers for internationally educated health care providers;
• improve utilization and distribution of existing health care providers; and
• make current workplace environments healthier for health care workers and in doing so, support the provision of high-quality care.

There are many factors that contribute to recruit-ment and retention including scope of practice, job satisfaction, and other issues related to the work-place.

Scope of practice for health professionals plays out at three levels: the legislated scope of practice, set by the provinces and territories (which is what providers are legally allowed and educated to do); the expectations of employers; and role enact-ment that which actually occurs in the clinical setting.

Resolution of issues related to scope of practice is important, yet complicated work. It requires consul-tation and collaboration with several stakeholder groups. Some funding under the Strategy is set aside to conduct further developmental work in this area.

Several studies have also identified that continuing education for health care providers has a significant impact on the quality of health care services provided.

Health Canada produced a literature review and environmental scan, which were the basis of a report on continuing education of health care providers in Canada. This report identified the barri-ers to accessing continuing education and the best practices for improving access and delivery of con-tinuing education to health care providers in rural, remote, northern, Aboriginal, and inner city commu-nities in Canada.

During 2005/06 Health Canada funded a variety of projects and activities. Highlights include:

• Enhancement of Physician Health Human Resources in Rural Canada ($153 thousand to the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada)
• Enhancement of the image of Family Medicine and the role of Family Medicine in undergraduate medical curriculum and support for family physicians in primary care ($1.4 million to College of Family Physicians of Canada)
• A national conference on innovative HHRdeployment strategies ($228 thousand toDalhousie University)
• Development and implementation of a national multimedia campaign on health care providers to raise awareness of health careers ($2 million to the Canadian Medical Association and Canadian Nurses Association)

Recruitment and Retention complementary projects which Health Canada led or collaborated on can be found on page 107.

Another factor that contributes to positive outcomes for health care workers is the creation and mainte-nance of healthy work environments that improve health service quality, are cost-effective, and enhance workforce renewal.

Healthy Workplace Initiative (HWI)

The Healthy Workplace Initiative, under the policy framework of Recruitment and Retention, focuses on front-line methods of identifying innovative ways to foster healthy workplace practices and positive change within the health care workplace. One of the key activities of HWI is to provide direct funding to support local-level healthy workplace initiatives.

Pages 43 to 64 describe Recruitment and Retention contribution agreements continued or implemented in 2005/06.

Provincial/Territorial/Regional Projects

In order to work collaboratively with our jurisdictional partners, and to ensure that the Strategy objectives are accomplished on a pan-Canadian basis, Health Canada invited jurisdictions to submit P/T and regional project proposals. From a $4 million total, each P/T was allocated a base lump sum plus addi-tional funds on a per-capita basis to be utilized between 2004/05 and 2005/06. In some cases, P/Ts chose to pool their allocated resources to collabo-rate regionally, such as the Western & Northern Health Human Resources Planning Forum. A num-ber of these projects, which collectively address the priorities of all three Strategy initiatives, were imple-mented in 2005/06. Pages 65 to 74 outline these projects.

Establishment of the Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative

Internationally Educated Health Professionals (IEHPs) are an important component of the Canadian health care workforce. They have historically helped Canada meet its demand for health professionals and will con-tinue to do so given our shortage.

IEHPs come from diverse countries with various edu-cational standards and working environments. They face numerous challenges in navigating through the licensure process and integrating into the Canadian health care workplace.

Fast Fact

To address these challenges, and consistent with the 2004 Health Accord, the Government of Canada com-mitted $75 million over five years in Budget 2005 to support initiatives that will promote the integration of IEHPs into the Canadian health system.

The $75 million has two separate streams of funding -$61.5 million for provincial/territorial initiatives, and $7.4 million for pan-Canadian initiatives. Pan-Canadian funding has been made available to support national initiatives that will promote the inte-gration of these professionals across the country. These funds are targeted to regulatory bodies, educa-tional institutions, and other national stakeholders.

The Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative is initially focusing on seven professions which include: medicine, nursing, medical laboratory science, medical radiation technology, pharmacy, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy.

A great deal of commonality exists among the issues faced by internationally educated health pro-fessionals. Recognizing these commonalities, Health Canada engaged representatives from nurs-ing, medical laboratory science, medical radiation technology, pharmacy, physiotherapy, and occupa-tional therapy to develop the scope and framework for a common, interdisciplinary orientation program to the Canadian health care system. Work will con-tinue in 2006/07 to develop this program.

IEHPI Stategic Outcomes

Provinces and territories responded to Health Canada's call for proposals for the P/T component of funds.

The resulting initiatives address the IEHPI strategic outcomes, target a range of priority professions and many take an interprofessional approach. Detailed descriptions of the funded IEHPI and P/T and regional projects can be found in the contributions section of this Annual Report.

The Internationally Educated Nurses Taskforce was created to help find solutions to the issues being faced by internationally educated nurses in Canada. Taskforce membership includes a wide range of nursing stakeholders. In 2005/06, the Taskforce completed reports in areas identified for develop-ment including: a common information source, edu-cation, assessment and bridging, and data, includ-ing the concept of a personal identification number. Work continues on this front, and many provincial/territorial and pan-Canadian initiatives funded through the IEHPI will also address these issues.

A key success factor in developing and implementing the Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative is collaboration. Health Canada continues to work closely with provincial/territorial governments, educational institutions, regulatory bodies, internation-ally educated health professionals, national profession-al associations, and other federal departments, toward the common goal of accelerating and improving the integration of internationally educated health profes-sionals into the Canadian health system.

National and regional approaches that maximize the resources available, and the collaboration and high level of engagement by stakeholders, have contributed significantly to the success of the activities to date. This collaborative approach will continue to be a central fea-ture of the IEHPI as it moves forward into the future.

International Medical Graduate Initiatives

Prior to the creation of the Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative in 2005, successful efforts were already underway to reduce barriers to licensure for internationally educated health medical graduates. In the summer of 2002, the creation of the Canadian Taskforce on Licensure of International Medical Graduates (IMGs) was a key step in address-ing the issues faced by IMGs in Canada.

Recommendations of the IMG Taskforce

The Taskforce made six recommendations which were endorsed by the federal/provincial/territorial Ministers of Health in February 2004.

Health Canada, together with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Industry Canada, provided over $8 million in funding for ini-tiatives to address the Taskforce recommendations.

Health Canada, together with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), provided funding in 2005/06 supporting:

• Increased provincial IMG assessment capacity
• A central web-site of information for IMGs  Canadian Information Centre for International Medical Graduates
• A national consortium of IMG assessment pro-grams and regulators to harmonize the assess-ment process across the country
• A faculty development program for teachers of IMGs, launched in April, 2006
• An online self assessment tool to assess readi-ness to write qualifying exams ( Medical Council of Canada)
• Increased access to evaluating examinations off-shore prior to immigration
• A web based orientation program about the cul-tural, legal and ethical organization of medicine in Canada ( Medical Council of Canada )
• A centralized foreign credential verification service
• A new database to track IMGs (data will help to inform policy development and program design)

Fast Fact

Detailed descriptions of IMG projects funded by Health Canada in 2005/06 can be found in the contri-butions section of this Annual Report.

Aboriginal HHR Work

Health Canada has a unique relationship with First Nations and Inuit communities in working closely with them to enhance their health services and improve their health. This is an ongoing commitment of the federal government, resulting from a series of reports and commissions on Aboriginal health. Health Canada's First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) works to ensure that First Nations and Inuit health care needs are addressed and, where possi-ble, integrated into larger pan-Canadian strategies.

FNIHB is directly responsible for implementing the HHR Strategy from a First Nations and Inuit perspec-tive and seeks to accomplish the following goals:

• ensure that the current and future supply, mix and distribution of First Nations and Inuit HHR are opti-mized and respond to the needs of First Nations and Inuit through a coordinated approach to HHR planning;
• achieve and maintain an adequate supply of qualified health care providers who are appropriately educated, distributed, deployed and supported, to ensure culturally appropriate and safe health care services are available to First Nations and Inuit;
• increase the number of First Nations and Inuit entering into health careers, and the number of health care providers working in First Nations and Inuit communities;
• ensure that First Nations and Inuit HHR data collec-tion is ongoing, coordinated and systematic, and that the process involves First Nations and Inuit organizations; and
• promote interprofessional education for health care workers and collaborative patient-centred practice that addresses the holistic health care needs of First Nations and Inuit. This is intended to increase client satisfaction and ultimately, to improve patient outcomes.

Please refer to pages 95 to 104 for information on Aboriginal HHR projects which were implemented in 2005/06. Page 109 describes complementary activities undertaken by FNIHB in 2005/06.

Delivering the Pan-Canadian HHR Strategy

The Strategy is a truly collaborative undertaking. In developing the Strategy, consultations took place with a wide variety of stakeholders including P/Ts, professional/regulatory/evidence based organi-zations, educational institutions, and other federal departments.

The delivery of the Strategy continues this spirit of collaboration. Although the Health Human Resource Strategies Division (HHRSD) of Health Canada leads the overall implementation of the Strategy, responsibility for many aspects of the Strategy lies with the department's Office of Nursing Policy (ONP) and the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB), in close collaboration with the F/P/T Advisory Committee on Health Delivery and Human Resources.

More specifically, ONP leads the development and implementation of the Healthy Workplace Initiative (HWI - a component of R&R) and, in partnership with Health Human Resource Strategies Division (HHRSD), leads the development and implementa-tion of the IECPCP initiative. FNIHB leads the development and implementation of HHR activities targeted towards First Nations and Inuit populations.

The F/P/T Conference of Deputy Ministers approved the three HHR initiatives/activities for the first five years of the Strategy in December 2003.

This team approach to the development and imple-mentation of Strategy activities has provided an opportunity to leverage on the wide variety of perspectives and expertise both internal and external to Health Canada. Collaboration and part-nership are values, which have, and continue, to define the Strategy.

Health Human Resource Connection

Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Planning Contributions Initiated/Continued in 2005/2006

Health Human Resources Databases Development Project (HHR-DDP)

Amount/ Duration

$8,250,000 2004/05 to 2009/10

Recipient

The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI)

Objectives

Develop national, supply-based database and reporting systems for

five regulated health professions: Pharmacists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Medical Laboratory Technologists, and Medical Radiation Technologists.

Enhance health information systems.

Activities

Assess information needs with stakeholders from each of the five groups to identify the level and type of information to be collected in the database.

Develop necessary documentation to support this process, to be followed by the development of a system to capture the information (database development).

Collect, process, analyze and publish data from professions during the production cycle.

Anticipated Results Output

Improved information (quantity, scope and quality) to support

HHR management for the five professions at the F/P/T levels.

A national, supply-based database, and reporting systems for the five professions, which will enhance the capacity for evidence based HHR research and planning activities.

Production and dissemination of five new annual reports, summarizing the data collected (in line with CIHI communications policies).

Contact Information

Deborah Cohen, Manager, Health Human Resources
Canadian Institute for Health Information 495 Richmond Road, Suite 600
Ottawa, ON
K2A 4H6
Telephone: (613) 241-7860 ext 4064

Health Cross-Jurisdictional Labour Relations Database (HCJDB)

Amount/ Duration

$150,000 2004/05 to 2005/06

Recipient

The Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Finance

Objectives

Permit partnering jurisdictions access to nationwide information regarding health sector labour relations information.

Activities

Define parameters for data to be included in the database.

Create a more effective, less costly and easily adaptable system of information collection and sharing by enhancing communication through the Internet.

Modify the database so that it allows for faster and more accurate data entry.

Increase the amount of historical data in the database in order to compare old labour agreements with new agreements.

Add web interface and automation function for adding/changing information to the administration module.

Update the existing administrative interface to speed up administration.

Select reporting groups for reports generated by the reporting module.

Define parameters for data to be included in the database.

Anticipated Results Output

Enhanced functionality and accuracy of the database as described above.

Contact Information

John Davison, Director, Labour Relations Research and Policy
PO Box 9400 Stn Prov Govt,
Victoria, BC
V8W 9V1

Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient- Centred Practice (IECPCP) Projects Initiated/Continued in 2005/2006

Educating Future Physicians in Palliative and End-of-Life Care (EFPPEC)

Amount/ Duration

$1,250,000 2003/04 to 2007/08

Recipient

The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC)

Objectives

Ensure that all undergraduate medical students and clinical postgraduate trainees at Canada's medical schools receive education in palliative and end-of-life (EOL) care and graduate with competencies in these areas.

Activities

Establish a national project team.

Develop consensus-based palliative and EOL care core competencies for undergraduate trainees in medicine and for postgraduate trainees in each of the key clinical specialty areas.

Develop an interdisciplinary team at each university to identify gaps/opportunities related to palliative and EOL care and strategies to address these gaps.

Establish mentors and support local interdisciplinary curriculum change teams.

Develop and implement faculty development programs for palliative and EOL care faculty and educators.

Develop and conduct annual palliative and EOL care education symposia.

Encourage the integration of palliative and EOL questions in licensing and certification examinations.

Establish communication mechanisms to provide ongoing support to local teams, mentors and champions.

Anticipated Results Output

By 2008, all undergraduate medical students and clinical postgraduate trainees at Canada's medical schools will receive education in palliative and EOL care and graduate with competencies in these areas.

A model for incorporating palliative and EOL competencies in the training of other disciplines.

Contact Information

Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada
774 Echo Drive
Ottawa, ON
K1S 5P2
Telephone: (613) 730-0687

Action in Diversity: National Nursing Associations Meeting the Health Human Resource Challenges of the Global AIDS Pandemic

Amount/ Duration

$200,000 2004/05 to 2005/06

Recipient

The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA)

Objectives

Strengthen strategic collaborative practice interventions towards the mitigtion of HIV and AIDS and address health human resource planning, retention and recruitment issues by identifying contextually specific and general realities impacting on nursing, health care and health outcomes.

Activities

Identify key issues and interventions within the country-specific context through the use of focus groups composed of nurses and other providers from Latin America, Asia, the Caribbean, Africa and Europe. This information will form an overview paper.

Hold a forum at the International Council of Nurses Scientific Congress to identify lessons learned, innovative strategies and gaps for further research, strategic planning and policy development.

Share and exchange results via a networking session following the forum.

Form a global technical advisory committee to monitor dissemination of findings, report on progress and participate in planning for the conference.

Gather and analyze information on nursing, health care and client health outcomes from various countries.

Determine themes regarding intersections of HIV/AIDS and the HHR shortage.

