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Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Strategy: 2007-2008 Annual Report

(PDF Version - 908 K)

2008
HC Pub.: 9004
Cat.: H1-9/19-2008E-PDF
ISBN: 978-1-100-12024-9

Projects funded in 2007-2008 can also be searched on the basis of several categories through the 2007-2008 Lists of Projects.

Table of Contents

Introduction

All governments recognize the key role that health professionals play in providing accessible, high-quality care to Canadians.

The Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Strategy (HHRS) and Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative (IEHPI) are two federally funded programs which support health human resource projects focused on maintaining and optimizing the health system's workforce and integrating internationally educated health professionals. These efforts are aimed at improving the health care system and providing access to quality health care services for all Canadians.

This report summarizes the activities and achievements of both programs during 2007/08.

Health Canada funded the projects summarized in this report through contribution agreements with recipients such as other levels of government, academic institutions and organizations representing health care providers and stakeholders.

The Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Strategy

In 2007/08

  • Number of new projects: 11
  • Funding allocated: $5,130,030

The Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Strategy (HHRS) was created to help bring about an adequate supply of health care providers while promoting optimal working conditions for them. The HHRS has four initiatives:

  • Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Planning
  • Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice
  • Recruitment and Retention of Health Care Providers/Professionals
  • Aboriginal Health Human Resource Projects

Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Planning

"...ensuring we have enough of the right types of health care providers to meet the needs of Canadians"

The Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Planning initiative centres on two objectives related to collaborative planning on HHR issues:

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

Accomplishments

In 2007/08, the Health Human Resource Planning initiative generated a series of accomplishments.

  • National supply-based databases and reporting systems were developed for five regulated health professions: pharmacists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, medical laboratory technologists, and medical radiation technologists. New information on these professions improves evidence-based HHR research and planning activities.
  • The Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS) began to implement the CNFS/ Société Santé en français workplan to promote the development and planning of health human resources to meet the needs of French-speaking minority communities in Canada.
  • The College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Canadian Medical Association, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and the Canadian Institute for Health Information conducted the National Physician Survey 2007. The Survey collected valuable physician information not found in other sources (e.g. working hours, locations of practice, types of services offered in different practice settings, and use of emerging technology).

The federal/provincial/territorial Advisory Committee on Health Delivery and Human Resources published a revised Framework for Collaborative Pan-Canadian Health Human Resources Planning in 2007. The ACHDHR further defined the Framework and associated Action Plan through a range of activities, including:

  • Reviewing several submissions on proposed increases in entry-to-practice credentials and commissioning a paper entitled Managing Entry-to-Practice Requirements: An Examination of Issues and Recommendations (Coordinating Committee on Entry-to-Practice Credentials).
  • Producing two documents: a Glossary of Commonly-used Working Definitions and Descriptions on Optimizing Competencies of Health Professionals and a draft of Guiding Principles on Optimizing Competencies of Health Professionals (Optimizing Competencies Task Group).
  • Producing a paper entitled How Many Are Enough? Redefining Self Sufficiency for the Health Workforce.

Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice (IECPCP)

"...changing the way we educate health providers so Canadians will have better and faster access to the health care they need when they need it, ultimately boosting the satisfaction of both patients and health care providers"

During 2007/08, the Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice (IECPCP) initiative of the Strategy made significant progress in promoting interprofessional education and collaborative patient-centred practice.

Interprofessional, collaborative patient-centred practice promotes the active participation of each discipline in patient care by optimizing participation in clinical decision-making within and across disciplines. It also encourages participants to respect the contributions of all health professionals as they collaborate on care.

Accomplishments

In partnership with the governments of provinces and territories, academic institutions and health care facilities, the IECPCP initiative made huge strides in 2007/08.

  • Eleven Cycle One learning projects under the initiative designed to test approaches to interprofessional education concluded in March 2008. The projects successfully met IECPCP objectives, with many serving as catalysts for interprofessional education (IPE) and collaborative practice (CP) across Canada. A preliminary synthesis of the projects identified results such as: the development of IPE learning tools for faculty and students; institutional changes including the development of offices for collaborative learning; the development of partnerships between faculties, collaborative learning units and communities; and enhanced understanding and mutual respect within health professional groups. These projects and nine Cycle Two projects are being synthesized and analyzed.
  • A new complementary project, entitled Accreditation of Interprofessional Health Education, is developing common principles for the accreditation of interprofessional education for: physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, social work, nursing and medicine. During the year, this project disseminated the principles to eight accreditation bodies, and reached out to wider audiences to communicate the value of interprofessional education.
  • Health Canada commissioned a report entitled Knowledge Transfer & Exchange in Interprofessional Education, Synthesizing the Evidence to Foster Evidence-Based Decision-Making which provided a synthesis and critical appraisal of the evidence for IPE and a better understanding of the overall quality of evidence for IPE.
  • The Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative (CIHC) was established by Health Canada in 2006 to serve as a national leader for interprofessional education. It held regional meetings in the Atlantic, Western and Central regions of Canada, which provided opportunities for the leads of the 20 IECPCP learning projects ( Cycle One and Two ) to showcase their projects, learn about other projects in their regions and network.

Recruitment and Retention (R&R)

"...encouraging more people to enter the health care field and improving the working conditions to keep them there"

The Recruitment and Retention initiative aims to help increase the supply of needed health professionals and to revitalize the health care workforce. It is doing so by promoting interest in health careers (both generally and in specific areas) and improving utilization and distribution of existing health care providers. It addresses the importance of healthy workplace environments as a way to support the provision of high quality care and addresses other issues that influence the numbers of health care providers available to Canadians.

The Healthy Workplace Initiative (HWI) is a distinct component of the Recruitment and Retention initiative under the Strategy and supports:

  • actions by health care organizations to address symptoms of unhealthy workplaces, focusing on front-line patient care and related health services; and
  • initiatives that lead to improved work environments, health and well being of health care staff, and job satisfaction and quality of work life.

Accomplishments

In 2007/08, the Recruitment and Retention initiative continued to benefit from the complementary efforts of the provinces and territories, health stakeholders, health care professionals, and various federal government departments.

  • A focus on family physicians included strategies to support them as part of addressing the sustainability of primary care renewal, as well as an emphasis on building stronger intraprofessional relationships between family physicians and specialists while respecting their roles and responsibilities.
  • A thorough review of undergraduate medical education in Canada continued based on assessing current and future needs in order to promote excellence in patient care.
  • A review took place of the current mandates and future roles and responsibilities of Canada's academic health science centres.
  • A common competency profile was developed for licensed practical nurses in Western and Atlantic Canada.
Standardization of the description of competencies of Atlantic Region licensed practical nurses (LPNs)

Building on the work done in the first phase of the project Standardization of the description of competencies of Western Canadian licensed practical nurses carried out in 2005/06, this second phase from 2006/07 to 2007/08 expanded the process for describing a competency profile of LPNs working in the Atlantic Region.

The result is a common LPN competency profile document that captures the full scope of practice and utilization of LPNs in eight provinces, which can be used in health human resource planning, education, training and recruitment.

Key accomplishments under the Healthy Workplace Initiative during 2007/08, include:
  • Pilot implementation and evaluation took place of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario's Healthy Workplace Environment Best Practice Guideline: Developing and Sustaining Nursing Leadership.
  • Successful participatory processes to incorporate ergonomics in health care facility designs.
  • Customized health promotion program for shift workers.
  • Valid and reliable tools to measure employee perceptions of work climate and identification of leading practices for work climate improvement.
  • Development of an on-line health risk assessment tool and a healthy workplace prevention action plan using integrated data analysis.

The majority of the HWI projects were completed by March 2007, with a few finishing in March 2008.

To discuss their key project findings and outcomes, leaders from HWI projects across the country met in Ottawa on March 17 and 18, 2008. This event was the third in a series of Knowledge Exchange Workshops organized by Health Canada to enhance and share knowledge about healthy workplace activities and create opportunities for networking. Project presentations were structured around four themes: Culture Shift and System Change; Safety and Injury Prevention; Workplace Assessment and Improvements; and, Holistic Approaches to Health and Wellness.

One of the key change management components of the HWI is the Quality Worklife-Quality Healthcare Collaborative, which is a national multi-disciplinary coalition of health care leaders working together to improve the quality of worklife for Canada's healthcare providers and enhance client care.

The Collaborative held a National Summit on March 19, 2008, and distributed a report which highlighted increased awareness of healthy work environments and identified areas for future activities. Several workplace champions spoke about their efforts implementing the Collaborative's action strategy. The Summit also provided an opportunity to celebrate the over 40 organizations that have already signed the Healthy Healthcare Leadership Charter.

Aboriginal Health Human Resources (HHR) Projects

Health Canada has formed a unique relationship with First Nations and Inuit communities while working closely to enhance health services and improve health outcomes. Health Canada's First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) is directly responsible for implementing HHR Strategy goals from a First Nations and Inuit perspective, in particular to:

  • ensure that the current and future supply, mix and distribution of First Nations and Inuit HHR are optimized 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 communities;
  • increase the number of First Nations and Inuit choosing health careers, and the number of health care providers working in First Nations and Inuit communities;
  • ensure that First Nations and Inuit HHR data collection is ongoing, coordinated and systemic, 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.

Activities funded through the Strategy compliment work already underway through the Aboriginal HHR Initiative, funded by FNIHB, which started in 2005.

Accomplishments

There were a variety of accomplishments related to Aboriginal Health Human Resources in 2007/08.

Highlights include:

  • creation of a cultural competency framework for Aboriginal Health Care at the undergraduate level for faculties of Medicine.
  • work towards the development of supply, production and workload indicators for the Aboriginal Minimum Data Set (MDS), including data elements and current available data sources, privacy impact assessment, and definitions unique to the MDS.
  • shared knowledge and discussion surrounding the challenges and innovations in supporting Aboriginal health human resources in Ontario took place at a forum involving Aboriginal partners, educators, health care sector representatives, researchers, federal and provincial government representatives and others.
  • support for Assembly of First Nations in providing leadership and engaging regional Aboriginal organizations in HHR strategies.
  • support for Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami's involvement and engagement of Inuit in HHR work regionally.

The Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative (IEHPI)

Upon arrival in Canada, internationally-educated health professionals (IEHPs), such as doctors, nurses and pharmacists are eager to practice in their chosen profession. Through the Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative (IEHPI), Health Canada works with other federal departments, provincial and territorial governments and stakeholders to enable IEHPs to put their skills to work in Canada's health system.

In 2002, the Canadian Task Force on Licensure of International Medical Graduates (the IMG Task Force) made six recommendations meant to encourage the integration of IMGs into the Canadian health system. The recommendations were then endorsed by federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Health in 2004. Activities to address the recommendations have either been fully implemented or are nearing completion. A table outlining the recommendations can be found in the 2005-06 Annual Report of the Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Strategy.

Since 2005, IEHPI has focussed primarily on seven professions: medicine, nursing, medical laboratory science, medical radiation technology, pharmacy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy. However, other professions also benefit through this initiative.

Accomplishments

Accomplishments in 2007/08 include:

  • assessment capacity for IEHPs increased across the country.
  • numerous information and path-finding services were made available to increase access to comprehensive information that helps IEHPs navigate the process leading to licensure.
  • new training and bridging programs were launched to better prepare IEHPs to take the licensure exams and integrate them into the workplace.
  • a series of projects were implemented that provided educators, trainers and assessors with the tools they need to maximize their ability to teach and evaluate IEHPs.
  • led by the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto, a collaborative between seven health professions and many provincial and territorial governments oversaw the development of a curriculum for, and the delivery of, a multiprofessional program designed to provide IEHPs with an orientation to the Canadian health care system. Sessions have been offered in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Ottawa, Toronto, and online. When surveyed, 70% of participants strongly agreed that they had a better understanding of patient-centred practice as a result of participating in the program, while 85% strongly agreed that they would recommend the program to another IEHP.
  • a contribution agreement was signed with the Government of Yukon to develop tools to attract IEHPs to the territory, develop an IEHP credential assessment strategy for the territory, and create integration activities to make sure that IEHPs in the Yukon are provided appropriate professional supports.
  • specialized employment coaching services for IEHPs in Prince Edward Island involved more than 300 counselling sessions.
  • a new bridging program for internationally-educated licensed practical nurses was established in Nova Scotia.
  • the Medical Council of Canada, in partnership with federal and provincial governments and other key stakeholders, continues to make strides in developing common approaches to IMG assessment. This work builds on the significant development work already achieved to create a consistent and transparent approach to IMG assessment across the country.
  • sixteen faculties of medicine in Canada are using a multi-media development program to train IMG teachers.

Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Planning Projects Continued/Completed in 2007/08

Health Human Resources Databases Development Project

Amount/ Duration

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

Recipient

The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI)

Objectives

  • Develop national, supply-based databases 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, followed by database development.
  • Collect, process, analyze and publish data from professions.

Anticipated Results Output

  • Improved information (quantity, scope and quality) to support federal-, provincial- and territorial-level HHR management for the five professions.
  • National, supply-based database and reporting systems for the five professions to enhance the capacity for evidence based HHR research and planning.
  • Production and dissemination of five new annual reports, summarizing the data collected.

Contact Information

Deborah Cohen Canadian Institute for Health Information
495 Richmond Road, Suite 600 Ottawa, ON K2A 4H6
Telephone: 613-241-7860 ext 4064
Website: Canadian Institute for Health Information (www.cihi.ca)

Health Cross-Jurisdictional Labour Relations Database (HCJDB)

Amount/ Duration

$367,381 - 2004/05 to 2007/08

Recipient

Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Finance

Project Description

The project created a confidential national database of information on health compensation levels and collective bargaining agreements between health employers and professional associations that governments can use to develop policy and collective bargaining strategies. It includes two separate databases that operate independently, one dedicated to healthcare workers and the other to physicians.

Key Results

  • Establishment and maintenance of the Physician Agreements and the Collective Agreement search engines. Data collection and entry for the Collective Agreement, Comparative Terms and Conditions and Total Compensation surveys for 15 health care worker benchmarks and 23 physician practitioner types.
  • Creation of an on-line tutorial for new users of the reporting tool, thus eliminating the need for one-on-one training.
  • Creation of the" Virtual Machine" to demonstrate the database to new users.

Outcomes

  • More effective means for health employers and governments to understand how their jurisdiction's health compensation levels compare to those in other provinces and territories.
  • Decision makers are better equipped to understand the relative value of their jurisdiction's compensation packages and have better information for developing policies and evidence-based health human resource collective bargaining strategies.

Contact Information

John Davison Government of British Columbia
P.O. Box 9400 Stn Prov Govt Victoria, BC V8W 9V1
Telephone: 250-356-5978
Website: British Columbia Government (www.gov.bc.ca)

La Planification et le développement des ressources humaines francophones dans le domaine de la santé pour les communautés francophones en situation minoritaire 2007-2013

Amount/ Duration

$1,200,000 - 2006/07 to 2011/12

Recipient

Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS)

Project Description

CNFS is implementing the CNFS/ Société Santé en français (SSF) workplan to promote HHR development and planning to meet the current and future needs of French-speaking minority communities in Canada.

Activities

  • Organize meetings for CNFS/SSF Commission, regional, provincial and territorial consultations, including meetings on data research and production.
  • Promote national awareness and collaboration related to the development of data on current and emerging needs.
  • Create an overview of the education system's active and future capacity.
  • Host a national forum on the planning and development of Francophone health human resources.
  • Support CNFS and SSF projects that promote HHR recruitment and retention as well as participation in government and intergovernmental activities.

Anticipated Results Output

  • Increased capacity to align HR planning with current and future community needs;
  • production of data and increased capacity to assess HR needs;
  • greater co-operation between the health system, the educational system and the research community;
  • development of information exchange mechanisms and best practices;
  • improved understanding of the Francophone educational system's capacity;
  • establishment of an overview of how new Francophone training programs will be adjusted to emerging needs and policies; and greater effectiveness in HR recruitment and use.

Success indicators include the number of partnerships and collaborative efforts, analyses and overviews completed, data produced, labour force plans that include Francophone human resources and implementation recommendations.

Results will be disseminated mainly via CNFS communications tools: annual report, newsletter, project evaluation report, and website. The information will be sent to national and provincial organizations interested in this issue.

Contact Information

Consortium national de formation en santé 400 Dalhousie Street, Suite 260 Ottawa, ON K1N 7E4
Telephone: 613-244-7837
Website: Consortium national de formation en santé (www.cnfs.net)

National Physician Survey (NPS)

Amount/ Duration

$300,000 - 2006/07 to 2007/08

Recipient

The Canadian Institute for Health Information

Project Description

The survey was developed to inform health care system planners, stakeholder organizations and educators about physician workforce resource needs, allocations, and supports. It was conducted by the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Canadian Medical Association and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. In 2007, the survey was sent to 70,000 individuals, (all physicians, second year medical residents, and medical students in Canada).

The response rate was 32% for physicians, 27.9% for second year medical residents and 30.08% for medical students. The National Physician Survey NPS' respondent group is representative of all physicians and appears to accurately reflect the overall demographics of the Canadian physician population.

Key Results

  • The survey provides valuable information that has not been collected in any other existing information source on issues such as working hours, locations of practice, types of services offered in different practice settings, and use of injury technology.
  • The survey identifies health workforce issues such as trends, gaps and risks for future health human resource planning.

Outcomes

Survey results are being used in a coordinated, enhanced, updated physician database to inform policy-makers and managers and enhance evidence-based decision-making. The survey also produced an assessment of what physicians in Canada are currently doing, as well as the perspectives of Canada's future physicians in responding to Canadian health care needs.

Contact Information

Canadian Institute for Health Information 495 Richmond Road, Suite 600 Ottawa, ON K2A 4H6
Telephone: 613-241-7860
Website: National Physician Survey (www.nationalphysiciansurvey.ca/nps)

Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice and Healthy Workplace Initiative Projects Continued/Completed in 2007/08

Cultivating Communities of Practice for Collaborative Care

Amount/ Duration

$926,595 - 2006/07 to 2008/09

Recipient

Cancer Care Nova Scotia

Objectives

  • Cultivate a community of practice among health professionals in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island who handle the education of community-based practitioners.
  • Improve collaborative patient-centered practice for those who provide care to oncology patients and their families, including those in First Nations communities.

Activities

  • Develop, deliver and evaluate a competency-based facilitator training program.

    Cultivate a community of practice among those facilitators.
  • Develop shared knowledge, skills and attitudes among participants in Interprofessional Core Curriculum (ICC) modules.
  • Modify the existing oncology ICC to be culturally sensitive for First Nations.
  • Increase patient satisfaction and health practitioners' awareness of and access to existing resources.
  • Engage in knowledge transfer, dissemination and networking activities.
  • Provide opportunities for nursing students to engage in collaborative patient-centered practice.

Anticipated Results

Improved ICC modules.

Output

  • Enhanced competencies for collaborative patient-centred practice among health professionals providing oncology care to patients and families.
  • Improved curriculum for nursing students and improved patient satisfaction. Over 1,400 health care professionals are expected to complete the modules.