Identify opportunities for international collaboration from an interprofessional perspective.

Position issues for the 2006 International AIDS Forum in Toronto.

Anticipated Results Output

Knowledge dissemination on the status of the workforce for HIV/AIDS care within different settings, and on best practices for managed migration and mitigation of HIV/AIDS.

A full report with recommendations and evaluation.

A strategic vision for nursing leadership.

Contact Information

Canadian Nurses Association
50 Driveway
Ottawa, ON
K2P 1E2
Telephone: 1(800)361-8404

Interprofessional Education (IPE) - Conference and Database Enhancements

Amount/ Duration

$85,000 2004/05 to 2005/06

Recipient

University of Toronto, Department of Family and Community Medicine

Objectives

Update and maintain the Interprofessional Education Literature Database, which houses literature on interprofessional education for collaborative patientcentred practice.

Update and maintain the IPE Initiative Database, which houses information on health professional educational programs across Canada.

Hold an Interprofessional Education Conference to further promote the development and knowledge of interprofessional education.

Activities

Implement proactive and automatic searches to scan key literature databases such as Medline and Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC).

Populate the IPE Literature Database with all appropriate materials from the proactive searching.

Review the database to ensure information is up to date and accurate.

Continually scan to capture new information on initiatives and individuals involved in IPE to be added to the central database.

Oversee all logistical arrangements and coordination of the conference.

Distribute and coordinate a call for abstracts.

Organize, plan, and distribute the final program.

Anticipated Results Output

An updated database and distribution of a literature alert to interested members.

An updated database of ongoing IPE initiatives, key players involved in IPE and related tools across Canada.

An IPE conference hosted May 26 and 27, 2005, in Toronto, Ontario.

Contact Information

University of Toronto
Department of Family and Community Medicine
399 Bathurst Street, 2nd Floor West Wing
Toronto, ON
M5T 3S1
Telephone: (416) 409-9626

Faculty Development Program for Teachers of Internationally Educated Health Care Professionals

Amount/ Duration

$324,460 2003/04 to 2005/06

Recipient

Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC)

Objectives

Design, in collaboration with faculty developers and educational administrators, a national Faculty Development Program for individuals involved in the education of International Health Care Professionals (IHCP) (e.g. teachers, clinical supervisors, program directors and educational administrators) in an attempt to enhance their teaching and learning experiences and facilitate their integration into the Canadian workforce.

Activities

Implement an environmental scan and needs assessment regarding education and supervision of International Nursing Graduates.

Develop an orientation program for teachers of International Medical Graduates (IMGs).

Develop specific faculty development modules.

Develop a cultural diversity-training program for teachers of IHCPs.

Develop guidelines for site-specific programs.

Develop a dissemination plan.

Anticipated Results Output

The creation of a full suite of tools to assist faculty development for IHCPs, which will facilitate their integration into the Canadian health workforce.

Contact Information

Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada
774 Echo Drive
Ottawa, ON
K1S 5P2
Telephone: (613) 730-0687

Proposal to Advance Nursing Education within the Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Strategy

Amount/ Duration

$200,000 2005/06 to 2006/07

Recipient

Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN)

Objectives

Identify strategies to deliver nursing and interprofessional clinical placements in Canada.

Estimate the costs incurred for nursing clinical placements.

Investigate the use of simulated clinical learning experiences for nursing and other health professions.

Activities

Research background material and document reviews; develop questionnaires; survey the schools of nursing and sampling of other health professions, clinical agencies, preceptors and students; design a database to capture input data; analyse data; and report findings.

Anticipated Results Output

A strengthened understanding of current best practices in clinical placement edu- cation in schools of nursing in Canada, within an interprofessional environment.

An inventory of strategies to deliver interprofessional and nursing clinical placements in Canada.

Identified costs incurred for nursing clinical placements by educational facilities, clinical agencies, preceptors and students.

An inventory of strategies to use simulated clinical learning experiences for nursing and a sampling of other health professionals.

Results disseminated to key nursing stakeholders and key policy and decision makers.

Contact Information

Patricia Griffin, Executive Director, Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing
Fifth Avenue Court
99 Fifth Avenue Suite 15
Ottawa, ON
K1A 5K4
Telephone: (613) 235-3150 ext. 25

Legislation and Regulation Issues for Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice

Amount/ Duration

$237,100 2005/06 to 2006/07

Recipient

The Conference Board of Canada

Objectives

Support interdisciplinary collaboration.

Identify specific legislative and regulatory barriers that prevent health care professionals from working together.

Investigate the use of simulated clinical learning experiences for nursing and other health professions.

Activities

Develop a Strategic Advisory Committee to ensure broad representation and feedback throughout the project.

Conduct a literature review of legislative and regulative issues for health professionals in interdisciplinary environments.

Host a meeting of regulatory colleges and other key stakeholders from across the country to discuss and develop a vision for regulation of health professionals that enables collaboration.

Conduct an extensive national regulatory practice and legislative review describing provincial similarities, differences, and the unique barriers and facilitators of each model.

Validate the findings.

Analyze the findings to form a potential framework for legislative and regulatory change that would stimulate and support interdisciplinary collaboration in patientcentred care.

Develop and validate proposed recommendations.

Anticipated Results Output

Enhanced understanding of the regulatory and legislative changes and reforms required to stimulate and support interdisciplinary collaboration in patient-centred practice.

Research findings disseminated among professionals and policymakers.

Contact Information

Conference Board of Canada
255 Smyth Road
Ottawa, ON
K1A 5K4
Telephone: (613) 526-3090 ext. 220

Understanding Liability Issues for Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice

Amount/ Duration

$150,000 2005/06 to 2006/07

Recipient

The Conference Board of Canada

Objectives

Support interdisciplinary collaboration through the identification of specific liability (e.g. vague accountability) barriers, which prevent health care professionals from working together.

Address how liability will actually affect interdisciplinary education and collaborative patient-centered practice, and make recommendations for legal and educational remedies that assuage the fears of providers.

Activities

Develop a reference group comprised of malpractice carriers for health professions and institutions.

Conduct a literature review to enhance understanding of liability issues; an extensive legal review of case law, and cases settled out of court, to develop an understanding of the liability that health care professionals face.

Validate and analyze findings with the Reference Group to consolidate the information and form a potential framework for liability reform that would stimulate interdisciplinary collaboration for patient-centered care.

Develop recommendations to be used by all stakeholders in increasing their understanding of the issues.

Anticipated Results Output

Increased knowledge related to real and perceived liability issues within interpro- fessional collaborative practice.

Contact Information

Conference Board of Canada
255 Smyth Road
Ottawa, ON
K1A 5K4
Telephone: (613) 526-3090 ext. 220

A Toolkit to Facilitate Successful Transition of Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) to Full Scope of Practice in Continuing Care

Amount/ Duration

$110,907 2005/06

Recipient

Bow Valley College, Alberta

Objectives

To provide useful strategies and tools to assist leaders in continuing care across Canada in facilitating transitions within their organizations, specifically related to Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs).

Activities

Describe and analyze best practices in the transition to full scope of practice for LPNs in continuing care in three settings of promising practice, as recognized by the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA).

Develop strategies, tools, and processes based on findings and present them as an electronic toolkit for use by leaders in continuing care. Leaders using the toolkit will conduct an institutional assessment allowing them to customize an approach appropriate to their situation.

Develop and implement a structured evaluation of the toolkit.

Anticipated Results Output

Final toolkit distributed to continuing care facilities in Alberta and to other regu- lating authorities for practical nurses across Canada.

Contact Information

Dr. Rena Shimoni
Bow Valley College
332-6 Avenue SE
Calgary, AB
T2G 4S6
Telephone: (403) 410-1473

Paradigm Shift in Interprofessional Education: The Unique Roles Academia Can Successfully Play in Effecting Lasting Change

Amount/ Duration

$123,500 2005/06

Recipient

University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine

Objectives

Produce a paper outlining factors which will facilitate the effective engagement of academic institutions in the paradigm shift towards Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice (IECPCP) as well as identify potential pathways for such academic engagement.

Activities

Conduct a literature review.

Engage four additional university partners for national representation: University of Calgary, University of Ottawa, Laval University and Dalhousie University.

Form a steering committee.

Collect and analyze data.

Conduct a writing conference.

Present the first draft of the paper to obtain feedback and validation.

Revise paper based on feedback.

Conduct a Pathfinder Conference and finalize the paper.

Anticipated Results Output

New gained insights regarding where policy innovation might be useful in engaging academia in the cultural shift toward interprofessional education for collaborative patient-centred practice.

New direction regarding where future research is needed to address gaps in understanding of interprofessional education and implementation strategies modelled on best practices identified in this paper.

Direct engagement of individuals representing the interprofessional networks, engagement of Canadian medical schools, and a knowledge translation game plan.

Contact Information

Division of Continuing Professional Development and Knowledge Transition
Faculty of Medicine
University of British Columbia
104-740 Nicola Street
Vancouver, BC
V6T 2C1
Telephone: (603) 639-4657

Interprofessional Collaboration for Patient Centred Health Care - A Strategy for Health Human Resource Management

Amount/ Duration

$235,000 2005/06

Recipient

Academy of Canadian Executive Nurses (ACEN) Leadership

Objectives

Develop a consensus among health care leaders on strategies for interprofessional practice in order to begin to address our health human resource crisis.

Activities

Publish a number of reports related to nursing human resources (transferable to other disciplines).

Conduct background research in preparation for an interprofessional meeting held in February 2006.

Held a leadership meeting in February 2006.

Dissemination of human resource publications, dissemination of inventory in advance of leadership meeting.

Anticipated Results Output

Consensus developed among health care leaders on strategies to promote and instill interprofessional education and collaborative practice into the Canadian health care system.

Broad circulation of synthesis of consensus findings based on findings from leadership summit.

Contact Information

Academy of Canadian Executive Nurses
99 Fifth Avenue, Suite 10
Ottawa, ON
K1S 5K4
Telephone: (613) 235-3033

Patient-Centred Care: Better Training for Better Collaboration

Amount/ Duration

$1,162,562 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

Laval University, Faculty of Medicine

Objectives

Develop a collaborative patient-centred practice by establishing, conducting and assessing an integrated interprofessional education program, from university courses up to and including on-the-job skills training. This program will place strong emphasis on increasing the number of, and networking with, faculty who can provide training from an interprofessional perspective.

Activities

The project consists of four components in which the following activities will be developed, experimented with and assessed:

University level initial training on the theoretical and practical foundations required for patient-centred collaborative practice;

Establish an interprofessional training program for developing the practices that support collaborative work;

Workshops to help practitioners develop and refine the skills required for collaborative practice;

Develop technological support and educational information reference tools in support of the other three components, as well as a virtual learning community, so that participants can learn independently.

Anticipated Results Output

Valid learning indicators to evaluate the training program's short- and medium- term impact for students in the three programs concerned (i.e. medicine, nursing and social work), as well as professionals who work in these disciplines. An integrated training program that develops the knowledge, skills and attitudes conducive to patient-centred practice.

Contact Information

Dr. André Bilodeau
Faculty of Family Medicine
Laval University
Ferdinand Vandry Hall
Québec, QC
G1K 7P4
Telephone: (418) 656-2131 ext 8576

The McGill Educational Initiative on Interprofessional Collaboration: Partnerships for Patient-Family Centred Care

Amount/ Duration

$1,300,000 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

McGill University

Objectives

Faculty development.

Create resources and tools that facilitate the teaching of interprofessional education.

Develop a comprehensive interprofessional education program that is delivered within and across the student groups.

Develop clinical learning environments that enhance and enable interprofessional education.

Activities

The activities of this project are divided into two phases: laying the groundwork and planning, and implementation.

Anticipated Results Output

Increase in the number of individuals aware and involved in interprofessional education.

An interprofessional education program that builds interprofessional collaborative patient and family centred practice to bring together practising clinicians, educators, and students from four professional groups, with educators and clinicians from their respective disciplines, in a program that is delivered in both academic and clinical environments.

Dissemination of project results via local, provincial and international target groups through mechanisms such as conferences and publications.

Contact Information

McGill University
1110 Pine Avenue West
Montreal, QC
H3A 1A3
Telephone: (514) 398-3996

Institute of Interprofessional Health Sciences Education

Amount/ Duration

$1,192,958 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

Council of Ontario Universities. The partners working on this project are four educational institutions (McMaster University, University of Western Ontario, University of Ottawa, and Laurentian University) and five health care practice settings: (Hamilton Health Sciences, Middlesex-London Health Unit, Hôpital Monfort, Sisters of Charity of Ottawa Health Service and North Shore Tribal Council (an Aboriginal Health Access Care Centre providing primary health care and traditional health to eight locations spread out from Sudbury to Sault Ste Marie).

Objectives

Promote, implement and evaluate interactive web-based learning modules focusing on interprofessional knowledge, attitudes and skills.

Develop and evaluate a process of team development that uses on-site facilitators and targets patient outcomes for patient-centred care.

Pilot and evaluate an educational process for health professional students that is based on a continuum of learning from academic to practice settings.

Create a sustainable collaborative consortium of educational institutions to support the Institute.

Stimulate networking and sharing of best practice approaches to disseminate products.

Activities

Develop a virtual network of expertise.

Anticipated Results Output

A virtual network of expertise established consisting of knowledge, skills, and attitudes to promote cultural change in health science students and clinicians.

Contact Information

Gissele Damiani, Project Manager
McMaster University
1400 Main St., Rm. 310D
Hamilton, ON
L8S 1C7
Telephone: (905) 525-9140 ext. 27809

Interprofessional Education for Geriatric Care

Amount/ Duration

$1,131,675 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

University of Manitoba, Faculty of Pharmacy

Objectives

Develop a sustainable interprofessional education for collaborative patient centred-practice opportunity in the area of community-based geriatric care.

Promote interprofessional education for geriatric care within the University of Manitoba.

Identify champions within each faculty with expertise/interest in interprofessional education, geriatrics and/or collaborative patient-centred care who are willing to participate in the development, implementation and evaluation of interprofessional education for geriatric care.

Increase the knowledge, skills and attitudes of students, faculty and clinical preceptors in geriatric care, interprofessional collaboration, and effective teaming.

Activities

Hold biweekly meetings to create, deliver, and implement the training program and liaise with faculties, clinical sites and preceptors.

Implement four week experiential block times at three geriatric sites involving students from medicine, nursing, and at least one other health discipline.