Contact Information

Anne Murray Cancer Care Nova Scotia
1278 Tower Road, 5th Floor Bethune Building Halifax, NS B3H 2Y9
Telephone: 1-866-599-2267
Website: Cancer Care Nova Scotia (www.cancercare.ns.ca)

An Innovative National Distance Education Initiative for Interprofessional Practice in Psychosocial Oncology

Amount/ Duration

$749,608 - 2006/07 to 2008/09

Recipient

Capital Health District Authority, Nova Scotia

Objectives

  • Address gaps in formal education in interprofessional psychosocial oncology.
  • Establish a Canadian network of psychosocial oncology educators and researchers.

Activities

  • Environmental scans and national-level focus groups to inform research.
  • An interprofessional, blended learning, psychosocial oncology-focused course in French and English for graduate students.
  • A web-based professional development course for practicing professionals.
  • Local workshops.
  • A national educator/research network.

Anticipated Results Output

  • Increased availability of qualified psychosocial oncology specialists.
  • Increased access for patients and families to interprofessionally educated health care providers.

Contact Information

Deborah McLeod Capital Health District Authority
5820 University Avenue Halifax, NS B3H 1V7
Telephone: 902-473-5757
Website: Capital Health (www.cdha.nshealth.ca)

Projet ECIP: Éducation à la Collaboration Interprofessionnelle centrée sur le Patient

Amount/ Duration

$791,451 - 2006/07 to 2008/09

Recipient

Université de Montréal

Objectives

  • Create model environments for training and practice in collaborative patient-centred care for patients affected by chronic diseases.
  • Develop, among a group of university professors, health care professionals, students, patients and their families, the competencies necessary for collaborative patient-centred practice in chronic disease.
  • Develop, establish and evaluate communities of practice in a clinical setting.
  • Identify and evaluate the key success factors in communities of practice before implementing them in other clinical teams for chronic disease management.

Activities

  • Develop a curriculum and training activities relating to collaborative practice for chronic disease.
  • Establish two communities of practice that allow for learning and collaborative interprofessional care.
  • Establish and evaluate training activities in communities of practice.
  • Develop a community of practice clinical model based on collaborative practice.

Anticipated Results Output

  • Establish practice settings with clinicians, teachers, students, patients and their families linked together.
  • Improved co-operation among the stakeholders, facilitating knowledge transfer and its application into practice.

Contact Information

Hassan Soubhi / Robert Thivierge Université de Montréal Faculté de médecine
C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-ville Montréal QC H3C 3J7
Telephone: 514-340-2800 ext. 3147
Website: Université de Montréal (www.umontreal.ca)

A Process-Oriented Approach to Enhancing Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Relationship Centred Care (PIER)

Amount/ Duration

$612,538 - 2006/07 to 2008/09

Recipient

McMaster University, Faculty of Health Sciences

Objective

Develop and evaluate a process-oriented demonstration project that will enhance interprofessional team function and education from pre-licensure curricula to practice settings.

Activities

  • Create two sub-projects that focus on enhancing patient care and interprofessional learning with two workshops for sharing experiences and best practices.
  • Host an Immersion Conference to involve external participants.
  • Enhance faculty development through a team course provided by external consultants.
  • Create learning narratives that map increments of change.
  • Develop tools to provide demographic scans and a qualitative evaluation of the entire project.

Anticipated Results Output

Enhanced understanding among team members of each other's roles and scopes of practice; increased learning opportunities in project sites; increased quality care; and recruitment of additional partners.

Contact Information

Susan Baptiste 1400 Main Street West, Room 412 Hamilton, ON L8S 1C7
Telephone: 905-525-9140 ext. 27804
Website: McMaster University (http://fhs.mcmaster.ca)

Teaching Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice through the Humanities

Amount/ Duration

$785,979 - 2006/07 to 2008/09

Recipient

Sisters of Charity Organization (SCO) Health Services - Élisabeth Bruyère Research Institute

Objective

  • Increase understanding for preceptors and professors of Humanities in health care, adult education and learning technologies.
  • Improve interprofessional patient-centred teamwork and understanding of collaborative patient-centred care in long-term care, complex continuing care, rehabilitation and palliative care programs at SCO Health Service.
  • Increase understanding for learners at SCO Health Service of Humanities in health care and interprofessional collaborative practice.

Activities

  • Develop a bilingual, replicable Interprofessional Patient-Centred Humanities (IPCH) learning module that will enable the application of learning from the Humanities to patient-centred health care and related interprofessional practice.
  • Create a related preceptor and professor training manual.

Anticipated Results Output

Development of a bilingual, sustainable, and replicable Interprofessional Humanities Learning Module that will assist any level of health professional learner practising in similar clinical practice settings.

Contact Information

Pippa Hall 43 Bruyère Street Ottawa, ON K1N 5C8
Telephone: 613-562-4262 ext. 4013
Website: www.scohs.on.ca

Susan Brajtman 451 Smyth Road, Room 3249C Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5
Telephone: 613-562-5800 ext. 8418
Website: University of Ottawa (www.uottawa.ca)

A University of Manitoba Initiative: Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice

Amount/ Duration

$767,573 - 2006/07 to 2008/09

Recipient

University of Manitoba

Objectives

  • Establish interprofessional groups comprised of faculty and students who value, understand, practice and promote collaborative patient-centred practices with a focus on practice sites in northern and remote communities, particularly those with Inuit and Aboriginal populations as well as under-served populations in Winnipeg.
  • Change values, attitudes, skills, behaviour and culture among participants to improve the quality and safety of patient care while also improving collaboration and patient-centred practice.

Activities

Create a demonstration project. Project phases include:

  • developing awareness through presentations and engaging staff and students;
  • demonstrating effectiveness through electives and preceptors in four practice sites;
  • implementing core curricula into multiple, large- and small-group sessions; and
  • developing a research platform that will address the initiative's sustainability.

Evaluation will take place to assess changes to patient and professional outcomes.

Anticipated Results Output

Create a collaborative base of professionals, which will be an academic resource for ongoing collaboration in education, practice, and research settings.

The project will also engage learners in setting their own expectations for interprofessional collaborative modes of practice at the post-licensure level.

Contact Information

Judy Anderson Faculty of Medicine University of Manitoba
730 William Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3
Telephone: 204-789-3559
Website: University of Manitoba / Medecine (http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/medicine)

Education for Collaborative Patient-Centred Chronic Disease Care

Amount/ Duration

$749,790 - 2006/07 to 2008/09

Recipient

University of New Brunswick

Objectives

  • Develop a model of health care education based on simulated care experiences in chronic disease to that will equip students to work in interprofessional, patient-centred teams.
  • Integrate literature, use case studies and simulated patient care situations into curricula for both pre and post-licensure students and in-practice professionals.
  • Develop a faculty development package that supports the integration of the Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice IECPCP model into curricula and workshops.
  • Identify successful best practices for a sustained interprofessional education and faculty education programs.

Activities

  • Develop an interprofessional workshop.
  • Create a faculty development program.
  • Integrate interprofessional collaborative practice materials into curricula of core programs.
  • Develop a post-licensure program for health professionals in or about to enter a collaborative patient-centred work environment.

Anticipated Results Output

Increase the number of professionals trained in collaborative patient-centred practice, while demonstrating and emphasizing its benefits on the continuum of care in chronic disease.

Contact Information

Keith De'Bell P.O. Box 5050 Saint John, NB E2L 4L5
Telephone: 506-648-5577
Website: University of New Brunswick (http://unbsj.ca)

Interprofessional Disaster/Emergency Action Studies (IDEAS)

Amount/ Duration

$844,210 - 2006/07 to 2008/09

Recipient

Centennial College

Objectives

  • Improve interprofessional team performance in patient-centred practice and increase the perceived efficiency of health care systems in a disaster/emergency or pandemic situation.
  • Develop a competency-based interprofessional curriculum for disaster/emergency preparedness.
  • Implement and assess the curriculum's impact on the ability of health care and first responders to work collaboratively to deliver care.
  • Assess the effect of interprofessional collaboration curriculum on student earning, and whether the knowledge and skills obtained translate into sustained professional practice.

Activities

  • Produce a competency-based curriculum to support pre-licensure students in interprofessional education.
  • Establish a web-based model to deliver and track integrated interprofessional education and disaster/emergency studies.
  • Use a disaster/emergency simulation to assess team learning needs.
  • Develop a high-fidelity disaster/emergency simulation to assess team performance.
  • Provide faculty training.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of the project.

Anticipated Results Output

  • Improved student readiness for interprofessional education and performance within a collaborative patient-centred team.
  • Enhanced transferability and sustainability of interprofessional education skills in the practice setting.
  • Improve perceived system efficiency through the integration of student teams in disaster/emergency preparedness plans.

Contact Information

Renee Kenny P.O. Box 631, Station A Scarborough ON M1K 5E9
Telephone: 416-289-5000 ext. 8070
Website: Centennial College (www.centennialcollege.ca)

Creating Interprofessional Collaborative Teams for Comprehensive Mental Health Services

Amount/ Duration

$773,000 - 2006/07 to 2008/09

Recipient

University of Western Ontario

Objectives

  • Facilitate interprofessional collaborative mental health care in both education and practice settings.
  • Socialize faculty, students and practitioners in client-centred interprofessional collaborative practice focusing on mental health services to vulnerable populations by stimulating networking and sharing of best education approaches.
  • Increase the number of educators and health professionals trained in interprofessional collaborative practice.

Activities

  • Annual half-day retreat for student leaders, community partners, consumers, and faculty members.
  • Organize and develop workshops and simulation exercises for students.
  • Develop online modules for self-directed problem-based learning.
  • Develop curriculum that teaches interprofessional collaborative care and team collaboration in community settings.

Anticipated Results Output

Create a sustainable infrastructure and curriculum to support interprofessional education and practice through training faculty, students and community partners, including providing services to the homeless and other disadvantaged groups.

Contact Information

Cheryl Forchuk / Evelyn Vingilis 1151 Richmond Street, Suite 2 London, ONN6A 5B8
Telephone: 519-858-8500 ext. 77034 / 519-858-5063
Website: University of Western Ontario (http://uwo.ca)

Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative (CIHC)

Amount/ Duration

$1,654,806 - 2006/07 to 2008/09

Recipient

University of British Columbia

Objective

Develop a pan-Canadian collaboration of Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice (IECPCP) partners, in order to:

  • promote and demonstrate the benefits of IECPCP;
  • stimulate networking and sharing of best practices;
  • facilitate collaboration in both education and practice;
  • establish areas for further research; and
  • facilitate knowledge translation in the receptor communities, such as government, to facilitate evidence-based decision making.

Activities

Pursue collaborative, best practice identification and sharing, and knowledge translation with deliverables that include: the creation of a CIHC, with a component to support interprofessional students' efforts across Canada; establish key research questions; develop and implement a best practice dissemination framework including a website and listserv; host two national IECPCP best practice workshops; and translate the knowledge to receptor communities, such as practice settings.

Anticipated Results Output

  • lmproved collegial sharing and exchange in the area of IECPCP.
  • More effective translation and uptake of the research findings emanating from Cycle One and Two IECPCP projects making the IECPCP initiative a pan-Canadian effort and increasing the reach of the federal government's investment in IECPCP.

Contact Information

John Gilbert University of British Columbia
400-2194 Health Sciences Mall Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3
Telephone: 604-562-1492
Website: University of British Columbia (http://ubc.ca)

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

Amount/ Duration

$1,109,682 - 2003/04 to 2007/08

Recipient

Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC)

Project Description

The five year project supported medical schools in creating educational initiatives related to hospice, palliative and end-of-life care (EOL).

Key Results

  • Developed consensus-based palliative and EOL care core competencies for undergraduate trainees in medicine and for postgraduate trainees in key clinical specialty areas (e.g., internal medicine, paediatrics, surgery, medical and radiation oncology, family medicine, critical care, emergency care).
  • Undergraduate and postgraduate interdisciplinary teams were developed to examine curriculum of all medical schools and included educators in nursing, social work and pharmacy.
  • Educational symposiums were held and discussed a range of issues including the integration of palliative and end-of-life questions into licensing and certification examinations.
  • Established mentors and supported local interdisciplinary curriculum change teams.
    Developed and implemented faculty development programs for palliative and EOL care faculty and educators.

Outcomes

Created a model for incorporating palliative and EOL competencies in the training of medical students. The model could be adapted to meet the training needs of nurses, pharmacists, social workers, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

Contact Information

Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada 265 Carling Avenue, Suite 800 Ottawa, ON K1S 2E1
Telephone: 613-730-0687
Website: Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (www.afmc.ca)

Patient-Centred Care: Better Training for Better Collaboration

Amount/ Duration

$1,169,245 - 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

Laval University, Faculty of Medicine

Project Description

Establish, test and assess a learner-centred integrated interprofessional education program, in order to develop a collaborative patient-centred practice in Francophone primary care practice settings in the Quebec City and surrounding areas.

The education program was a continuum of multi-faculty activities comprising three training components and one self-training support component using information and communication technologies in both clinical and academic settings.

Key Results

  • Developed three new undergraduate interfaculty courses (one credit each), for 11 classes within seven disciplinary programs.
  • Developed a practical training program for key audiences (professionals, supervisors, residents and interns).
  • Developed a continuing education model, which includes strategies for working as an interprofessional team for primary care and patient-centred care.
  • Created an educational website including a virtual reference centre.

Outcomes

Results demonstrate satisfaction on the part of the learners and a perception that their skills, knowledge and attitude to interprofessional patient-centred training and collaboration have improved.

The training program developed be implemented in other primary care settings.

A working committee has been established on the implementation of a permanent structure to develop training and research on interprofessional collaboration practices in health care at Laval University and in its network of partner institutions.

Contact Information

Faculty of Family Medicine Laval University
Ferdinand Vandry Hall Quebec, QC G1K 7P4
Telephone: 418-656-2131 ext. 8576
Website: Université Laval (www.fipac.fmed.ulaval.ca)

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

Project Description

Collaboration brought together students and faculty from within the schools of the Faculty of Medicine (the Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Communication Sciences and Disorders), and clinicians from the teaching hospitals of McGill University to address the development of interprofessional education (IPE) and practice directed towards patient and family-centered care.

Important facets of the project included:

  • offering a variety of resources and tools to facilitate interprofessional training in order to support the development of attitudes, knowledge, and skills necessary to work with other health care professionals;
  • creation of interprofessional training programs and expansion of clinical mentoring programs to improve interprofessional training; and
  • evolution of clinical practice settings focused on implementing interprofessional practice models for comprehensive patient-centred care.

Key Results

  • Establishment of a Joint IPE Curriculum Committee which included the Program Directors from all Canadian schools with the faculty of Medicine.
  • Mapping of the academic and the clinical curricula of the professional schools, specifying content of common interest for students in the different professions, determining the time, resources and space required to implement an IPE curriculum and implementing four IPE workshops for students from McGill's faculty of Medicine.
  • Common educational experiences for university and clinically-based educators on topics that relate to IPE.

Outcomes

  • Increased understanding of interprofessional best practices by surveying professionals in various clinical settings deemed by their peers as demonstrating exemplar interprofessional practice.
  • Increased interprofessional collaboration among students, health care providers and clinical faculty teachers in the academic and clinical settings.
  • Increased buy-in and commitment of leaders within academic and clinical settings, including students and patient representatives, to advance IPE and Interprofessional Practice.

Contact Information

Margaret Purden School of Nursing McGill University
1110 Pine Avenue West Montreal, QC H3A 1A3
Telephone: 514-398-2417
Website: McGill Educational Initiative on Interprofessional Collaboration(www.interprofessionalcare.mcgill.ca)

Institute of Interprofessional Health Sciences Education

Amount/ Duration

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

Recipient

Council of Ontario Universities

Project Description

The Institute of Interprofessional Health Sciences Education (IIHSE) was created as a virtual network of expertise to develop knowledge, skills and attitudes, and to promote cultural change, in health science students and clinicians. The IIHSE includes McMaster University, University of Western Ontario, Laurentian University, University of Ottawa and the Council of Ontario Universities.

The goal of the project was to facilitate interprofessional collaboration (IPC) in educational and practice settings through web-based and team-based learning activities.

Key Results

Development and evaluation of eight online modules for pre-licensure health sciences students and one set of four modules on team development for those in clinical practice. Modules focused on foundational skills (e.g. communication, ethics and evidence-based practice) and more specific practice issues (e.g. palliative care, aboriginal health, community practice and health promotion)

The modules are being made available to Canadian universities to help improve student interprofessional skills in patient-centred care.

Participants included 156 students from 10 different professions and 27 clinicians. Over 50 faculty developed and/or facilitated the modules.

Outcomes

  • Creation of interprofessional education and practice champions within the participating academic institutions and health care agencies, including more faculty prepared to facilitate IPC in learners, aiding a culture shift towards interprofessionalism at participating institutions and practice sites.
  • Interest from other institutions to view the content for potential application into their own websites.
  • Enhanced visibility and viability of the Institute.
  • Reaffirmation of the intra and inter-institutional collaborative approach to module development.

Contact Information

Patty Solomon School of Rehabilitation Science McMaster University
1400 Main St., Rm. 310D Hamilton, ON L8S 1C7
Telephone: 905-525-9140 ext. 27820
Website: Institute for Interprofessional Health Sciences Education(www.iihse.ca)

Interprofessional Education for Geriatric Care (IEGC Program)

Amount/ Duration

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

Recipient

University of Manitoba, Faculty of Pharmacy

Project Description

The program worked with current and future health care professionals in community-based geriatric settings to develop collaborative patient-centred practices.

Advanced trained pre-licensure learners from medicine, nursing, pharmacy, occupational and physical therapy worked together during their clinical placements at three geriatric day hospital sites.

Early in project implementation the IEGC team identified the need to meet the interprofessional education needs of 3 groups of learners: (1) senior pre-licensure students, (2) faculty champions from the five participating disciplines, and (3) the three geriatric day hospital clinical teams who served as mentors for student teams.

Key Results

  • Between January 2006 and March 2008: 11 interprofessional clinical placements involved 11 students, seven clinical team preceptors and staff, and five faculty champions. The placements led to 87 interventions with patients.
  • Knowledge translation under the program included oral and poster presentations, meetings at the national and international levels, meetings with representatives from government, universities, institutions and regions.
  • The Interprofessional Education in Clinical Settings: A Facilitators Guide was produced.

Outcomes

  • Increased awareness/knowledge of benefits of using interprofessional teams by students, faculty, clinical teams, university administration, government, and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.
  • A three year University of Manitoba Interprofessional Education Strategy (2008-2011).
  • Increased University of Manitoba student involvement in the National Health Science Students' Association (NaSSHA) and the development of a Manitoba Health Sciences' Students Association.
  • Three emerging collaborative learning environments in clinical settings.
  • Transferable educational strategies to other clinical settings and contexts.