Evaluate and disseminate information about the progress of the project to academics, health care organizations, governments, students, and seniors through published journals, conference and meeting presentations.

Anticipated Results Output

An IECPCP project involving five health care disciplines which can serve as a model for adoption by other medical specialties.

The project has the potential to improve the health outcomes of patients by building effective team practices.

Contact Information

Faculty of Pharmacy
University of Manitoba
50 Sifton Road
Winnipeg, MB
R3T 2N2
Telephone: (204) 474-6014

Building Capacity and Fostering System Change

Amount/ Duration

$1,196,000 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

University of British Columbia. This is a multi-project initiative of the Interprofessional Network of British Columbia and includes health authorities, the provincial government, many post-secondary institutions, and the British Columbia Academic Health Council.

Objectives

Promote and demonstrate the benefits of interprofessional education for collaborative patient-centred care in British Columbia.

Foster changes (e.g. organizational culture, curricula, structures, champions) within health and education systems to promote interprofessional collaborative patient-centred care in British Columbia.

Promote knowledge exchange across health and education relating to interprofessional education for collaborative patient-centred practice.

Increase the number of health professionals trained in a collaborative patientcentred care, pre and post licensure and increase the number of educators teaching from an interprofessional collaborative patient-centred perspective.

Activities

Conduct a range of regional projects to foster and advance collaborative patientcentred practice and provide interprofessional practice education for students in a range of clinical settings including rural, urban and speciality.

Implement curricular development for students, preceptors and health professionals.

Anticipated Results Output

A foundation for advancing interprofessional education for collaborative patient centred practice.

Online curricula for students and health professionals and practice sites for students.

Results disseminated through provincial planning sessions, workshops, web sites, posters, conference presentations, and newsletters.

Contact Information

Dr. Grant Charles
Principal College of Health Disciplines
University of British Columbia
2194 Health Sciences Mall Vancouver, BC
V6T 1Z3
Telephone: (604) 822-3804

Creating an Interprofessional Learning Environment through Communities of Practice: An Alternative to Traditional Preceptorship

Amount/ Duration

$1,191,614 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

Calgary Health Region, Research Initiatives in Nursing & Healt

Objectives

Determine the requirements including contextual and cultural components to create effective interprofessional Communities of Practice.

Based on the findings of the research, develop and implement interprofessional Communities of Practice.

Pilot test the Communities of Practice model in six pilot teams and evaluate the impact on students, health practitioners, faculty, patients and organizations.

Activities

Create a conceptual model of interprofessional lateral mentorship including multicultural and contextual considerations in Communities of Practice.

Develop interprofessional learning environment within Communities of Practice.

Develop evaluation tools.

Recruit three facilitators to support Communities of Practices, recruit members for the first three pilots for six Communities of Practice.

Pilot test six Communities of Practice between September 2006 and March 2007.

Analyze short and long term impacts of Communities of Practice and revise learning program based on participant feedback.

Anticipated Results Output

A comprehensive conceptual framework for interprofessional lateral mentorship within Communities of Practice that includes contextual and multicultural considerations.

Six interprofessional Communities of Practices will be implemented, pilot tested and documented assessing impact for positive changes in learning and satisfaction levels.

Results disseminated to educators, researchers, administrators, policymakers, the public, and other stakeholders interested in interprofessional education and practice.

Contact Information

Calgary Health Region
Calgary, AB
T2W 3N2 Telephone: (403) 943-0183

Patient-Centred Interprofessional Team Experiences

Amount/ Duration

$1,196,000 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

University of Saskatchewan, College of Medicine, School of Physical Therapy

Objectives

Foster interprofessional understanding, communication, and exchange of frameworks and skills among health and education profession students and faculty engaged in children and youth health care and education.

Foster interprofessional understanding, communication and exchange of frameworks and skills among health profession students and faculty engaged in care for chronic illness and support for self-care in middle age.

Foster interprofessional understanding, communication and exchange of frameworks and skills among health and education professional students and faculty engaged in the transition process of elders' discharge from hospital into community follow-up, such as home care and primary health care.

Foster interprofessional understanding, communication and exchange of frameworks and skills among health profession students and faculty engaged in health services and community development in Aboriginal communities.

Activities

Program coordination, curriculum development, clinical placement development, knowledge exchange, and evaluation and research.

Anticipated Results Output

Improved health communities, families and individuals across the province through engagement of communities and academic institutions in implementing and evaluating interprofessional teams for patient-centred health care.

Interprofessional course content for health professional students including class based, problem based and clinical experiences.

Deliverables and/or project results disseminated through interprovincial collaboration, presentations, publications, peer-reviewed research, and conferences.

Contact Information

Liz Harrison
University of Saskatchewan
School of Physical Therapy
College of Medicine - St. Andrews College
1121 College Drive
Saskatoon, SK
S7N 0W3
Telephone: (306) 966-1934

Collaborating for Education and Practice: An Interprofessional Education Strategy for Newfoundland and Labrador

Amount/ Duration

$1,249,714 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

Memorial University of Newfoundland, Faculty of Medicine

Objectives

The overall intent of the project is to develop and promote interprofessional education. More specifically, the goals are to:

Expand and promote pre- and post-licensure interprofessional education activities in both education and practice settings;

Enhance the collaborative patient-centred practice competencies of an increased number of learners and practitioners in Newfoundland and Labrador;

Conduct a systematic evaluation of the curriculum framework and project activities;

Organize and deliver faculty development initiatives to foster positive attitudinal changes, increased understanding of the roles and responsibilities of other health care professionals, and skill acquisition in the areas being taught to students.

Activities

Preparation Phase (May to August 2005);

Implementation Phase (September 2005 to August 2006);

Phase II Implementation (Sept 2006 - August 2007); and

Phase III Implementation (Sept 2007 - Dec 31 2007).

Anticipated Results Output

Creation of a set of modules, a curriculum, and instructional resources for future use.

Contact Information

Centre for Collaborative Health Professional Education
Memorial University
Room 2091
St.John's, NL
A1B 3V6
Telephone: (709) 777-7542

QUIPPED - Queen's University Interprofessional Patient-Centred Education Direction

Amount/ Duration

$1,195,000 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

Queen's University. The QUIPPED project is a partnership between the Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Rehabilitation Therapy and the Bachelor of Science (Life Sciences) programme.

Objectives

Create an Interprofessional Education (IEP) environment at Queen's University that enhances the ability of learners and faculty to provide patient-centred care, while recognizing the contribution of the health care team within a respectful and collaborative framework.

Specifically this projects aims to:

Demonstrate and promote the benefits of IEP for collaborative patient centred practice;

Increase the number of faculty prepared to teach from an interprofessional patient-centred prespective; and

Expand the number of health professionals trained for collaborative practice, with a view to forming an academy of interprofessionalism.

Activities

IPE activities will be divided into pre-licensure, post-licensure and faculty development levels. Examples include the implementation and evaluation of:

Pre-licensure: Family Violence Workshops; Professionals in Rural Canada course; Bioethics course, and the interprofessional curriculum of lectures, workshops, and clinical placements.

Post-licensure: Core academic days for medical residents.

Faculty development: Loss and Bereavement workshop, Certificate Program in interprofessional teaching and learning.

Anticipated Results Output

Best practice guidelines for IPE disseminated through workshops, courses, facul- ty and learner meetings, and publications.

Increase the number of educators and health professionals trained in an interprofessional approach to patient-centered care.

Contact Information

Faculty of Health Sciences
Queen's University
Macklem House
18 Barrie Street
Kingston, ON
K7L 3N6
Telephone: (613) 533-2668 ext. 78763

The SCRIPT Programme: Structuring Communication Relationships for Interprofessional Teamwork (SCRIPT)

Amount/ Duration

$1,195,999 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

University of Toronto. Project partners include: University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy; Mount Sinai Hospital; St Michael's Hospital; Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre; St. Joseph's Health Centre; The Toronto Rehabilitation Institute; University Health Network; Centre for Faculty Development; Knowledge Translation Program and the Centre for Research in Education. The project involves three clinical domains (General Internal Medicine, Primary Care, and Rehabilitation Care) representing key paths along which patients travel while receiving care in the Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN), a partnership between the University of Toronto and other health services institutions.

Objectives

Transform culture, assess needs, develop intervention elements (create tools, train staff), implement innovations and sustain change.

Activities

Create a Professional Development program that will aid in the implementation and adaptation of the SCRIPT communication tools for each of the Clinical Teaching Units involved in SCRIPT.

Anticipated Results Output

Transform clinical teaching units across the affiliated hospitals of the University of Toronto into interprofessional, collaborative patient-centred practice settings that provide constructive environments for teaching students at the pre-licensure level, model best practices at the post-licensure level, and evaluate the impact on patients, providers, and learners.

Contact Information

University of Toronto
399 Bathurst Street
2nd Floor West Wing
Toronto, ON
M5T 3S1
Telephone: (416) 603-5800 ext. 5119

Seamless Care: An Interprofessional Education Project for Innovative Team-Based Transition Care

Amount/ Duration

$1,058,747 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

Dalhousie University. The partners on this project are Faculty of Medicine, School of Nursing, Faculty of Dentistry, College of Pharmacy, School of Dental Hygiene, Capital District Health Authority, Centre for Health Care for the Elderly, The Endocrinology Clinic, The Diabetes Management Centre, The Heart Function Clinic, The Capital Health Integrated Palliative Care Service, The Acute Stroke Program, patients and students.

Objectives

Develop an innovative approach to interprofessional education that prepare pre-licensure health professionals for collaborative practice.

Demonstrate the benefits of the educational projects to learners in terms of collaborative care competencies.

Demonstrate positive patient outcomes for the collaborative transition care model.

Prepare both educators and health care delivery settings to support a sustainable IPL program for collaborative transition care.

Activities

Conduct a three part planning and development phase and two pilot tests of the teaching intervention.

Anticipated Results Output

Preparation of pre-licensure health professional learners from Dalhousie University to become collaborative practitioners by creating an innovative model of care for patients with key health conditions who are transitioning from acute care to the community.

Contact Information

Dalhousie University
5869 University Avenue
Halifax, NS
B3H 4H7 Telephone: (902) 494-3004

Recruitment and Retention: Projects Initiated/Continued in 2005/2006

Enhancement of Physician Health Human Resources in Rural Canada

Amount/ Duration

$153,895 2004/05 to 2006/07

Recipient

Society of Rural Physicians of Canada (SRPC)

Objectives

Enhance strategies to recruit and retain rural physicians through the development of appropriate educational programs and new models of access to rural surgical care.

Activities

The SRPC's education committee will meet to discuss education program structure, levels of funding for programs, staffing and administration, and how to best work with medical schools.

Update instructional material, and translate material to expand programs to include French-speaking physicians.

The SRPC's endoscopy committee will meet to discuss national curriculum and competency maintenance.

The SRPC will host a pre-publication meeting for researchers and policy analysts involved in the "Access to Surgical Care for Rural Canadians" project.

Anticipated Results Output

Release a report on ideas and strategies that will enhance recruitment and retention of rural physicians.

Enhance existing rural medical education programs and develop a flexible national approach to rural medical training.

National dissemination of a pilot bilingual "Rural Critical Care Manual" featuring updated workshops.

A position paper on rural endoscopy.

A national curriculum and maintenance of competence programs for rural endoscopy.

Success of the "Access to Surgical Care for Rural Canadians" project will be evaluated and conclusions presented to academics and public policy forums.

Contact Information

Society of Rural Physicians of Canada,
Box 893
Shawville, QC
J0X 2Y0

Increasing Support for Family Physicians in Primary Care and Promotional Strategies to Enhance the Image of Family Medicine to all Canadians

Amount/ Duration

$1,031,575 2004/05 to 2006/07

Recipient

College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)

Objectives

Increase support for family physicians in primary care.

Develop and implement promotional strategies to enhance the image of family medicine to all Canadians in order to:

Increase the professional pride of family physicians (current and future); and

Enhance the value of the role of family physicians in the eyes of the public.

Increase undergraduate medical student interest in family medicine.

Activities

Develop bilingual promotional posters, and a declaration of commitment to emphasize the dedication of Canada's family doctors to their patients.

Launch Family Doctor Week in Canada, celebrate CFPC's 50th Anniversary, and celebrate the history of family medicine in Canada.

Establish a Primary Care Advisory Committee to oversee the project, develop a Primary Health Care Renewal Change Management Tool Kit, develop a network of primary care leaders, and evaluate the initiative.

Create and support Family Medicine interest groups at each medical school across Canada to stimulate and support interest in family practice careers.

Anticipated Results Output

Enhance the image of family medicine to all Canadians, increase support for family physicians in Primary Care and production of a toolkit to increase undergraduate medical student interest in family medicine.

Contact Information

College of Family Physicians of Canada
2630 Skymark Avenue
Mississauga, ON
L4W 5A4
Telephone: (800) 387-6197 ext. 237

Enhancing the Role of Family Medicine in the Undergraduate Medical School Curriculum and Strengthening Links between Primary and Specialty Care

Amount/ Duration

$354,300 2004/05 to 2005/06

Recipient

College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)

Objectives

Enhance the role of family medicine in undergraduate medical school curriculum.

Strengthen links between primary and specialty care.

Activities

Review and discuss the roles and responsibilities of family medicine in the undergraduate curriculum of each medical school in Canada.

Develop strategic recommendations and guidelines for medical schools to ensure optimal roles and responsibilities for the discipline of family medicine.

Develop evaluation tools to monitor the effectiveness of strategies at each school throughout the undergraduate curriculum.

Examine the referral/consultation process between family physicians and specialists, and produce guidelines for enhanced communication, and shared care models.

Explore strategies to present the Four Principles of Family Medicine and the CanMeds Roles for Specialists as cohesive and linked guides to the education and practices of both family physicians and other specialists.

Anticipated Results Output

Increase the visibility, credibility, and importance of the discipline of family medicine.

Increase enrolment into the family medicine program.

Improve understanding and respect between family physicians and specialists of one another's roles and responsibilities.

Contact Information

College of Family Physicians of Canada
2630 Skymark Avenue
Mississauga, ON
L4W 5A4
Telephone: (800) 387-6197 ext. 237

Mainstreaming Health Human Resources Innovations Conference, Proceedings, Fact Sheet and Video

Amount/ Duration

$228,952 2004/05 to 2005/06

Recipient

School of Public Administration, Dalhousie University

Objectives

Allow for the sharing of information, discussion and analysis of strategies relating to innovative HHR deployment practices in Canada including examination of criteria for success and development of best practices as possible models for application.

Promote the dynamic exchange of information and strategies on innovative HHR deployment across the country and stimulate interest and experimentation in non-traditional approaches.

Activities

Organize and coordinate a conference.

Prepare proceedings and synopsis documents.

Moderate proceedings.

Design and implement dissemination/communication strategies.

Develop a CD-ROM, a guide, fact sheets, a video, and a web site on innovative HHR deployment strategies.

Prepare a final report.

Anticipated Results Output

Disseminate knowledge on innovative models.

Increase uptake of new approaches, leading to new HHR deployment practices.

Contact Information

Dalhousie University School of Public Administration
6152 Coburg Road
Halifax, NS
B3H 3J5
Telephone: (902) 423-2328

Toward 2020: A Proposal to Strengthen Canada's Health Human Resources

Amount/ Duration

$760,000 2004/05 to 2005/06

Recipient

The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA)

Objectives

Improve participation rates, productivity and retention within the nursing workforce and broader health care workforce.

Improve understanding of the dynamics of the nursing workforce and broader health workforce by expanding and disseminating knowledge in such areas as the economic impacts of nurses and nursing care.

Activities

Engage in face-to-face meetings and implement strategy sessions that will include representatives of all three regulated nursing groups, nursing specialty groups, nurse practitioners, the national testing/examination service, health service organizations (e.g. Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation, Canadian College of Health Service Executives) and other health care providers (e.g. Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Pharmacists Association).

Generate an economic framework, conduct analysis and describe impacts.

Enhance national HHR reporting and planning through improved data collection and analysis.

Explore national licensing and track mobility of health professionals.

Implement technological advancements to streamline national testing for Canadian and international nursing graduates.

Increase awareness of, and recruitment into, the health professions.

Measure and improve access to health professionals.

Anticipated Results Output

Completed projects will generate and disseminate significant knowledge to assist Health Canada, its P/T counterparts, employers, and health service organizations to plan HHR in a more informed way.

Contact Information

Canadian Nurses Association
50 Driveway
Ottawa, ON
K2P 1E2
Telephone: (613) 237-2133 ext. 357

Understanding the Costs and Outcomes of Nurses' Turnover in Canadian Hospitals

Amount/ Duration

$240,000 2004/05 to 2005/06

Recipient

Nursing Health Services Research Unit, Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto. Health Canada is a co-sponsor of this project, which forms the Canadian arm of an international study with Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Toronto site of the Nursing Health Services Research Unit has primary funding from the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) for a three-year study entitled Understanding the Costs and Outcomes of Nurses' Turnover in Canadian Hospitals.

Objectives

Determine how the rate and intensity of nursing turnover (lost human capital as experienced nurses leave and lost productivity as new hires are trained) affect patient satisfaction and safety, nurse satisfaction, health and safety, and system outcomes.

Activities

Collect data in two waves (a year apart) on patients, nurses, units, and hospitals.

Incorporate a multi-level longitudinal design to study the effects of turnover on nurse and patient outcomes, and simulations to estimate the effect of management interventions on system outcomes.

Anticipated Results Output

A tool to describe the costs of turnover.

Enhanced understanding by decision makers regarding: turnover costs; how staffing decisions influence turnover; workplace changes which reduce turnover and improve nurses' health and satisfaction; and how these factors influence the quality of nursing care.

Enhanced understanding of the costs of recruitment and retention and the need to develop and maintain databases.

Contact Information

Nursing Health Services Research Unit
Faculty of Nursing
University of Toronto
50 St. George Street
Toronto, ON
M5S 3H4
Telephone: (416) 978-2163

Quality Worklife - Quality Healthcare Collaborative: Linking Quality of Work Life, Human Resource Practices, and Health System Results

Amount/ Duration

$349,000 2004/05 to 2006/07

Recipient

The Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA). The Quality Worklife - Quality Healthcare Collaborative will meet a significant need for an integrated approach that links quality of work life, human resource practices, and health system results including the quality of patient care and client services. The Collaborative will comprise of national health system organizations representing diverse stakeholders, from governance levels to patient care and client service providers.

Objectives

Create and maintain healthy, safe, supportive, and positive work environments within Canada's health care organizations.

Build leadership commitment for action on excellence in people practices within Canada's health care organizations.

Develop employees and professional staff who are highly skilled, engaged, and satisfied within Canada's health care organizations.

Make a strategic link between work environments and organizational effectiveness including high-quality patient care and client services within Canada's health care organizations.

Activities

Will include work of the Coordinating Secretariat (through CCHSA), Steering Committee and Working Groups as follows:

Hire a full-time coordinator.

Develop web site and provide ongoing communication.

Create a virtual clearinghouse for innovative human resource practices.

Organize and coordinate Steering Committee and Working Group meetings.

Provide overall administration responsibilities.

Anticipated Results Output

Establish link between high quality, healthy work environments and the people practices that support these environments.

Contact Information

Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation
1730 St. Laurent Boulevard, Suite 100
Ottawa, ON
K1G 5L1
Telephone: (613) 738-3800 ext. 242

Retaining and Valuing Experienced Nurses

Amount/ Duration

$107,634 2004/05 to 2005/06

Recipient

The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU)

Objectives

Identify innovative and successful approaches in both current workplace practices and collective agreements that have resulted in healthier work environments and increased retention of experienced nurses (45+) in the workforce. Specifically identify:

Source(s) of discontent and potential solutions;

Views of employers;

Organizations that have reduced or eliminated the loss of experienced nurses from the workplace;

Examples of best practices reflected in collective agreements; and

Measures for unions and employers to promote the retention of experienced nurses, mentoring knowledge transfer strategies from experienced senior nurses to recently graduated nurses, and barriers and opportunities for full-time employment for new nursing graduates.

Activities

Undertake a literature review of recent research with emphasis on retention of experienced nurses, and the relationship to a healthy work environment.

Interview individuals from P/T stakeholder organizations representing nurses, employer groups and government nursing offices from across Canada.

Conduct a case study profile on four organizations or settings that have been successful in retaining their nursing workforces. Incorporate findings from these activities into a draft final report, which will be validated by two questionnaires and two focus groups.

Identify solutions to retain experienced nurses, help frame future discussion with employers and support healthy work environment development.

Develop a final report.

Anticipated Results Output

Dissemination of the report, directed to both unions and employers with the hope it would be incorporated into future collective agreements.

Contact Information

Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions
2841 Riverside Drive
Ottawa, ON
K1V 8X7
Telephone: (613) 526-4661

Evaluative Action Research to Create Healthy Workplaces

Amount/ Duration

$40,000 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

University of Montreal, FERASI Centre

Objectives

Describe optimal processes to enhance health care working environments.

Describe factors that influence a health care organization's ability to carry out organizational changes.

Identify best/leading practices to promote positive results for patients, health care workers, and organizations.

Evaluate healthy workplace practices.

Activities

Conduct interviews, site visits and administer evaluation questionnaires to collect qualitative and quantitative data.

Conduct a literature/documentation review and data analysis.

Anticipated Results Output

An in-depth knowledge and understanding will be gained regarding which healthy workplace initiative worked, which initiative did not work, and the factors that may have influenced the success or failure of a particular initiative.

Dissemination of information on key processes/factors influencing optimal and innovative workplaces to key stakeholders in order to raise awareness and impact policy development.

Contact Information

FERASI Centre
P.O. Box 6128 Station Centre-ville
Montréal, QC
H3C 3J7
Telephone: (514) 343-6111 ext. 13975

Healthy Workplaces Related to Home and Community Nursing and the Impact on Recruitment and Retention

Amount/ Duration

$299,949 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

Victorian Order of Nurses (VON Canada)

Objectives

Engage relevant and community nursing organizations to identify the issues and concerns related to healthy work environments.

Examine the roles and responsibilities of the volunteer.

Identify strategies that will support the implementation of a healthy workplace environment, and communicate and implement these strategies within home and community nursing settings.

Activities

Develop a work plan and establish a national advisory panel.

Conduct a literature review and a consultation with a national advisory panel.

Create case study profiles, co-ordinate volunteer/nurse focus groups, summarize findings and draft report.

Disseminate initial findings, the follow-up in Year 3, and the final report.

Anticipated Results Output

Increase knowledge among stakeholders of:

Current workplace environment for home and community care nurses.

Impact volunteers make to a healthy work environment for home and community care nurses and the subsequent impact on the recruitment and retention of nurses.

The barriers to establishing a healthy workplace.

Strategies to implement a healthy workplace setting, and skill sets and conditions necessary to implement new strategies based on best practices.

Contact Information

VON Canada
110 Argyle Avenue
Ottawa, ON
K2P 1B4
Telephone: (613) 233-5694 ext. 2252

Organizational Health: Integration of Quality and Healthy Workplace

Amount/ Duration

$290,033 2005/06 to 2006/07

Recipient

Annapolis Valley District Health Authority

Objectives

Integrate the quality and healthy workplace frameworks as tools to help achieve organizational health.

Attain Level 4 certification for National Quality Institute (NQI) Health Care Organizational Wellness Criteria.

Activities

Establish an Organizational Health Team, develop an evaluation plan, and coordinate and launch a communication strategy.

Survey to collect baseline data, facilitate focus groups, create and implement a leadership development/training plan, develop a train the trainer program and develop action plans to respond to feedback.

Identify baseline organizational health indicators, develop tools for managers, and identify gaps and interventions to close gaps.

Create staff councils and other work teams, define and analyze key drivers of client/customer satisfaction, and document the progressive journey to share learnings.

Anticipated Results Output

Leadership that is committed to a progressive journey toward organizational health.

Safe, healthy and supportive environments for both clients and the health care team.

Healthy health care teams that produce quality health care, and a culture that supports continuous improvement, excellence through people, process management that aligns with principles of excellence.

Improved organizational performance indicators.

Contact Information

Annapolis Valley District Health Authority
150 Exhibition Street
Kentville, NS
B4N 5E3
Telephone: (902) 679-2657 ext. 3049

Creating a Culture of Safety

Amount/ Duration

$249,013 2005/06 to 2006/07

Recipient

Labrador-Grenfell Regional Integrated Health Authority

Objectives

Create awareness and recognition of the value of the culture of safety; support and enhance existing initiatives.

Develop, disseminate and share an innovative approach to ensure the implementation of safety strategies and principles at the front line level.

Maximize employee/union participation.

Balance mental, emotional, and physical health needs of employees with corporate Vision, Mission and Goals regarding safety.

Reduce injuries in the workplace.

Increase the supply of health care providers and support workers and make their work environments healthier and more productive.

Build upon and enhance executive and management support for the culture of safety.

Activities

Establish a steering committee, conduct an inventory of existing health and safety programs and outcomes, and conduct a literature review, focus groups, and individual discussions.

Analyze and disseminate findings, develop alternatives, and formulate program and recommendations.

Anticipated Results Output

Evidence and information on the current "state of the art".

Increased awareness of the utility of safety strategies and techniques.

Contact Information

Grenfell Regional Integrated Health Authority
P.O. Box 7000 Station A
Happy Valley - Goose Bay
Labrador, NL
A0P 1C0
Telephone: (709) 454-3333

Provincial Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention Strategy for Health Care Workers: An Expansion and Enhancement Project

Amount/ Duration

$269,568 2005/06 to 2006/07

Recipient

Prince Edward Island Department of Health and Social Services

Objectives

Enable the health care regions to progress and expand their musculoskeletal injury programs (MSIPs).

Develop provincial strategies, standards and resources that will ensure continued commitment to safe and healthy workplaces.

Activities

Train instructors, establish a baseline of existing programs, determine regional priorities, select equipment, support implementation of regional plans, develop or affirm standards based on evidence, develop guidelines, explore legislative models regarding occupational health and safety, and develop a framework across health regions.

Anticipated Results Output

Increased organizational and provincial operational excellence in MSIPs.

Improved health, well-being, satisfaction, and quality of work life of health care staff.

Improved quality of patient care.

Improved recruitment and retention of health care workers.

Cost-effective provincial MSIP model.

Five year sustainability plan.

Contact Information

PEI Department of Health and Social Services
P.O. Box 2000
16 Garfield Street
Charlottetown, PEI
Telephone: (902) 368-6142

Quality of Worklife Project

Amount/ Duration

$323,442 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

East Central Health

Objectives

Reduce absenteeism and increase staff morale.

Improve information flow.

Improve retention of staff.

Increase the capacity of staff to deal with stress and conflict and empower individuals to make decisions in their work area.

Activities

Establish Quality Worklife Teams and assess needs through interviews and questionnaires.

Develop an action plan for each team.

Provide regular updates on workplace indicators via monthly meetings and progress reports.

Anticipated Results Output

Improved indicators of quality of worklife (e.g. reduced usage of sick benefits, increased morale, improved communication, and reduced turnover rates).

Contact Information

East Central Health
4703 53 Street
Camrose, AB
T4V 1Y8
Telephone: (780) 608-8845

Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Healthy Workplace Program

Amount/ Duration

$295,246 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

Winnipeg Regional Health Authority

Objectives

Promote and enhance the mental, emotional and physical health and wellness of health care employees within the Winnipeg region through education/awareness, skill building, and changes in the work environment.

Activities

Conduct an electronic health risk appraisal with employees to identify the top individual and organizational health risks.

Provide healthy workplace activities/initiatives to address the identified health risks.

Anticipated Results Output

A healthy work environment in which employees are aware of and have the opportunity to participate in activities that promote health and well-being.

Increased morale, job satisfaction, and productivity.

Fewer accidents and reduced absenteeism.

Creation of a healthier workplace culture.

Enhanced ability for the organization to recruit and retain health care employees.

Contact Information

Kim Warner
Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
1800-155 Carlton Street
Winnipeg, MB
R3C 4Y1
Telephone: (204) 926-8036

Kailo Workplace Wellness Program

Amount/ Duration

$286,938 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

Halton Healthcare Services

Objectives

Create an awareness of health as a function of well-being in seven dimensions - life and health attitudes; social connectedness; emotional well-being; physical well-being; rest, pleasure and play; purpose and meaning; and self-care.

Build trust and improve relationships among employees.

Demonstrate respect and value, and promote humour and fun in the work place.

Connect with 'hard-to-reach' employees, address individual health and wellness needs, and integrate employee health and wellness with other organizational initiatives.

Activities

Train an advisory team and Kailo Coordinator in the holistic approach to health promotion.