Contact Information

Ruby Grymonpre Faculty of Pharmacy University of Manitoba
50 Sifton Road Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2
Telephone: 204-474-6014
Website: University of Manitoba - Interprofessional Education for Geriatric Care (www.umanitoba.ca/outreach/iegc)

Building Capacity and Fostering System Change

Amount/ Duration

$1,216,000 - 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

University of British Columbia (UBC), College of Health Disciplines

Project Description

The Interprofessional Network of British Columbia (In-BC) is a partnership among health and post-secondary education organizations and is facilitated by the College and the British Columbia Academic Health Council. A provincial steering committee and working groups on curriculum, communications and evaluation direct In-BC's activities.

Key Results

  • Access to online interprofessional resources (e.g. learning modules, videos, collaborative competencies, etc) for students, preceptors/health professionals, educators, health care managers and others.
  • BC Competency Framework for Interprofessional Collaboration developed by the College is being used as a foundation for interprofessional curriculum development in BC.
  • Champions for interprofessional education (IPE) and collaboration are in place across BC.
  • In April 2008, In-BC received one-time funding of $335,000 from the B.C. Ministry of Health to continue key activities, undertake a provincial consultation, and develop a business plan for future IPE and collaboration in the province.
  • Partnership with Western provinces has been established and joint proposal submitted to CIHR to undertake a literature synthesis and examination of the IECPCP projects across BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba to more explicitly link IPE and collaborative practice to health human resource solutions.

Outcomes

  • A multi-level provincial/regional/local network approach provided a powerful approach to system change.
  • Significant synergy was attained through linking interprofessional education with students (e.g. pre-licensure) and with health professionals (e.g. post-licensure) in the practice setting.
  • Increased numbers of interprofessional committees and planning groups are in place in health authorities and post-secondary institutions in BC.
  • Growing numbers of interprofessional collaborative learning units are being established.
  • Continuing dialogue is underway to link with key groups in the province, including regulatory bodies, health care leaders, with health care priorities, such as patient safety, to foster the uptake of "lessons learned" and synergy across initiatives.
  • Continued partnership is facilitated through the Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative.

Contact Information

Lesley Bainbridge College of Health Discipline University of British Columbia
2194 Health Sciences Mall Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3
Telephone: 604-230-2524
Website: Interprofessional Network of British Columbia (www.in-bc.ca)

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

Amount/ Duration

$1,111,631 - 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

Calgary Health Region, Research Initiatives in Nursing & Health

Project Description

This project focused on the development, implementation and evaluation of interprofessional (IP) learning environments for students and practitioners through communities of practice and IP mentoring.

Calgary Health Region, in partnership with the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, Capital Health, SAIT Polytechnic, Bow Valley College and Mount Royal College created an alternative model to preceptorship focusing on lateral mentoring within an interprofessional environment.

Key Results

Two hundred and ten students from 10 different disciplines participated; most were nursing students from Mount Royal College and the University of Calgary. Seven urban and rural practice sites across Alberta participated, all of which were successful in developing interprofessional communities of practice (CoP) and implementing practice changes, focussed on communication or admission/discharge processes, to strengthen collaboration.

Outcomes

  • The interprofessional communities of practice IP CoP approach enhanced provider relationships, improved coordination of patient care and created a more positive work environment.
  • IP mentoring enhanced student's placement experiences and furthered their IP competencies.
  • The IP competencies most affected were: knowledge of roles, communication skills, and collaboration skills. The students gained an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of other professions. They also used language appropriate to their target audience and engaged in shared goal setting and decision making, thereby gaining a better appreciation of the importance of collaborative practice.
  • Admission and discharge information processes were improved and eliminated unnecessary or duplicated documentation.
  • Through relationship building and ongoing dialogue, a greater awareness of IP education and its potential benefits led to involvement in IP activities that were not part of the initial scope of the project.
  • This project demonstrated that both CoP and IP mentoring can support IP collaboration among healthcare providers and students.

Contact Information

Esther Suter Calgary Health Region
10101 Southport Road South West Calgary, AB T2W 3N2
Telephone: 403-943-0183
Website: Interprofessional Education and Practice (www.interprofessionalalberta.ca)

Patient-Centred Interprofessional Team Experiences (P-CITE)

Amount/ Duration

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

Recipient

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

Project Description

P-CITE program was designed to advance interprofessional education and collaborative practice throughout Saskatchewan with a primary focus on health professional students in classroom, problem-based and clinical settings. The academic programming was built around health issues of mental health in children and youth, chronic illness in middle-aged adults, the transition from hospital to community among elders, and community health in Aboriginal communities. The program's ultimate goal was to support activities that would positively impact the health of communities, families and individuals across the province.

Key Results

  • P-CITE funded 47 innovative interprofessional initiatives engaging students in academic institutions and community settings across Saskatchewan . These initiatives involved over 6,100 students from 29 health profession and health human service programs at the University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina, First Nations University of Canada and Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology.
  • Over 350 participants attended 20 faculty workshops or learning events supported by P-CITE to increase awareness, understanding and skills related to interprofessional education.

Outcomes

  • P-CITE served as a catalyst for interprofessional education in Saskatchewan, especially for students and faculty.
  • It increased awareness, support and opportunities for interprofessional education in Saskatchewan.
  • It sparked an infusion of energy and collaborative efforts to advance interprofessional education and facilitated an improvement in health services through interprofessional education.

Contact Information

Liz Harrison University of Saskatchewan
1121 College Dr. Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W3
Telephone: 306-966-6579
Website: Interprofessional Health Collaborative of Saskatchewan (http://www.usask.ca/ipe/)

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

Project Description

Project was developed as part of collaborations involving the Faculties of Medicine and Education, the Schools of Social Work, Nursing and Pharmacy, and Memorial's Counselling Centre. The goal was to expand and promote interprofessional education (IPE) activities in education and practice settings and thereby enhance the collaborative patient-centred practice competencies of learners and practitioners in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Key Results

  • One thousand one hundred undergraduate students per year participated in IPE modules and learning blocks. They came from four faculties at Memorial University, St. John's Campus, the Centre for Nursing Studies and the Western Regional School of Nursing.
  • Over 300 participants attended 18 Interprofessional Collaboration workshops in eastern and western region of the province. Participants included medical residents and practitioners in medicine, nursing, and allied health professions.
  • One hundred and twenty seven individuals from six different rural communities, representing 15 different professions participated in the Rural Mental Health Interprofessional Training Program.
  • One hundred and fifty potential mentors/supervisors were trained in 19 preceptor orientation sessions held across the province.
  • One hundred and thirty key stakeholders from across the province attended a one-day interprofessional health education symposium.

Outcomes

  • Project led to establishing an active chapter of the National Health Sciences Students' Association.
  • A proposal has been made to the provincial government by Memorial University to establish a College of Interprofessional Health and Community Services.
  • Other activities will contribute to sustaining and building IPE in the province, including the continued delivery of selected curriculum modules and blocks, funding to support key project management and evaluation staff and implementation of a plan to enhance interprofessional learning across practice-based learning sites.

Contact Information

Dennis Sharpe / Vernon Curran Centre for Collaborative Health Professional Education Memorial University 300 Prince Philip Drive Room H2091 St.John's, NL A1B 3V6
Telephone: 709-777-7542
Website: Memorial University Newfoundland and Labrador, Centre for Collaborative Health Professional Education (www.med.mun.ca/cchpe/iecpcp.asp)

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

Amount/ Duration

$1,208,400 - 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

Queen's University

Project Description

The project's goal was to create an interprofessional education (IPE) environment at Queen's University that would enhance the ability of learners and faculty to provide patient-centered care, while recognizing the contribution of the health care team within a respectful and collaborative framework. Its objectives were to: promote and demonstrate the benefits of IPE for collaborative patient-centered practice (CPCP); increase the number of educators prepared to teach from an interprofessional collaborative patient-centred perspective; increase the number of health professionals educated for CPCP before and after entry-to-practice; stimulate networking and scholarships regarding the best educational approaches for CPCP; and facilitate interprofessional collaborative care in both the education and practice settings.

Key Results

  • Development and piloting of the Collaborative Practice Assessment Tool (CPAT) to assess the degree to which teams collaborate effectively and identify key areas to target for educational workshops to enhance CPCP.
  • Approximately 1,400 pre-licensure and 200 post licensure learners participated in at least one Queen's University Interprofessional Patient-Centred Education Direction QUIPPED interprofessional activity.
  • Tools exploring and demonstrating differences in students' perception and attitudes towards interprofessional learning initiatives found that attitudes about interprofessional collaboration differed significantly between students from medicine, nursing, occupational therapy and physical therapy.
  • Over 25 peer-reviewed abstracts were accepted and presented by QUIPPED investigators and 14 by students.

Outcomes

  • Clinical health care providers are creating innovative ways to improve their own interprofessional team functioning, and encouraging students to learn with other professionals.
  • The culture at Queen's University changed towards the recognition that IPE is valued and sustainable.
  • Changes within the Faculty of Health Science include 45 more faculty prepared to teach from an IPE perspective; an office of Interprofessional Education and Practice has received provincial funding; more students are involved in IP initiatives; faculty are involved in IPE committees, an increasing number of consumers volunteered for IPE activities; and an IPE Rubric Committee was established to create IP curricula.