Evaluate the current Employee Assistance Program.

Develop a program logic model and on-going Kailo program (e.g., Kailo breaks, Kailo to Go, Kailo for One, mini-massage, wellness library) and implement Kailo services.

Anticipated Results Output

Increased enrolment in the Kailo program.

Improved perceived health and wellness, reduced percentage of "high risk" employees, increased utilization of employee assistance programs, reduced absenteeism, and higher levels of employee satisfaction resulting in improved patient satisfaction.

Contact Information

Anna Rizzotto, Kailo Coordinator
Halton Healthcare
327 Reynolds Street
Oakville, ON
L6J 3L7
Telephone: (905) 845-2571 ext. 6672

A Healthy Workplace Best Practice Initiative

Amount/ Duration

$286,938 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

West Park Health Centre, in partnership with Niagara Health System, Saint Elizabeth Health Care and VON Canada.

Objectives

Pilot the implementation of selected healthy workplace best practices.

Identify relationships between healthy workplace interventions and outcomes.

Provide opportunities for knowledge uptake and transfer.

Demonstrate the effectiveness of voluntary collaborative partnerships.

Activities

Develop a coordinating committee.

Review current healthy workplace leadership and practice strategies and assess, select, and implement leadership strategies.

Provide leadership development.

Design and implement evaluation plans, analyze results, and review the evaluation feedback.

Anticipated Results Output

Key healthy workplace evidence-based practices and processes that can be used with confidence in all health care settings.

Results disseminated via written and electronic communications, discussion groups, meetings, and conferences.

Contact Information

Kathleen Heslin, Chief of Nursing & Professional Practice
West Park Healthcare Centre
82 Buttonwood Avenue
Toronto, ON
M6M 2J5
Telephone: (416) 243-3600

MRHA Workplace Wellness Initiative

Amount/ Duration

$285,238 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

Miramichi Regional Health Authority

Objectives

Formalize a workplace wellness program based on data obtained from the findings of a wellness assessment tool.

Activities

Further develop comprehensive wellness programs (e.g., smoking cessation, back program) and Lunch & Learn sessions on topics such as stress management and caregiver stress.

Anticipated Results Output

Improved employee health, increased employee morale, increased productivity, and decreased absenteeism.

Contact Information

Miramichi Regional Health Authority
500 Water Street
Miramichi, NB
E1V 3G5
Telephone: (506) 623-6239

Inter-Hospital Action-Research Program on Work Climate

Amount/ Duration

$399,740 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

McGill University Health Centre

Objectives

Improve perceptions of the work climate within participating institutions to greatly improve workplace health for individuals and help organizations better prepare their workforce to address their own unique internal and external challenges.

Activities

Conduct two scientific surveys (pre-test and post-test) in the ten partner institutions.

Put in evidence "best practices" related to the implementation of change strategies aiming to establish an ongoing work environment improvement process within the partner institutions, taking into account the cultures and traditions of each partner institution.

Assess the work climate's impact on HR results (e.g.: absenteeism, retention rate, etc.) and on patients (e.g.: satisfaction, complaints, etc.)

Anticipated Results Output

Acquired knowledge disseminated to the ten partner institutions as well as hospi- tals throughout Quebec and the rest of Canada.

Contact Information

Serge Gagnon
Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
3650, St-Urbain Street. Room D406
Montréal, QC
H2X 2P4
Telephone: (514) 249-0781

A Collaborative Approach to Supporting Health in the Workplace

Amount/ Duration

$400,000 2005/06 to 2006/07

Recipient

British Columbia, Ministry of Health. Additional provincial funding ($800,000) will strengthen the project's objectives and outcomes.

Objectives

Address recommendations outlined by the British Columbia Office of the Auditor General in their report In Sickness and In Health: Healthy Workplaces for British Columbia's Health Care Workers.

Activities

Develop a Healthy Workplace Prevention Action Plan through integrated data analysis.

Integrate participatory ergonomics in facility design.

Integrate ability management and wellness programs.

Create a healthy workplace by implementing a patient safety program.

Develop a health promotion strategy for shift workers.

Develop an evidence-based approach to developing, implementing and sustaining wellness in the workplace.

Anticipated Results Output

Increased knowledge of occupational health and safety wellness to enhance existing and ongoing bodies of work contributing to healthy and safe workplaces and health care workers.

Contact Information

British Columbia Ministry of Health
5-1 1515 Blanshard Street
Victoria, BC
V8W 3C8
Telephone: (250) 952-1286

Electronic Survey Tool (EST)

Amount/ Duration

$291,680 2005/06 to 2006/07

Recipient

Saskatchewan Health, Health Human Resource Planning Branch

Objectives

Provide employees the opportunity to share information regarding their work place experiences.

Develop survey content around the issue of job satisfaction and quality work place outcomes.

Build and maintain a province-wide employee survey tool system.

Provide real-time results via a web portal to managers and human resource planners.

Continue to utilize a multi-disciplinary team approach for the project.

Activities

Develop and pilot-test survey content and develop and test software.

Implement and evaluate the survey tool and conduct focus groups and stakeholder surveys.

Anticipated Results Output

Employee participation in sharing experiences and inclusion of employee infor- mation into human resource action plans and policy.

Broad evidence-based health human resource strategies and policies and incorporation of the employee's voice in human resource planning.

Improved job satisfaction, morale, and absenteeism.

Effective communication regarding best practices.

Contact Information

Saskatchewan Health
3475 Albert Street
Regina, SK
S4S 6X6
Telephone: (306) 787-3070

Provincial/Territorial/Regional Projects Initiated/Continued in 2005/2006

Health Human Resource (HHR) Strategy - Western and Northern Canada

Amount/ Duration

$1,068,875 2004/05 to 2005/06

Recipient

British Columbia Ministry of Health

Objectives

Respond to the broad objectives of the Pan-Canadian HHR Strategy under the Pan-Canadian HHR Planning Initiative, the Recruitment and Retention Initiative, and the Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient- Centred Practice Initiative.

Activities

Assist the Western & Northern Health Human Resources Planning Forum in improving their capacity for collaboration within their regions.

Produce an environmental scan for training programs of selected health professions and identify best practices for education.

Conduct a feasibility study to examine suitability of extending the interprofessional student placement program . Identify competencies required for behavioural services for autistic children.

Evaluate the impact of distributed medical education on physicians in rural and remote areas.

Create a framework for analyzing patient-centred demand and develop a practical planning model.

Identify how suitable an extension of HSPnet to other Western provinces and Northern Territories would be.

Hold two national conferences to discuss issues related to physician compensation.

Complete final phases of HHR strategy for Nunavut and develop an HHR plan.

Develop an evaluative framework for HHR initiatives in Northwest Territories.

Anticipated Results Output

Improved HHR planning, evaluation and development with the Western and Northern regions of Canada.

Contact Information

British Columbia Ministry of Health
5-1, 1515 Blanshard Street
Victoria, BC
V8W 3C8
Telephone: (250) 952-3145

Human Resource Strategy for Nova Scotia Department of Health

Amount/ Duration

$342,030 2004/05 to 2005/06

Recipient

Nova Scotia Department of Health

Objectives

Support the Pan-Canadian HHR Planning Initiative and its objectives to:

Continually enhance and strengthen the evidence base and capacity for coordinated HHR planning through enhanced data and forecasting models to better support jurisdictional, regional and nationwide activities.

Create opportunities through which key HHR issues of jurisdictional, interjurisdictional, regional and pan-Canadian concern can be identified and addressed.

Support the Recruitment and Retention Initiative and its objectives to:

Increase the supply of health care providers to ensure availability when and where needed.

Improve utilization and distribution of existing health care providers.

Activities

Create a Dalhousie University and Faculty of Medicine funding review in the context of social accountability.

Develop a health care provider registry.

Develop a provincial clinical placement web site to help coordinate and improve clinical placements of health sciences students.

Create an Allied Health Care Career Counselling program for middle schools including aboriginal and francophone schools.

Anticipated Results Output

Increased social accountability.

Program curricula aligned with health system needs.

Improved planning and deployment of HHR.

Improved coordination of clinical placements.

Increased interest in allied health care fields from Nova Scotia youth.

Contact Information

Nova Scotia Department of Health
1690 Hollis Street, P.O. Box 488
Halifax, NS
B3J 2R8
Telephone:(902) 424-2900

Health Human Resource Strategy - Yukon Projects

Amount/ Duration

$74,000 2004/05 to 2005/06

Recipient

Department of Health and Social Services, Government of Yukon

Objectives

Support the Recruitment and Retention initiative and its objectives to increase the supply of health care providers to ensure availability when and where needed.

Activities

Nursing Mentorship Feasibility Assessment

Analysis of an entry-to-practice program with mentoring support for nurses, including an interest/capacity assessment, and an analysis of costs, benefits, barriers and facilitators.

Prepare recommendations.

Healthy Workplace Indicators Study

Identify indicators of healthy workplaces, assess existing capacity to measure indicators, identify tools to enable measurement and factors to be addressed to put tools in place.

Prepare recommendations.

Anticipated Results Output

Informed decision-making about whether an entry-level program for nurses would be practical and useful in the Yukon.

Information regarding decisions about fostering healthy workplaces disseminated to Yukon health care system employers.

Contact Information

Department of Health and Social Services
Government of Yukon
P.O. Box 2703, #2 Hospital Road
Whitehorse, YT
Y1A 2C6
Telephone: (867) 667-5689

Service Provider System Replacement - New Brunswick Projects

Amount/ Duration

$233,643 2004/05 to 2005/06

Recipient

New Brunswick Department of Health and Wellness

Objectives

Supports the objectives of the Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Planning Initiative to continually enhance and strengthen the evidence base and capacity for coordinated HHR planning through enhanced data and forecasting models to better support jurisdictional, regional and nationwide activities.

Activities

Develop and implement a database application to allow professional associations to collect and record information about Health Service Providers registered in New Brunswick and share the information with the Department of Health and Wellness for statistical analysis and planning purposes.

Anticipated Results Output

Expanded data collection on health professions.

Contact Information

New Brunswick Health and Wellness
Carleton Place
2nd floor
P.O. Box 5100
Fredericton, NB
E3B 5G8
Telephone: (506) 453-8388

Health Human Resource Strategy - Saskatchewan Projects

Amount/ Duration

$134,710 2005/06

Recipient

Saskatchewan Health

Objectives

Support the the Recruitment and Retention Initiative and its objectives to increase diversity of health care providers, and increase interest in health careers and create healthy work environments.

Activities

Initiate new strategies at the post-secondary level to enhance recruitment, retention, and success of aboriginal people in health science positions. Strategies will include the development of promotional material and a mentorship program whereby junior students will be paired with senior students to enhance learning and retention in the educational programs.

Develop a valid and reliable musculoskeletal evaluation tool that will be used to assess the rates of musculoskeletal injuries in the Saskatchewan health sector. The results will assist Saskatchewan Health in targeting workplaces where additional measures are required to create a healthy workplace and retain workers.

Anticipated Results Output

Improved recruitment and retention levels of aboriginal people in health science positions.

Data to facilitate healthy workplace environments.

Contact Information

Saskatchewan Health
3475 Albert Street
Regina, SK
S4S 6X6
Telephone: (306) 787-3070

Health Human Resource Strategy - Manitoba Projects

Amount/ Duration

$175,021 2005/06

Recipient

Manitoba Health

Objectives

Support the Health Human Resource Planning Initiative and its objectives to continually enhance and strengthen the evidence-base and capacity for coordinated health human resource planning.

Support the Recruitment and Retention Initiative and its objectives to increase interest in health careers, increase diversity of health care providers to reflect the Canadian mosaic; and increase the supply of health care providers to ensure the availability when and where needed.

Activities

Develop a physician resource projection model to provide accurate projections on the supply and demand of physician resources.

Create a forum to provide an overview of best practices in Aboriginal employment within the health sector and develop a promotional video on Aboriginal employment strategies in Manitoba's health sector.

Initiate a provincial Health Human Resources Database so that vacancy and productivity information will be comparable across Manitoba's Regional Health Authorities.

Hold a two-day conference involving all the stakeholders in medical education across the western and northern regions to discuss current challenges and future plans, issues of capacity, and physician resource planning.

Anticipated Results Output

Better assessment and planning for health human resources.

Building capacity and share information with other stakeholders.

Strategies for recruitment and retention.

Contact Information

Manitoba Government - Health Services
Rm. 1048, 300 Carleton Street
Winnipeg, MB
R3B 3M9
Telephone: (204) 786-7373

Health Human Resource Strategy - Ontario Projects

Amount/ Duration

$738,417 2005/06

Recipient

Ontario Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care

Objectives

Support the broad objectives of the Health Human Resource Strategy under both the Health Human Resource Planning Initiative and the Recruitment and Retention Initiative.

Activities

Develop a Summer Institute on Health Human Resource and Policy to inform students of major health workforce issues and to encourage them to engage in health human resource research.

Assess the current complement of family physicians and specialists in Northern Ontario, as well as the current and future capacity of family physicians, specialists (identify gaps in specialist services) and health service facilities to accept residents for training.

Design business requirements for collecting important human resource (HR) data in the home and community care sector to assist government and community health and mental health agencies in assessing and planning for their HR needs.

Develop a physician health human resources forecast model for two priority areas of health service delivery: Ophthalmology and Orthopedic services.

Identify educational needs of rural physician preceptors and available resources to support their development as part of an overarching distributed health education strategy.

Conduct a labour market survey on health professionals.

Develop a mental health career information web page targeted at individuals considering a career in the community health or mental health sectors.

Anticipated Results Output

Recruitment and retention and health human resource planning strategies devel- oped and/or implemented.

Contact Information

Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
101 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON
M5S 2Z7
Telephone: (416) 327-7482

Health Human Resource Strategy - Prince Edward Island Projects

Amount/ Duration

$205,561 2005/06

Recipient

Prince Edward Island Department of Health & Social Services

Objectives

Support the broad objectives of the Health Human Resource Strategy under the Health Human Resource Planning Initiative and Recruitment and Retention Initiative.

Activities

Develop a Prince Edward Island health professional's registration database and minimum dataset to enhance provincial planning information.

Establish electronic data transfer routines to facilitate the annual transfer of data to a central database.

Develop and enhance reports which will provide data analysis and information management.

Develop a plan for a pilot site for the implementation of medication administration by Licensed Practical Nurses in long-term care in PEI.

Anticipated Results Output

Improved data collection which will enhance provincial HHR planning.

Assessment of the expanding role of LPNs in PEI.

Contact Information

PEI Department of Health Services
P.O. Box 2000
Charlottetown, PE
C1A 7N8
Telephone: (902) 368-6142

Health Human Resource Strategy - Newfoundland Projects

Amount/ Duration

$223,632 2005/06

Recipient

Newfoundland Department of Health & Community Services

Objectives

Support the broad objectives of the Health Human Resource Strategy under the Health Human Resource Planning Initiative, the Recruitment and Retention Initiative, and the Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice Initiative.

Activities

Development of province-wide standards related to health human resources data and the collection of historical data from health board payroll systems to facilitate the formation of these standard codes and strengthen the health human resource evidence base.

Develop best practice guidelines and policies for the recruitment and retention of physicians in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Implement a Residents Assessment Instrument/Minimum Data Set (RAI/MDS) to generate data that can provide a comprehensive resident care plan and reveal nursing workload acuity.

Develop and implement a one-week specialized mental health training program for supportive care workers to prepare them and help them better respond to customers' needs.

Develop and sustain Quality Professional Practice Environments (QPPE) for Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) working in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Anticipated Results Output

A province-wide standard for HHR data.

Improved recruitment and retention of health care staff in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Improved workplace environments of nurses.

Contact Information

Department of Health and Community Services
P.O. Box 8700
St. John's, NL
A1B 4J6
Telephone: (709) 792-1890

Internationally Educated Health Professionals: Projects Initiated/Continued in 2005/2006

Western Alliance for Assessment of International Medical Graduates (IMGs)

Amount/ Duration

$1,100,000 2004/05 to 2005/06

Recipient

British Columbia Ministry of Health. This project is facilitated under the umbrella of the Western and Northern Health Human Resources Planning Forum and includes an alliance of the health ministries, physician regulatory bodies and faculties of medicine of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Objectives

Develop an assessment process that will increase the capacity of all jurisdictions in the western provinces and northern territories to evaluate IMG's "practice readiness" for integration into the physician workforce in family practice, general surgery and internal medicine.

Activities

Develop an assessment template (led by a team of five to eight experts from the University of Calgary) including tools and educational prescriptives that are robust and sufficiently flexible to meet the needs of diverse clients.

Pilot and review the tools with results reported back to all participating partners.

Build on the assessment work done by the Ontario IMG Program, the collaborative assessment process developed by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the Federal Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada as well as the work under way by the National Assessment Consortium.

Anticipated Results Output

Improved access for IMGs to assessments that will facilitate the potential for their integration into the western/northern physician workforce in areas where there is an identified need.

Contact Information

British Columbia Ministry of Health
2-2, 1515 Blanshard Street
Victoria, BC
V8W 3C8
Telephone: (250) 952-3465

Faculty Development Program for Teachers of Internationally Educated Health Care Professionals

Amount/ Duration

$336,460 2003/04 to 2005/06

Recipient

Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC)

Objectives

Design, in collaboration with faculty developers and educational administrators, a national Faculty Development Program for individuals involved in education of Internationally Educated Health Professionals (IEHPs) (e.g. teachers, clinical supervisors, program directors and educational administrators) in an attempt to enhance teaching and learning experiences and facilitate graduates' integration into the Canadian workforce.

Activities

Implement an environmental scan and needs assessment regarding education and supervision of International Medical Graduates (IMGs).

Develop an orientation program for teachers of International Medical Graduates (IMGs) with specific modules.

Develop a cultural diversity-training program transferable to teachers of IEHPs.

Develop a dissemination plan.

Anticipated Results Output

A faculty development program that will assist faculty and preceptors who work with IMGs. The program will be transferable for use and adaptation by other professions such as nursing.

Contact Information

Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada
774 Echo Drive
Ottawa, ON
K1S 5P2
Telephone: (613) 730-0687

Establish an Interactive Web-Based Learning Program on Cultural, Legal, Ethical, and Organizational (CLEO) Aspects of Medical Practice in Canada

Amount/ Duration

$169,620 2004/05 to 2005/06

Recipient

Medical Council of Canada (MCC). The MCC will partner with the Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada in association with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) and several other key stakeholder partners.

Objectives

Establish learning and assessment tools that are portable across jurisdictions.

Address communication skills and CLEO aspects of the practice of medicine in Canada.

Activities

The MCC and its partners will accomplish these objectives by activities occurring in two phases:

Phase 1: Review existing approaches/models to addressing the cultural, legal, ethical and organizational aspects of medicine; compile CLEO resources, collaborate to develop a single web-based information site and develop an e-learning interactive web-based program.

Phase 2: Identify specific regional/provincial/territorial learning needs that are unique. Adapt learning materials and/or use e-linkages.

Anticipated Results Output

Development of learning targets for cultural transition to Canada, legal aspects of medical practice in Canada, ethical principles as applied to medical practice in Canada, organizational aspects of medical practice in Canada and regional variations in the above.

Contact Information

Medical Council of Canada
P.O. Box 8234 Station T
Ottawa, ON
K1G 3H7
Telephone: (613) 521-8787

Establishing a National Assessment Collaboration for International Medical Graduates (IMGs)

Amount/ Duration

$212,322 2004/05 to 2005/06

Recipient

Medical Council of Canada (MCC)

Objectives

Establish an acting steering group to fund the staffing (including clerical/coordinating staff and evaluation consultant) to work with the Collaboration.

Conduct literature reviews and data re-analysis or other feasibility studies on areas of methodological "gaps."

Report findings and recommendations.

Activities

Review of documentation, a gap analysis, a review of international practice and consultation, preparation of a plan and recommendations to promote an integrated and harmonized approach to international medical education assessment.

Anticipated Results Output

The establishment of a functional working group to perform review, analysis, and identification of external sources for data, expertise and evidence.

An evidence-based set of criteria for screening IMGs.

An integrated approach to the assessment of IMGs that observes principles of fairness and transparency.

Recommendation of standards to be followed for the implementation of all assessment processes.

Contact Information

Medical Council of Canada
P.O. Box 8234 Station T
Ottawa, ON
K1G 3H7
Telephone: (613) 521-8787

Professional Development Program for Educators of Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs)

Amount/ Duration

$170,800 2005/06 to 2006/07

Recipient

Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN). This work will build upon the work completed in the project for International Medical Graduates with the Association of Faculties of Medicine in Canada (AFMC) funded by Health Canada.

Objectives

Develop a Professional Development Program for a broad range of nurse educators working with IENs, both as faculty in educational institutions and nurse educators in health care agencies.

Activities

Create teaching modules which include key content, key teaching methods, and key professional development strategies.

Develop pertinent audiovisual triggers for teaching and learning, and key references for further reading and reflection.

Distribute materials in both written and electronic format, and demonstration of the program components at national meetings.

Anticipated Results Output

Create broad-based awareness.

Provide access to Professional Development program on the CASN and AMFC web sites.

Contact Information

Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing
Fifth Avenue Court Suite 15
99 Fifth Avenue
Ottawa, ON
K1S 5K4
Telephone: (613) 235-3150 ext 25

Building Capacity for IMG Assessment - New Brunswick Projects

Amount/ Duration

$113,250 2005/06

Recipient

New Brunswick Department of Health & Wellness.

Objectives

Increase capacity to support assessment for IMGs in New Brunswick.

Increase the number of IMGs practicing in the province.

Activities

Select and assess up to three IMGs based on specified criteria determined by the Clinical Skills and Training Program of Memorial University.

Conduct a six-month clinical evaluation under the supervision of selected preceptors at New Brunswick Regional Health Authorities (RHAs).

Assess the clinical trainees using the same evaluation process currently utilized by Dalhousie University.

Anticipated Results Output

Increased number of IMGs practicing in New Brunswick.

Increased supply of needed health professionals and enhanced access to medical services.

Contact Information

New Brunswick Health and Wellness
P.O. Box 5100
Carleton Place
Fredericton, NB
E3B 5G8
Telephone: (506) 453-8388

Clinical Skills Assessment and Training for International Medical Graduates - Newfoundland and Labrador Projects

Amount/ Duration

$97,474 2005/06

Recipient

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Objectives

Increase capacity and assessment for International Medical Graduates.

Activities

Provide assessments of the knowledge and skills of selected International Medical Graduates (IMGs).

Deliver training to IMGs for up to six months to raise competencies to the required level for licensure in Canada.

Re-assess the students to evaluate the effectiveness of the training.

Anticipated Results Output

Increased number of IMGs who qualify for provisional licensure.

Established effectiveness of this method of training.

Contact Information

Department of Community and Health Services
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
57 Margaret's Place
P.O. Box 8700
St. Jonh's, NL
A1B 4J6
Telephone: (709) 729-3508

Clinical Assessment for Practice Program - Nova Scotia Projects

Amount/ Duration

$126,500 2005/06

Recipient

Nova Scotia Department of Health

Objectives

Assess International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who may be ready to enter family practice in Nova Scotia without formal residency training in Canada.

Activities

Develop therapeutics exam and produce materials for candidate orientation, examiner training and mentors.

Develop assessment tools and reports.

Conduct training workshops, program evaluation and audit.

Anticipated Results Output

A comprehensive assessment program for IMG physicians who are practice ready.

Placement, support and integration of newly licensed IMGs into communities in need of physician resources.

Support of the newly licensed IMGs to successfully pass the CFPC certification towards full licensure.

On-going refinement of the CAPP model to extend it to the assessment of IMG specialists and to other internationally educated health professionals.

On-going research, including validation of assessment instruments and strategies with presentation of findings nationally and internationally, especially with other Canadian IMG assessment programs/consortia.

Contact Information

Nova Scotia Department of Health
Government of Nova Scotia
1690 Hollis Street
P.O. Box 488
Halifax, NS
B3L 4H9
Telephone: (902) 424-2900

Internationally Educated Health Professionals: Provincial/Territorial/Regional Projects Initiated in 2005/2006

Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative - Newfoundland and Labrador Projects

Amount/ Duration

$2,209,801 2005/06 to 2009/10

Recipient

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Objectives

Address the gaps in services to IMGs presently experienced in the recruitment, assessment, orientation and retention process when relocating to Newfoundland and Labrador as well as other provinces in Atlantic Canada.

Activities

Increase the preparedness and integration of applicants through access to information by developing recruitment packages with professional displays and electronic communications.

Support Memorial University Medical School research to develop an assessment tool to provide IMGs with access to appropriate training or licensure in Newfoundland or Atlantic Canada by researching, developing and evaluating an assessment tool.

Establish new training sites and a new group of IMG preceptors.

Develop an IMG orientation package.

Anticipated Results Output

Increased number of IMGs who choose Newfoundland and Labrador for practice and increased retention.

An assessment tool to increase access of IMGs to appropriate clinical training and assessment.

Contact Information

Department of Community and Health Services
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
57 Margaret's Place
P.O. Box 8700
St. Jonh's, NL
A1B 4J6
Telephone: (709) 729-3208

Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative - Nova Scotia Projects

Amount/ Duration

$3,510,038 2005/06 to 2009/10

Recipient

Nova Scotia Department of Health

Objectives

Support the Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative and its broad objective to recruit and retain IEHPs.

Activities

Conduct an environmental scan and gap analysis to identify the needs of IEHPs in NS and PEI and develop a four-year action plan.

Establish a web-portal for welcoming and providing information to internationally educated Registered Nurses (RN).

Develop a process to assess internationally educated RNs who do not meet the criteria for writing the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam (CRNE).

Develop a program that allows Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) to acquire skills and knowledge necessary to practice as an RN in Canada.

Establish a bridging program, screen applicants, identify learning gaps, and provide academic support to Internationally Educated Practical Nurses (IEPNs).

Revise and deliver a ten week orientation program to assist IEHPs navigate the system towards community integration and employment in NS and PEI.

Develop welcome packages for ten professionals, and develop and deliver an 18 week English for IEHPs training program twice a year.

Anticipated Results Output

Strategic plan for Nova Scotia IEHPI investment.

Improved access to information and orientation IENs.

Training and programs to prepare and promote IENs in obtaining licensure and integration into the workforce.

Improved orientation of IEHPs to promote their integration into the health workforce in Nova Scotia.

Contact Information

Department of Health
Government of Nova Scotia
1690 Hollis Street
P.O. Box 488
Halifax, NS
B3L 4H9
Telephone: (902) 424-2900

Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative - Ontario Projects

Amount/ Duration

$1,995,086 2005/06

Recipient

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) is receiving the above amount of funding under the Internationally Educated Health Professionals (IEHPs) Initiative to support four projects.

Objectives

Support the Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative and its broad objective to recruit and retain IEHPs.

Activities

Develop a coordinated, collaborative strategic plan to increase access for IEHPS to practise in Ontario by conducting an environmental scan and multi-stakeholder consultation.

Enroll, assess, and offer a range of courses and services to IEHPs in Medical Radiation Technologies (MRT), Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT), and Respiratory Therapy (RT) to build skills and prepare them for licensure.

Develop a web-enabled CD/booklet resource for immigration and settlement officers and college counsellors to enable them to provide timely advice and links about MRT and MLT to IEHPs.

Increase the number of International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who undergo clinical assessment and prepare IMGs accepted into family medicine positions for residency and practice in Ontario by addressing key competency areas through a pre-residency program.

Anticipated Results Output

Strategic plan for multi-year investments in IEHPI.

Improved capacity for IEHPs to successfully meet licensure requirements.

Improved capability of counsellors to provide advice to Medical Radiation Technology and Medical Laboratory Technology IEHPs.

Increased number of IMGs able to access clinical examinations.

Increased preparedness of IMGs accepted into family medicine residency positions.

Contact Information

Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
101 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON
M5S 2Z7
Telephone: (416) 327-7729

Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative - Manitoba Projects

Amount/ Duration

$400,000 2005/06

Recipient

Manitoba Health

Objectives

Increase the capacity of Manitoba's International Medical Graduate (IMG) Assessment and Remedial Training Program from ten to fifteen candidates for the 2006-2007 program year and facilitate the entry-to-practice of IMG physicians into family practice, particularly in rural and northern areas.

Activities

Develop a program unit to orient IMGs to the Manitoba health care system.

Develop a program component that will assist unsuccessful candidates in exploring career options in alternate health care professions.

Conduct a thorough evaluation of the program.

Increase local and national awareness of the program through a detailed dissemination plan.

Anticipated Results Output

Increased capacity to assess and train IMGs in Manitoba.