Contact Information

Jennifer Medves Faculty of Health Sciences
Queen's University 92 Barrie Street Kingston, ON K7L 3N6
Telephone: 613-533-6000 ext. 74740
Website: Queen's University Inter-professional Patient-Centred Education Direction (http://meds.queensu.ca/quipped)

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 Description

SCRIPT provided the first successful research opportunity for the University of Toronto's Council of Health Science Deans (CHSD) and the Toronto Academic Health Sciences Network (TAHSN) to partner to advance the evidence base for Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient Centred Practice. The Programme transformed clinical teaching units (CTUs) across TAHSN towards interprofessional, collaborative patient-centred practice and provided constructive environments for teaching students best practices of how to work collaboratively in Primary Care, General Internal Medicine (GIM), and Rehabilitation Care. This inter-institution, interfaculty, interprofessional project aimed to transform culture; assess needs; develop IPE interventions including creating tools and training staff; implement and study innovations; and sustain change.

Key Results

  • The SCRIPT GIM Collaboration Survey was developed to evaluate perceptions of collaboration within health care teams with potential for widespread use.
  • A professional development intervention aimed at advancing communication and collaboration in primary care settings has shown good results for sustainable impact and could provide a framework for broader use.
  • A rehabilitation care intervention was developed and highlights key issues related to structure, roles and routines of interprofessional collaboration.
  • A mandatory IPE curriculum will be started in the fall of 2009 for all health sciences students at the University of Toronto.

Outcomes

  • Progress on a cultural shift in the way health professionals learn and practice.
  • Additional research grants to team members are leveraging the success of the SCRIPT Programme and providing opportunities to further test its outputs.
  • The SCRIPT Program launched a systematic approach to change, advancing IECPCP at one of the largest academic health sciences networks in the country.
  • The project contributed new knowledge about the way communication and collaboration is experienced by health care providers within and across different health care settings.

Contact Information

Ivy Oandasan University of Toronto
399 Bathurst Street 2nd floor, West Wing Toronto, ON M5T 3S1
Telephone: 416-603-5800 ext. 5119
Website: University of Toronto, Office of Interprofessional Education (http://ipe.utoronto.ca/initiatives/ipc/script)

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

Amount/ Duration

$1,071,248 - 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

Dalhousie University

Project Description

Dalhousie has had a mandatory interprofessional learning (IPL) education program for pre-licensure health professional students in place since 1997.

Each year, over 3,900 students across 22 independent health professionals attend the classroom based modules. Seamless Care , a partnership between Dalhousie University and the Capital District Health Authority, Nova Scotia, extends this IPL program by seeking to develop a viable interprofessional education intervention to clinical settings.

Key Results

  • Involved five faculties: nursing, pharmacy, medicine, dentistry and dental hygienists.
  • Three tools were developed during this project: a student handbook; a student workbook; and a Patient Self Management Tool. The first two tools facilitated the participation of students and the third tool helped patients identify personal goals and evaluated their confidence level and ability to achieve those goals.
  • Five research instruments were developed and tested (a Self-efficacy for Interprofessional Experiential Learning Scale, a Self-efficacy for Facilitating Interprofessional Experiential Learning Scale (SEFIEL), a Team Reflective Exercise, a Patient Self-Management Scale, and an adapted Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale).

Outcomes

  • Improved student self-efficacy for interprofessional collaborative practice.
  • Improved faculty self-efficacy to facilitate learning for interprofessional collaborative practice.
  • Increased understanding of the patient experience of living with a chronic illness.
  • An understanding of appropriate methods for faculty and student development in interprofessional collaborative practice.
  • It was determined through this project that experiential interprofessional education is effective. When placed together in the clinical setting, the students learned with, from and about each other.
  • The project also provided an opportunity to gather information about patient needs in transition care and suggested how an interprofessional team could support patients in developing capacity for their own self-management of care.

Contact Information

Judy McFetridge-Durdle School of Nursing Dalhousie University
5869 University Avenue Halifax, NS B3H 4H7
Telephone: 902-494-2982
Website: Dalhousie University Seamless Care Interprofessional Education (http://seamlesscare.dal.ca)

Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Healthy Workplace Program

Amount/ Duration

$305,246 - 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA)

Project Description

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. Focus includes identifying organizational and individual employee health risks using an electronic Health Risk Appraisal (HRA) tool, and subsequently developing supports and interventions to reduce these risks, promote employee health, and improve the retention and recruitment of health human resources.

Key Results

  • Obtained and implemented an on-line automated HRA tool.
  • Introduced wellness activities across WRHA to address specific health risks identified by the HRA tool.
  • Created a Regional Healthy Workplace Advisory Network and workplace wellness teams at participating sites.
  • Twenty of 23 sites within the WRHA have wellness committees and six of 23 sites have employee health and wellness incorporated into their strategic plans.
  • A Peer Conflict Coaching program was implemented and sustained (50 peer coaches trained in year one).

Outcomes

  • The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority built capacity and accelerated the development of healthy workplace strategies across participating sites.
  • The project led to a consistent approach to a wellness and employee engagement infrastructure with sustained momentum.
  • The WRHA will sustain the HRA as its primary tool for measuring wellness and employee engagement.
  • The HRA tool is adaptable for use at other sites with changes to demographics and resource customization.

Contact Information

Kim Warner / Sherry Mooney Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
1800-155 Carlton Street Winnipeg, MB R3C 4Y1
Telephone: 204-787-8944
Website: Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (www.wrha.mb.ca)

Kailo Workplace Wellness Program

Amount/ Duration

$396,938 - 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

Halton Healthcare Services

Project Description

Kailo is a hospital-based employee wellness initiative originally developed at Mercy Medical Center in North Iowa and replicated at Halton Healthcare. It is a non-traditional worksite wellness initiative adopting a psychosocial and spiritual framework to address the needs of staff. Key programs/activities included "Kailo breaks" (presentations on psychosocial topics), "Kailo to Go" (inservices provided directly to departments), "Kailo for One" (one on one support) and mini-massages.

Key Results

  • Improvement in perceived health by employees (3 to 4%).
  • Increase in perceived patient safety culture (10%).
  • Overall improvement in staff satisfaction (61% in 2004 to 63.8% in 2006).
  • Two out of every five Kailo participants reported improvements in their personal health and quality of work life.
  • A third of all Kailo participants indicated making personal life changes.
  • Eighty three percent of staff reported improved ability to cope with stress at work after using Kailo for One.
  • Program Logic Model and evaluation tools developed in cooperation with Metrics@Work, formerly known as Workplace Health Research Laboratory, at Brock University ).

Outcomes

  • Created awareness of health as a function of well-being, built trust and improved relationships among employees.
  • Integrated employee health with other organizational initiatives.
  • May serve as a model for other organizations wishing to implement a holistic approach to health promotion.

Contact Information

Anna Rizzotto / Bonnie Harrow Halton Healthcare Services
327 Reynolds Street Oakville, ON L6J 3L7
Telephone: 905-338-4690
Website: Halton Healthcare Services (www.haltonhealthcare.com)

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

Amount/ Duration

$309,949 - 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

Victorian Order of Nurses

Project Description

Project examined the impact of the workplace on the recruitment and retention of nurses in Canadian home and community settings.

Activities included a literature review on factors affecting healthy work environments for nurses, a case study report examining the work environment and practices for nurses in five locations across Canada, interviews to determine challenges facing Aboriginal communities and a volunteer focus group report that examined the current work environment for volunteers and interactions they have with nurses.

Key Results

Project produced three reports:

  • Issues Related to Healthy Workplaces and Recruitment and Retention of Home and Community Care Nurses: A Synthesis Paper
  • The Home and Community Care Sector: A Good Place for Nurses to Work? Case Studies from 5 organizations across Canada
  • The Unique Relationship between Volunteers and Nurses in the Community (focus group report based on 50 participants).

In general, the study found that homecare nurses find job satisfaction in their ability to practice independently and deliver direct patient care, and that volunteer contributions in homecare are highly valued.

Key issues associated with the work environment for home and community care nurses included: pay equity, job security, work schedule and workload, workplace safety, effective teams and clinical support and adequate orientation, mentorship and professional development.

Important work environment issues for volunteers included: education and training (not just on-the-job training), workplace safety, interaction with nurses, recognition and respect.

Outcomes

Study identified several successful strategies that are currently being implemented by home and community nursing organizations across the country and proposed strategies to strengthen current workplace practices.

It is expected that these approaches will lead to a healthy work environment and increase the ability to recruit and retain qualified health care providers.

Contact Information

Jane MacDonald Victorian Order of Nurses
110 Argyle Avenue Ottawa, ON K2P 1B4
Telephone: 613-233-8825 ext. 2280
Website: Victorian Order of Nurses (www.von.ca)

Quality of Worklife Project

Amount/ Duration

$343,442 - 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

East Central Health

Project Description

In 2000, East Central Health (ECH) determined its absenteeism rate was 25 percent above the regional average over the previous two years. Using facilitators, front-line interdisciplinary teams and managers, positive and negative aspects of work settings were identified and a plan was developed.

Strategic goals included:

  • reducing absenteeism related to psychological illness by reducing
  • contributing factors in the work setting;
  • increasing staff morale as measured by staff;
  • improving information flow in the workplace;
  • improving retention and recruitment of rural staff;
  • increasing the capacity of staff to deal with stress and conflict; and
  • empowering individuals to make decisions in their work area by creating a culture of trust, respect and safety.

Key Results

  • Trained front-line staff on effective communication, stress reduction and how to deal with issues in the workplace (over 80 hours). Feedback from staff indicated they appreciated the information.
  • Developing sessions in team building and conflict resolution based on site feedback.
  • Created a personal assessment tool to identify morale issues and develop strategies to resolve them.
  • Provided education sessions on dealing with stress.
  • Expanded 'Lunch and Learn' sessions.