Contact Information

Manitoba Health
Rm. 1048 300 Carleton Street
Winnipeg, MB
R3B 3M9
Telephone: (204) 788-6367

Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative - Saskatchewan Projects

Amount/ Duration

$2,188,157 2005/06 to 2009/10

Recipient

Saskatchewan Health

Objectives

Facilitate the development of a comprehensive range of essential tools, products and services for IEHPs, designed to improve their chances for attaining licensure and ultimately employment in health services.

Activities

Undertake strategic planning exercise. Development of an online portal for facilitating integration of IEHPs.

Develop faculty development programs.

Develop a bridging and career path program.

Undertake research and assessment of potential IMGs assessment capacity in Saskatchewan.

Anticipated Results Output

Situational analysis of barriers to IEHPs.

An online portal for integration and preparedness of IEHPs.

Faculty development and mentoring modules, a bridging program, and an assessment of the capacity for Saskatchewan to assess IMGs.

Contact Information

Saskatchewan Health
T.C. Douglas Building
3475 Albert Street
Regina, SK
S4S 6X6
Telephone: (306) 787-3070

Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative - B.C. Projects

Amount/ Duration

$5,728,068 2005/06 to 2009/10

Recipient

British Columbia Ministry of Health

Objectives

Identify and assist Internationally Educated Health Professionals (IEHPs) to access assessment, education, registration and employment bridging supports to achieve employment in the B.C. health care system commensurate with their prelanding skills and qualifications.

Improve coordination and planning activities for a sustainable strategic approach of integrating IEHPs into the B.C. workforce.

Activities

Identify, assess and employ methods to bridge IEHPs under the B.C. Skills Connect for Immigrants Program.

Build capacity for health sector employers, post-secondary institutions, regulatory bodies, and professional associations to provide services to IEHPs.

Anticipated Results Output

Increased number of IEHPs working in the health sector in employment that makes maximum use of their skills.

Minimization of the time required to complete licensing assessment and increased access to related education and training.

Contact Information

Government of British Columbia
5th Floor, 1515 Blanshard Street
Victoria, BC
V8W 3C8
Telephone: (250) 952-1286

Internationally Educated Health Professionals - Collaboration Development of Support Services and Products for Internationally Educated Health Professionals in the Western Provinces and Northern Territories

Amount/ Duration

$4,303,494 2005/06 to 2009/10

Recipient

British Columbia Ministry of Health, on behalf of the Western and Northern Health Human Resources Planning Forum, is receiving the above amount of funding from the Internationally Educated Health Professionals (IEHPs) Initiative to undertake selected project activities to accelerate and expand the assessment, training and integration of IEHPs into the health workforce.

Objectives

Facilitate the development of a comprehensive range of essential tools, products and services for IEHPs, designed to improve their chances for attaining licensure and ultimately employment in health services.

Activities

Phase 1:

Conduct a literature review and a review of existing jurisdictional infrastructure support capacity. Develop an IEHP product inventory matrix. Conduct a gap analysis and enumeration of potential IEHPs per profession per jurisdiction. Recommend future IEHP products for development. Hold conferences on a regular basis with key stakeholders to ensure effective collaboration, identification of priority health professions in each jurisdiction, development of IEHP strategic plan for the Western Forum and development and implementation of annual activity plans.

Phase 2:

Once the strategic plan is developed, proposals will be submitted to Health Canada for approval.

Anticipated Results Output

A situational analysis to explore jurisdictional capacity to support IEHPs.

A communication process and network of key stakeholders.

An IEHP collaborative strategic plan for the Western Forum with annual activity plans.

Contact Information

Western and Northern Health Human Resources Planning Forum
5-1, 1515 Blanshard Street
Victoria, BC
V8W 3C8
Telephone: (250) 952-3145

Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative - Nunavut

Amount/ Duration

$305,859 2005/06 to 2006/07

Recipient

Government of Nunavut Health and Social Services

Objectives

Prepare Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) for success on the Canadian Registered Nursing Exam (CRNE) and employment in the unique environment of Nunavut.

Activities

Conduct a Nunavut focused series of orientation sessions delivering education on nursing, health care, and cultural competency.

Deliver clinical instruction to candidates preparing to write the CRNE.

Provide ongoing support to encourage the integration of candidates into the Nunavut health care system including costs of candidates to travel to Ottawa for the CRNE.

Anticipated Results Output

Increased support for IENs to successfully pass the CRNE and integrate into Nunavut workforce.

Contact Information

Department of Health and Social Services
Government of Nunavut
P.O. Box 1000 Station 1000
Iqaluit, NU
X0A 0H0
Telephone: (867) 982-7672

Aboriginal HHR Projects Initiated in 2005/2006

Inuit HHR Specific Initiative

Amount/ Duration

$139,700 2005/06

Recipient

Inuit Tapirit Kanatami (ITK). ITK is the representative organization for Inuit nationally. The Health Secretariat of the ITK is the key link to the Inuit Health Regional authorities.

Objectives

Increased capacity for ITK to engage in HHR planning and development of HHR strategies.

Activities

Provide perspectives of Inuit to the HHR work and liaise with Inuit in all regions of Canada to provide input into HHR planning and strategies to ensure Inuit needs, ways, and priorities are included.

Continue to link with work underway as a result of the Pan-Canadian HHR Strategy, link with F/P/T governments.

Disseminate information regarding HHR to Inuit and collaborate with the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) to disseminate research inventory.

Update HHR-related content on the ITK web site and further develop priority areas of the HHR Strategy.

Support ongoing research in Inuit-specific HHR initiatives and strategies and the development of an Inuit-specific HHR social marketing strategy to encourage Inuit individuals in accessing health careers.

Anticipated Results Output

Community engagement through Inuit Regional Health Authorities regarding HHR issues to national HHR work and to ITK strategies/plans.

Updated HHR material on ITK web site. Build partnerships and collaboration with other Aboriginal organizations such as the NAHO and the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (NAAF).

Input into Inuit Health in the Classroom module developed by NAAF.

Inuit students informed of access to Health Careers studies and supports such as the national Aboriginal Health Careers Bursaries and Scholarships Program.

Contact Information

Onalee Randell, Health Director
Inuit Tapiirit Kanatami
170 Laurier Avenue W., Suite 510
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5V5
Telephone: (613) 238-8181

Health Human Resources

Amount/ Duration

$250,000 2005/06

Recipient

National Indian and Inuit Community Health Representatives Organization (NIICHRO). NIICHRO is a national not-for-profit non-governmental organization representing Aboriginal Community Health Representatives (CHRs).

Objectives

To upgrade the quality of health care of First Nation and Inuit people to the standard of health enjoyed by the rest of the population of Canada.

To provide a forum for CHRs to communicate and exchange information with each other on various community health initiatives and on the improvement of the CHR program at a national level.

To create and promote awareness and understanding of the CHR program in Canada.

To provide a mechanism and a means for advising First Nations and Inuit communities, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB), Health Canada and others on all matters pertaining to CHRs

Activities

Identify, via consultations with stakeholders, and assess the best means to develop competency-based occupational standards for CHRs.

Develop and initiate a communications strategy for a broad base of support with the CHRs and Aboriginal community for occupational standards and accreditation.

Formulate and implement a data collection strategy to gather, organize and analyze information.

Anticipated Results Output

Competency-based occupational standards for CHRs.

Establish partnerships involved in the work on competency-based standards.

Engage other paraprofessionals in developing competency-based standards.

Identify next steps towards competency-based standards.

Contact Information

Debbie Dedam Montour, Executive Director
National Indian and Inuit Community Health Representative Organization
P.O. Box 1019
Kahnawake, QC
J0L 1B0
Telephone: (450) 632-0892

Health in the Classroom

Amount/ Duration

$150,000 2005/06

Recipient

National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation. The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (NAAF) is a nationally registered non-profit organization devoted to excellence and providing the educational tools necessary for Aboriginal youth to achieve brighter futures. NAAF promotes the development and education of Aboriginal peoples and their professional advancement in Canadian society through various initiatives such as Industry in the Classroom.

The Industry in the Classroom is an initiative comprising of interactive educational modules designed to encourage youth to stay in school and to educate them in the wide variety of career opportunities. The Health in the Classroom is one module that highlights five health professions as well as identifying other health careers working within the health care team.

Objectives

Implement the Health in the Classroom module in First Nations community schools and urban centre schools with a high enrolment of Aboriginal students.

Activities

Engage a youth-oriented facilitator to bring Health in the Classroom to Aboriginal students in schools.

Promote the module and communicate with schools to arrange Health in the Classroom sessions.

Promote the module to other organizations and governments.

Anticipated Results Output

Provide sessions, up to 50 schools in 2005-06.

Increase youth awareness and interest in health careers.

Increase interest in further production of additional Health in the Classroom modules highlighting other health careers.

Contact Information

Wendy Johnson, Director of Taking Pulse
National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation
70 Yorkville Avenue, Suite 33A Toronto, ON
M5R 1B9
Telephone: (416) 926-0775

Addressing Curricula and Admissions/Support Policy Changes

Amount/ Duration

$130,000 2005/06

Recipient

Association of Faculties of Medicine (AFMC). The AFMC is the representative organization for the Canadian medical schools. The objective of AFMC, as outlined in the constitution, is to promote the advancement of academic medicine in Canada through the: review and development of standards for medical education in Canada; development of national policies appropriate to the aims and purposes of Canadian faculties of medicine; fostering of research into major areas of interest for Canadian faculties of medicine; and representation of the Canadian faculties of medicine to key agencies.

Within the AFMC is a Social Accountability Task Group and within this group is a sub committee "The Aboriginal Task Group" which focuses on Aboriginal issues such as increasing Aboriginal enrolment in medical schools.

Objectives

Provide information on Canadian programs and policies to increase the number of Aboriginal medical students; discuss issues and strategies related to preadmissions programs; the admissions process and student support for Aboriginal medical students; and provide opportunities for networking and information exchange among medical schools.

Formulate and implement a data collection strategy to gather, organize and analyze the elements necessary for the development.

Activities

Bring together and engage key stakeholders (Aboriginal and Medical School representatives) to formulate a national process to develop a national framework for Aboriginal health curricula.

Provide a forum for networking of stakeholders who can provide leadership in development and implementation of a national Aboriginal health curricula intended to improve the cultural competency of health care professionals providing health care in Aboriginal communities.

Organize and hold a meeting inviting Deans of Admission and Aboriginal Support Programs for the Faculties of Medicine, Aboriginal representatives, and key informants, to a two day session to discuss strategies to increase the numbers of Aboriginal medical students.

Anticipated Results Output

Increase impetus for individual Faculties of Medicine to initiate programs within their respective medical schools.

Provide access to resource material from the Forum, recommendations on implementing changes to admissions and student support policies and programs, meeting report, participants list, record of decisions, recommendations concerning the development of a national framework for Aboriginal health curricula and next steps.

Contact Information

Susan Maskill, Director of Administration
Association of Faculties of Medicine
774 Echo Drive
Ottawa, ON
K1S 5P2
Telephone: (613) 730-0687

Forum on Aboriginal Midwifery

Amount/ Duration

$25,000 2005/06

Recipient

National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO)

Objectives

Identify next steps in the development of a multi-year plan to promote Aboriginal midwifery and traditional birthing practices including expansion of Aboriginal Midwifery Education Programs.

Activities

Conduct a one day meeting (as part of the Aboriginal Women's Health Roundtable) to discuss with roundtable participants the linkages of education, employment, care models, roles and opportunities and practises regarding midwifery, and to identify priorities for action.

Anticipated Results Output

Final report outlining the issues, recommendations including priorities for action.

Contact Information

National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO)
Ste 1200, 220 Laurier Ave. W
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5Z9 Telephone: (613) 237-9462
Toll-Free Telephone: 1 (877) 602-4445

Aboriginal HHR Framework

Amount/ Duration

$75,000 2005/2006

Recipient

Organization for the Advancement of Aboriginal People's Health

Objectives

Develop a comprehensive Framework on Aboriginal Health Human Resources (AHHR) Indicators and management.

Activities

Complete a literature review and synthesis on AHHR.

Organize a roundtable discussion on AHHR.

Process Framework document and background discussion paper.

Anticipated Results Output

Final report of the outcomes for implementation in the comprehensive framework on AHHR indicators for AHHR management .

Synthesis report on current AHHR, gaps and indicators.

Final Report on Aboriginal Health Human Resources in Canada.

Contact Information

Danielle Soucy, Senior Policy Analyst
National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO)
Suite 1200, 220 Laurier Ave. W.
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5Z9
Telephone: (613) 237-9462
Toll-free Telephone: 1 (877) 602-4445

Blueprint for the Future

Amount/ Duration

$50,000 2005/2006

Recipient

National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (NAAF).

Objectives

Provide Aboriginal youth with a forum where they are exposed to a variety of educational and employment-related information specific to health.

Increase awareness of employment opportunities and associated training requirements in the health sector of the Canadian workforce.

Activities

Plan, organize and deliver two career fairs in Winnipeg in November 2005 and Vancouver in January 2006:

Recruit speakers to deliver presentations to youth.

Organize Aboriginal youth from across the host city and province to attend the career fairs.

Coordinate the logistics for the career fairs.

Develop and distribute information in order to promote the career fairs.

Coordinate the registration of speakers, booth participants and speakers.

Anticipated Results Output

Two career fairs (November 2005 and January 2006) that will raise awareness among youth of education and engagement opportunities within the health care sector.

Contact Information

National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation
Suite 33A, 70 Yorkville Avenue
Toronto, ON
M5R 1B9
Telephone: 1 (800) 329-9780

First Nations Health Human Resources Planning

Amount/ Duration

$144,435 2005/06

Recipient

Assembly of First Nations (AFN). AFN is the representative organization for First Nations nationally. The Health Secretariat of the AFN is the key link to the First Nations regional First Nations communities' health directors and program/services.

Objectives

Increase capacity for First Nations (FN) to engage in HHR planning and development of HHR strategies. Provide perspectives of First Nations to the HHR work.

Activities

Develop a strategy for FN HHR focusing on FN community level priorities.

Identify HHR issues in each community health program area and propose strategies.

Provide support and collaboration with Aboriginal professional organizations as they seek to develop their capacity in HHR.

Develop recommendations and identify means to implement data collection options for FN HHR research/monitoring/and planning.

Input from communities through Regional Health Technicians regarding HHR issues - outline of their priorities.

Initiate the development of a framework for FN institution-building the area of HHR education as a long-term goal to supporting recruitment of FN in HHR.

Anticipated Results Output

Relationships developed and formalized with National Indian and Inuit Community Health Representatives Organizations, Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada (ANAC), Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada (IPAC), VON, and Aboriginal Pharmacists Association of Canada (APAC) for future collaborattion.

FN input and advice into NAHO's database development.

Discussion Paper "First Nations Primary Health Care Training Institutes".

Contact Information

Valerie Gideon, Director or Tracy Lavallee, HHR Manager
Health and Social Services
Assembly of First Nations
Trebla Bldg - 473 Albert St
Ottawa, ON
K1R 5B4
Telephone: (613) 241-6789

Health Human Resources - Northern Ontario School of Medicine

Amount/ Duration

$50,000 2005-06

Recipient

Northern Ontario School of Medicine. The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) consists of the Faculty of Medicine of Laurentian University (Sudbury) and Lakehead University (Thunder Bay). NOSM has a mission to contribute to improving the health of the people and communities of northern Ontario by advancing the highest quality of medical practice, learning, teaching, research, and professionalism. With main campuses in Thunder Bay and Sudbury, NOSM has multiple teaching and research sites distributed across northern Ontario which ideally position NOSM to address health care disparities and manpower workforce shortages in Aboriginal communities both rural and urban.

Objectives

Encourage and support Aboriginal participation in educational opportunities leading to professional careers in the health field.

Provide a learning environment designed to overcome cultural barriers that inhibit the Aboriginal students' educational achievement.

Activities

Unsuccessful Candidate Review

Build the applicant pool of competitive Aboriginal applicants, in particular First Nations applicants for medical schools across Canada by interviewing unsuccessful candidates in order to have a better understanding of the factors preventing them from being accepted into medical school as well as what is required for future success.

Piloting of Cultural Immersion

Organize visits to First Nations communities for first year medical students in order to increase their cultural awareness and knowledge of First Nations people and traditional ceremonies.

Anticipated Results Output

Increased number of Aboriginal people choosing medicine as a career.

Contact Information

Dr. Dan Hunt, Vice-Dean Northern Ontario School of Medicine
West Campus
955 Oliver Road, 6th Floor
Thunder Bay
Ontario P7B 5E1
Telephone: (807) 766-7391

Complementary Activities

Health Canada provides leadership and financial support for numerous concurrent activities in order to facilitate national collaboration (e.g. the sharing of information and best practices) among the federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions, and in order to advance the Strategy.

Pan-Canadian HHR Planning

A Framework for Collaborative Pan-Canadian HHR Planning (2004/05 and ongoing)

The Framework, which was developed by the HHR Planning Subcommittee of the ACHDHR and approved by the F/P/T Ministers of Health in October, 2005, makes the case for a pan-Canadian collaborative approach to planning, describes the challenges, identifies priorities for collaborative action and sets out tangible specific actions that jurisdictions can take together to achieve a more stable, effective health workforce. The framework is designed to facilitate and increase collaboration between government and stakeholders. It also sets out an innovative planning approach that is driven by population health needs and system design - rather than the traditional utilization-based approach. Stakeholders were consulted in early 2006 to obtain input with the purpose of advancing the activities outlined in the framework's action plan.

Federal/Provincial/ Territorial (F/P/T) HHR Modelling Working Group (2004/05 and ongoing)

This working group of the F/P/T Advisory Committee on Health Delivery and Human Resources (ACHDHR) was formed in 2004/05 to promote collaborative HHR data and modelling activities and networks that support F/P/T policy and planning requirements, sharing of knowledge and the formation of partnerships. The working group developed a paper on HHR modelling definitions and principles, which provides a common understanding of modelling for developers and users. The group will continue to share knowledge around HHR data and modelling.

Monitoring the Educational Supply of Professionals in Health Occupations (2004/05 to 2007/08)

Health Canada and Statistics Canada are collaborating to assess and report on the education indicators necessary to monitor the supply of health professionals for the purposes of HHR planning. Statistics Canada has consulted F/P/T ministries of health and education, health provider organizations, the Canadian Institute for Health Information, HHR researchers, and other related organizations to determine the needs associated with education data.

Critical Challenges for A Decade of Human Resources in Health in the Americas Meeting (2005/06)

On October 5-7, 2005, the Pan American Health Organization, along with Health Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, hosted the Seventh Regional Meeting of the Observatories of Human Resources in Health in Toronto, Ontario to bring together representatives from countries across the Americas to share experiences and to develop a plan to address common challenges in HHR. The Toronto Call to Action, which was developed as a result of this meeting, outlines goals for the decade including mobilizing national and international stakeholders to collectively promote, strengthen, and develop the health workforce in order to provide access to quality health services for the peoples of the Americas.  Critical Challenges for a Decade of Human Resources in Health in the Americas

2005 Summer Institute: Health Human Resources Research and Policy: A Focus on Rural and Northern Issues (2005/06)

The Ontario Training Centre in Health Services and Policy Research, a six university consortium, offers an interdisciplinary, graduate-level diploma program in health services and policy research, which includes an annual intensive course called the Summer Institute, designed to inform the students of major health workforce issues and to encourage them to engage in HHR research. The theme of the 2005 Summer Institute, which took place at Laurentian University during the week of June 13 - 17, was "Health Human Resources Research and Policy: A Focus on Rural and Northern Issues". Among the topics the institute covered were: health workforce supply and demand forecasting; geographic distribution; education, training and continuing development; interdisciplinary practice; workplace and quality of worklife; and personnel recruitment and retention in rural/northern areas.

 Developing New Researchers

 Ontario Training Centre in Health Services and Policy Research (PDF Version - 168 KO)

International Workshop on Comparative Research on the Health Professions (2005/06)

On April 30, 2005, McMaster University hosted the conference, "An International Workshop on Comparative Research on the Health Professions", which brought together North American and European scholars involved in research on health professions to undertake cutting-edge comparative analyses of the changing contexts of health care work, and to develop and discuss how to best advance new and innovative policies and best practices in HHR. Specific themes included: a globalizing society's role and impact on professions; the migration of health care providers into and out of high income countries; the changing relations between professions and government, health care organizations, the public, and clients; and the altered landscape of professional regulation, professionalism, and ethics. The invited scholars prepared presentations and posters on the themes as well as comparative working paper abstracts on the key comparative issues emerging from the workshop.
 International Workshop on Comparative Research on the Professions

Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice (IECPCP)

The IECPCP Secretariat, housed in the Office of Nursing Policy, is funded by the pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Strategy. The Secretariat oversees the co-ordination and management of all elements of the IECPCP initiative; one key activity of this body is to support the National Expert Committee (NEC), established in September 2003. Comprised of students, patients, health professionals, educators, researchers, provincial and territorial governments and other key stakeholders, the NEC continues to provide independent expert advice to Health Canada in shaping and implementing the IECPCP initiative.

The Secretariat supports the IECPCP initiative by coordinating and overseeing funding activities such as the two-cycle learning projects and other relevant priority projects; linking and coordinating with other related Health Canada projects and divisions such as the Primary Health Care Transition Fund, the Health Human Resource Strategy Division and the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch; and networking and collaborating with other key national and international stakeholders to exchange information and promote the vision of IECPCP across Canada.

Recruitment and Retention

Public Health Taskforce and Undergraduate Medical Education Issues (2005/06)

The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada conducted preliminary research, produced background documents, facilitated meetings, wrote minutes and produced a Taskforce's recommendations report on a long-term plan for enhancing the public health content within the undergraduate medical curriculum. This report was presented to the Deans of Medical Schools at their Council meeting in May 2006.

Canadians Studying Medicine Outside Canada and the United States of America (USA) (2005/06)

The Canadian Post-M.D. Education Registry provides Health Canada with information on the accurate number of Canadians studying in medicine outside of Canada/USA, international medical curriculum and the barriers which inhibit the return of these Canadians to the Canadian workforce.

Preliminary Framework for a Benefit-Cost Analysis of Health Human Resource Preferred Deployment Practices (2005/06)

Health Canada commissioned work on a preliminary framework for a benefit-cost analysis of health human resource (HHR) deployment practices. This initial work reveals the challenges of evaluating deployment practices based on the Treasury Board's nine-step model for a benefit-cost analysis. In particular, it highlights the difficulty both in identifying and in measuring incremental benefits and costs without adequate data. The paper indicates the need to measure the costs of reducing specific constraints (e.g. fee schedules) that impede the success of HHR deployment practices.

Recruitment and Retention Consultation (2005/06)

Health Canada commissioned an international literature review of recruitment and retention activities for health professionals. A symposium, bringing together federal, provincial, and territorial health human resource leaders was held in 2005 to discuss recruitment and retention best practices taken from domestic experience and the international review. This symposium was used to help set priorities for future recruitment and retention initiatives within the HHR strategy.

Healthy Workplace Initiative (HWI)

Knowledge Exchange Day (2005/06)

In 2005-06, Health Canada was pleased to convene team leaders from projects funded under the Healthy Workplace Initiative (HWI) and other key health stakeholders for a Knowledge Exchange Day. This session included presentations on eleven projects funded through the HWI 2004 Targeted Call for Proposals as well as several complementary projects, funded to address knowledge gaps in the healthy workplace literature. Participants enjoyed the opportunity to learn about challenges and opportunities arising as the projects progress.

National Survey (2003/04 to 2006/07)

Health Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Institute for Health Information and Statistics Canada, conducted a National Survey of the Work and Health of Nurses. Of the approximately 24,000 randomly sampled Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses from across Canada, 80% participated in the survey. This survey will help to identify relationships between selected health outcomes, the work environment and work life experiences. Statistics Canada completed the 30 minute telephone interview in January 2006. The first report, based on the results of this study, is scheduled for release in December, 2006. For updates, please see  Survey of the Work and Health of Nurses

Internationally Educated Health Professionals Activities

In 2005/06 Health Canada provided financial and leadership support for activities that support the Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative. Many of these activities encourage pan- Canadian collaboration to support the integration of internationally educated health professionals.

Internationally Educated Health Care Professionals Workshop on Research "Asking the Right Questions" (2005)

Health Canada organized and funded a research forum in Vancouver on Dec. 7, 2005 to bring together funders, researchers, practitioners, regulators, and educators from seven priority health professions (nursing, medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, medical laboratory technology, medical radiation technology, and pharmacy). The focus of the session was to share the wealth of activities currently underway, to identify potential research questions and to promote research in the field of internationally educated health professionals. Significant momentum was generated to move forward through a collaborative approach.

Report: Provincial/Territorial Registration and Licensure Terminology for Canadian Physicians: Focus on International Medical Graduates (2006)

Commissioned by Health Canada and prepared by the Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada, this report provides an overview of the policies, regulations, and laws that regulate the licensure of international medical graduates (IMGs) in Canada. The report provides the groundwork necessary to engage stakeholders in working towards common terms and definitions in licensure regulation across Canada, one of the recommendations of the IMG Taskforce.

The International Medical Graduates (IMG) Implementation Steering Committee (2003/04 and ongoing)

In February 2004, the IMG Taskforce released its report and made six recommendations which were subsequently supported by the F/P/T Ministers of Health. To oversee the implementation of initiatives to address these recommendations, the IMG Implementation Steering Committee was established in the summer of 2004. Membership includes representatives from provincial/territorial governments, educational institutions, regulatory and accreditation authorities, and medical professional associations.

With administrative and funding support from Health Canada, the committee met twice in 2005/06 to steer implementation of the IMG initiatives, and to identify and discuss emerging issues. Significant progress has been made to develop and implement 13 IMG initiatives. The initiatives funded by Health Canada, solely or in part, in 2004/05 and 2005/06 included: a web-based orientation program on the Cultural, Legal, and Ethical Organization of Medicine; the Canadian International Medical Graduates web site; the Faculty Development Program for Teachers of Internationally Educated Health Professionals; the IMG database; the National Assessment Collaboration of International Medical Graduates; and funding to increase provincial/territorial capacity for IMG assessment.

The IEN Taskforce (2003/04 and ongoing)

Collaborative efforts to identify the needs of internationally educated nurses (IENs) began in February 2004 when the Health Human Resource Strategies Division of Health Canada, in partnership with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), hosted a meeting of interested parties to share their perspectives and experiences, and to consider future steps to integrate internationally educated nurses into the Canadian workforce. Building on the IEN diagnostic project completed by the CNA, Health Canada subsequently supported the creation of the Internationally Educated Nurses Taskforce. In 2005/06 the Taskforce completed four reports to stimulate discussion at the committee level about how to advance developments in credential assessment, education supports, integration into the workforce, and data and coordination. Work to address these issues is ongoing.

Interprofessional Collaboration on Internationally Educated Health Professionals (2004/05 and ongoing)

Recognizing the common barriers and issues faced by Internationally Educated Health Professionals (IEHPs) seeking to practice in Canada, Health Canada engaged stakeholders from five priority professions to identify key priorities for development. Representatives from physiotherapy, occupational therapy, medical radiation technology, medical laboratory technology and pharmacy met twice in 2005. The group identified the development of an orientation program for IEHPs as the first priority and established a working group to complete a needs assessment and develop an interprofessional program. The profession of nursing has joined this group, and Health Canada will continue to support this pan-Canadian initiative in coming fiscal years.

Aboriginal HHR Work

Aboriginal Health Human Resources Initiative Strategic Session (2005/06)

The objective of this project was to identify strategies for the success of the Aboriginal Health Human Resources Initiative (AHHRI) to assist the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) and partners over the short, medium and long term. The project involved the design of a two-day strategic session which included key governmental, non-governmental, and Aboriginal organizations. The outcome of the session was the development of a framework for Aboriginal HHR strategies including a continuum of the key phases in the development of Aboriginal HHR and the priorities, desired outcomes, actions needed, participants and partners, resources available, time frame, and coordination options.

Conclusion

The 2005/06 fiscal year has shown substantial progress for the Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Strategy. The projects and activities detailed within this report continue to build the evidence needed to strengthen and revitalize the health workforce in Canada. Furthermore, successful collaboration between Health Canada, other federal departments, provinces, territories and stakeholder organizations have allowed for an ongoing, coherent approach to addressing Canada's challenges with respect to HHR.

Up to date information on the Strategy can also be obtained online at: Health Human Resource Strategy

This second annual report has provided an opportunity to share our progress and successes with all Canadians.