Outcomes

Improved indicators of quality of worklife (e.g. reduced use 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
Website: East Central Health Region (www.ech.ab.ca)

A Healthy Workplace Best Practice Initiative

Amount/ Duration

$301,928 - 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

West Park Health Centre, in partnership with Niagara Health System, Saint Elizabeth Health Care and Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Canada.

Project Description

Partnership worked collaboratively with the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) to pilot, implement and evaluate the RNAO Healthy Workplace Environment Best Practice Guideline (BPG): Developing and Sustaining Nursing Leadership.

Key Results

  • Assessed, selected, and implemented leadership strategies in participating sites. Based on recommendations outlined in the BPG:
  • Developed and piloted educational sessions for permanent charge nurses within the Niagara Health System (92% of participants were very satisfied or satisfied with the sessions).
  • Saint Elizabeth Health Care initiatives included dissemination of knowledge through workshops to executives/supervisors. Project allowed for nurse leaders to implement structural and process outcomes to improve learning plans, leadership training, personal development, mentorship opportunities and clarify scopes of responsibility.
  • VON created a program to create Performance Enhancement Plans with nurses. Over 175 plans were completed. Plans included topics such as optimizing client contact, accuracy and timeliness in report completion, quality of voice mails, accuracy in completing client records at home and professional development plans. VON also hosted a two-day workshop entitled: "Focused, Aligned, Competent, Engaged Performance Management" (FACE), which focused on techniques to enhance employee accountability/commitment and the use of systematic data to manage employee performance. Ninety seven percent of the participants said they intended on using the skills learned at the workshop at their workplace and 84% said they believe the training would help them improve service delivery to patients.
  • West Park Health Centre (WPHC) implemented a staff wellness program and primary nursing initiative based on feedback from a questionnaire. WPHC realigned their organizational structure to incorporate new committees such as a Professional Standards and Issues Committee and provided education and supports to enable enhanced decision-making with a focus on shared governance.

Outcomes

Key healthy workplace evidence-based practices and processes that can be used in a variety of settings.

Contact Information

Kathleen Heslin West Park Healthcare Centre
82 Buttonwood Avenue Toronto, ON M6M 2J5
Telephone: 416-243-3600
Website: West Park HealthCare Centre (www.westpark.org)

Inter-Hospital Action-Research Program on Work Climate

Amount/ Duration

$409,740 - 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

McGill University Health Centre

Project Description

Implemented a continuous work climate assessment and improvement procedure to be used by health organizations.

Key Results

  • Conducted two scientific surveys (pre-test and post-test) in partner institutions.
  • Identified the types of work climate improvement strategies that produce the best results, according to the context.
  • Assessed the work climate's impact on HR results (e.g. absenteeism, retention rate) and on patients (e.g. satisfaction, complaints).

Outcomes

Research showed that an improved work climate has positive impacts on job satisfaction, commitment to work and the institution, work attendance, average length of stay and medication error rate.

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
Website: McGill University Health Centre (www.muhc.ca)

MRHA Workplace Wellness Initiative

Amount/ Duration

$295,238 2005/06 to 2007/08

Recipient

Miramichi Regional Health Authority

Project Description

Created a workplace wellness program to improve the health of 1,200 MRHA employees based on data obtained from the findings of a wellness assessment tool.

Key Results

  • Improved the health of MRHA employees through small steps, including physical activity, healthy eating, tobacco reduction or cessation and mental fitness.
  • Promoted wellness through a variety of tools: internal message system, posters, emails, phone conversations, presentations and monthly meetings.
  • Encouraged active living through physical activity challenges with staff such as walk challenges.
  • Introduced a wellness assessment tool with measurable outcomes. It allowed for an Employee Wellness Profile, which included assessments of risk of cardiovascular disease and levels of stress. Of the employees who were reassessed and counselled: 50% had lower blood sugar, blood cholesterol, body mass index and reported having decreased stress.
  • Created awareness among staff that healthier lifestyle choices are accessible and achievable.

Outcomes

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
Website: Miramichi Regional Health Authority (http://rha7.ca/index_en.html)

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

Amount/ Duration

$1,299,500 - 2004/05 to 2008/09

Recipient

Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA).

The Quality Worklife - Quality Healthcare Collaborative (QWQHC) seeks to 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 comprises 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

Includes work of the Coordinating Secretariat (through CCHSA), Steering Committee and Working Groups and, through a full-time coordinator, developing website and providing ongoing communication, creating a virtual clearinghouse for innovative human resource practices, as well as related administrative functions.

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
Website: Quality Worklife Quality Healthcare Collaborative (www.qwqhc.ca)

Recruitment and Retention Projects Initiated/Continued/Completed in 2007/08

Patient Simulation: An Educational Tool for Safety

Amount/ Duration

$300,000 - 2007/08 to 2008/09

Recipient

Canadian Patient Safety Institute

Objectives

  • Establish a national coordinating/oversight group to promote the use of patient simulation in Canada, and provide a means of communication and sharing of education and business resources for Canadian patient simulation centres.
  • Partner with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada to collaborate with health care colleges and other stakeholders to promote simulation in standard setting and the assessment of health care workers.

Activities

  • Create a pan-Canadian framework to broker information and share best practices.
  • Develop and maintain a website with web repository capabilities for information sharing.
  • Collect simulation education scenarios and business simulation templates and guidelines for dissemination among health care profession colleges.
  • Promote simulation by bringing together interprofessional stakeholders, including regulatory authorities, and certifying and accrediting bodies to discuss the inclusion of simulation in educational standards of training.
  • Develop an interprofessional training program for professional educators to utilize simulation in both academic and community settings.

Anticipated Results Output

  • Creation of a national coordinating body to facilitate knowledge exchange and share business resources.
  • Improved education and training of clinicians.
  • Identification of key benefits of patient simulation and how patient simulation can improve patient safety in the Canadian health care system.

Contact Information

Joseph Grebran Canadian Patient Institute
10235, 101 Street Edmonton, AB T5J 3G1
Telephone: 1-866-421-6933
Website: Canadian Patient Safety Institute (www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca)

The Future of Medical Education

Amount/ Duration

$786,000 - 2007/08 to 2008/09

Recipient

Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC)

Objective

Conduct a thorough review of medical education in Canada based on current and future needs in order to promote excellence in patient care by reforming the medical education system, across the continuum, where necessary and essential.

Activities

  • Conduct a thorough environmental scan, literature review and key stakeholder interviews.
  • Engage experts in a strategic consultation process leading to a collective vision of the medical education system and shared goals and objectives to achieve that vision.
  • Consult with a Blue Ribbon Panel and Young Leaders Forum that will represent disciplines, both within and outside the health sector. They will contribute to the visioning and objective-setting aspects of the project.
  • Consult with a Data Needs and Access Group (DNAG), representing data users and suppliers, to ensure that planners and decisions makers are supported by relevant information on an ongoing basis.
  • Analyse trends and literature to produce recommendations through consultation with the Blue Ribbon Panel, Young Leaders Forum and DNAG.

Anticipated Results Output

The project will culminate in a national stakeholder meeting to build consensus, confirm priorities and advance strategies to renewing Canada's medical education system.

Contact Information

Nick Busing Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada
265 Carling Avenue, Suite 800 Ottawa, ON K1S 2E1
Telephone: 613-730-0687
Website: Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (www.afmc.ca)

Interprofessional Consultations on the Blueprint for Action for the Pharmacy Profession in Canada

Amount/ Duration

$150,000 - 2007/08 to 2008/09

Recipient

Canadian Pharmacists Association

Objective

Enhance interprofessional collaboration and respond to stresses on the health care system.

Activities

Undertake an intensive interprofessional consultation process with pharmacists, physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals on the future role of pharmacists and the changes required to strengthen the profession's alignment with the health care needs of Canadians.

Anticipated Results Output

Development of the Blueprint for Action, a strategic action plan for the pharmacy profession in Canada.

Contact Information

Brian Coburn Canadian Pharmacists Association
1785 Alta Vista Drive Ottawa, ON K1G 3Y6
Telephone: 613-523-7877
Website: Canadian Pharmacist Association (www.pharmacists.ca)

Strategies to Support Family Physicians in Primary Care and Collaborative Action on Intra-professionalism

Amount/ Duration

$318,000 - 2007/08 to 2008/09

Recipient

College of Family Physicians of Canada

Objectives

  • Identify ways to improve the mix of family physicians in primary care by providing support to family physicians who take up special interests in their practices.
  • Support the needs of family physicians for knowledge translation and change management in primary care.
  • Develop sustainable action plans to improve how family practitioners and other specialists work together, identify barriers between family and specialty medicine and improve physician satisfaction by enhancing the understanding between family physicians and other specialists of each other's roles in contributing to the best care for patients.

Activities

  • Engage family physicians and other stakeholders in exploring ways to evaluate the quality of new and existing family practice models.
  • Host a Family Medicine Forum on how to better understand current trends in primary care renewal and their relevance to family physicians and other providers in developing models.
  • Organize a forum for family physicians with special interests to determine how well Continuing Medical Education / Continuing Professional Development courses, communication/networking, advocacy, governance and accreditation are being addressed.
  • Support meetings of the Collaborative Action Committee on Intra-professionalism.

Anticipated Results Output

  • Development of a reference guide of measurable key principles that family physicians and primary care providers can use to improve outcomes in family practice and primary care settings.
  • Integration of intra-professional core competencies into education, training and accreditation processes, including Continuing Medical Education / Continuing Professional Development.
  • Development and implementation of recommendations related to promoting the roles and contributions of family physicians with special interests and focused practices as they deliver comprehensive care.

Contact Information

John Maxted College of Family Physicians of Canada
2630 Skymark Avenue Mississauga, ON L4W 5A4
Telephone: 905-629-0900
Website: College of Family Physicians of Canada (www.cfpc.ca)

Simulation Enhanced Learning and Clinical Competence

Amount/ Duration

$255,750 - 2007/08 to 2008/09

Recipient

Association of Canadian Community Colleges

Objective

Investigate whether a simulation-enhanced curriculum decreases the time and increases the potential to train more people in clinical competences in radiological technology.

Activities

Assessment of the efficacy of simulation as an approach to learning that can be better integrated into clinical components of training and education programs of radiologists.

Anticipated Results Output

  • Analysis of data related to whether simulation is useful in clinical education and whether it shortens the time it takes to achieve competence.
  • Project also examined how simulation is applicable across disciplines and how it impacts clinical education in allied health programs.

Contact Information

Michèle Clarke Association of Canadian Community Colleges
200-1223 Michael Street Ottawa, ON K1J 7T2
Telephone: 613-746-2222
Website: Association of Canadian Community Colleges (www.accc.ca)

Research to Action: Applied Workplace Solutions for Nurses

Amount/ Duration

$112,500 - 2007/08

Recipient

Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions

Project Description

Project identified provincial best practices in recruitment and retention that can be implemented across Canada through 9 proposed regional applied research projects. The projects were based on untested research with an aim to move theory into action regarding nursing recruitment and retention strategies.

Key Results

  • Project established formal partnerships between unions, employers, and provincial ministries of health, and identified measures which unions and employers could undertake together to promote quality work life practices that would improve the quality of patient care.
  • Opportunities for an interprofessional approach to strengthen the relationship within the nursing workforce with other professions were also explored along with an investigation of strategies that provinces and employers can implement to improve recruitment and retention.

Outcomes

  • Development and presentation of a proposal for a pan-Canadian multi-stakeholder initiative (unions, employers and provincial ministries of health) valued at $99 million over three years to develop 9 projects that would impact over 1,500 nurses through recruitment and retention and professional development strategies.
  • Strong partnerships and local level buy-in from health authorities, employers, nurse administrators and managers, as well as front-line nurses regarding the proposal and implementing a new health human resources strategy for Canada.

Contact Information

Linda Silas Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions
2841 Riverside Drive Ottawa, ON K1V 8X7
Telephone: 613-526-4661
Website: Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (www.nursesunions.ca)

Securing the Future of Canada's Academic Health Sciences Centres

Amount/ Duration

$566,950 - 2007/08 to 2008/09

Recipient

Association of Canadian Academic Health Organizations

Objectives

Propose recommendations on the future roles, responsibilities and relationships of Academic Health Science Centres (AHSCs) and develop a blueprint for action.

Activities

  • Establish a National Task Force to examine domestic and international experiences and make recommendations on new conceptual frameworks and typologies, such as structures for interdisciplinary patient care, non-traditional education in non-traditional settings, and mechanisms to align AHSC research agendas with those of major partners.
  • Commission an environmental scan to identify the internal and external factors that need to be addressed to allow innovation in patient care and service delivery, education, training and research, as well as identify and understand the perspectives of AHSCs, governments and the public on the changing needs of AHSCs.
  • Commission case studies of AHSCs to understand the existing Canadian models and how they are evolving, describe interactions and relationships between university health professional faculties and schools, associated research enterprises and care delivery organizations and identify the implications of changes to AHSCs.
  • Organize a national consultation to share National Task Force findings and recommendations as well as provide opportunities for stakeholders to dialogue on areas of consensus and issues not addressed.

Anticipated Results Output

Recommendations on the future roles, responsibilities, and relationships of Canada's Academic Health Science Centres.

Contact Information

Glenn Brimacombe Association of Canadian Academic Healthcare Organizations
780 Echo Drive Ottawa, ON K1S 5R7
Telephone: 613-730-5818
Website: Association of Canadian Academic Healthcare Organizations (www.acaho.org)

National Physician Health Survey

Amount/ Duration

$100,000 - 2006/07 to 2007/08

Recipient

Canadian Medical Association (CMA)

Project Description

Through matching funding the CMA developed a bilingual National Physician Health Survey to establish a baseline of the mental and physical health of Canadian physicians in practice and provide data to assist in health human resource planning.

Key Results

  • Designed of a valid survey tool to assess the mental and physical health of Canadian physicians in practice.
  • Conducted a survey with a representative sample of practicing Canadian physicians.
  • Analysed and reported on the mental and physical health of practicing Canadian physicians.
  • Created Canada's first comprehensive picture of the mental and physical health of Canadian physicians.

Outcomes

Created a comprehensive picture of the mental and physical health of practising Canadian physicians that can be compared across health professions. Work provides policy-makers with the knowledge needed to contribute to the improved health of physicians in Canada and enhanced health human resources planning.

Contact Information

Canadian Medical Association 1867 Alta Vista Drive Ottawa, ON K1G 5W8
Telephone: 613-731-8610 ext. 2236
Website: Canadian Medical Association (www.cma.ca)

Simulated Learning and Medical Laboratory Education

Amount/ Duration

$38,028 - 2006/07 to 2007/08

Recipient

Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science

Project Description

The project was intended to provide the foundations for an evidence base for simulation in medical laboratory education and to identify any gaps in evidence to inform educational practices, policy- and decision-making processes, and potential directions for further research. The following questions were addressed:

  • How are simulations defined, constructed, and implemented in medical laboratory science?
  • What are the factors that shape a program's decision to implement simulations?
  • What are the considerations that go into educators' selection and design of simulated learning experiences?
  • What are the resources required to implement, maintain, and evaluate the simulation experience?
  • What is the impact of the shift to simulated experiences on other aspects of the learning process?
  • How is the effectiveness of the simulation experience evaluated?
  • What are the perspectives of those most directly involved in simulated learning in medical laboratory sciences?

Key Results

Outlined the working definition of simulations, the driving factors in implementation of simulation, the required resources, and the perspectives of those involved with simulations. The project confirmed expectations of gaps in research, educational foundations, and evidence for the use of simulations in medical laboratory education. The literature review and the identification of benefits/challenges will inform educators and decision-makers. The project's highlighting of the negative impact of resource constraints on medical laboratory curricula must be considered in terms of capacity to address health human resources issues.

Outcomes

The project noted that simulations appear to be in decline and found evidence of funding constraints for medical laboratory programs. Study participants (medical laboratory sciences academic institutions) are now better informed about simulation practices across the country. The project's findings also address prevalent notions that simulations address current challenges with clinical placements and other health human resource related issues.

Contact Information

Kurt H. Davis Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science
P. O. Box 2830, LCD1 Hamilton, ON L8N 3N8
Telephone: 905-528-8642 ext. 11
Website: Canadian Society for Medical laboratory Science (www.csmls.org)

Collecting Data and Information Relative to Emergency Obstetrical Care to Support a National Birthing Strategy for Canada

Amount/ Duration

$476,392 - 2006/07 to 2008/09

Recipient

Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC)

Objective

Establish a process for the compilation and analysis of quality, timely data on emergency obstetrical care and services in Canada.

Activities

Conduct environmental scans, literature reviews, focus groups, surveys and interviews to answer key questions regarding supply and demand and trends that affect emergency obstetricians and other maternity care providers.

Anticipated Results Output

Data collected will contribute to long-term planning, as well as provide provincial and territorial governments with up-to-date information on the availability of emergency obstetrical care in their jurisdictions in order to assess and address emergency obstetrical / prenatal health human resource issues.

Contact Information

André B. Lalonde Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
780 Echo Drive Ottawa, ON K1S 5R7
Telephone: 613-730-4192
Website: Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (www.sogc.org)

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

Amount/ Duration

$1,155,468 - 2004/05 to 2008/09

Recipient

College of Family Physicians of Canada

Project Description

  • Project identified, developed and supported a cadre of family physician leaders, built a network of national, provincial, and local family physician leaders, provided an opportunity for family physician leaders from across the country to meet in order to enhance their leadership and advocacy skills, share their experiences and develop a Primary Care Renewal Change Management tool kit.
  • Project also included several promotional campaigns including posters, a declaration of commitment, a wall banner to promote and celebrate the history of family medicine in Canada, creation of family medicine interest groups to stimulate student interest in the family physician occupation and the organization of an international colloquium to share experiences and ideas to renew family medicine, general practice, and primary care.

Key Results

Established a Primary Care Advisory Committee, developed a Primary Health Care Renewal Change Management tool kit, created a network of primary care leaders and fostered Family Medicine Interest Groups at each Canadian medical school to stimulate and support interest in family practice careers.

Outcomes

Enhanced image of family medicine, increased support for family physicians in primary care, and produced tools 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: 1 (800) 387-6197 ext. 237
Website: College of Family Physicians of Canada (www.cfpc.ca)

Provincial/Territorial/Regional Projects Continued in 2007/08

Standardization of the Description of Competencies of Atlantic Region Licensed Practical Nurses

Amount/ Duration

$258,513 - 2006/07 to 2007/08

Recipient

Alberta Health and Wellness

Project Description

This project was designed to fast track the development of comprehensive competency profiles for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. This was built on the extensive work, processes and competency profile developed for LPNs in Alberta with the assistance of Alberta Health and Wellness, which expanded on a previous project that resulted in standardized LPN competency profiles for the four Western provinces.

Key Results

  • A common set of terms and definitions for competencies for the Atlantic and Western provinces will reduce obstacles to registration/licensure and enhance employability and inter-provincial mobility of LPNs, including by enabling LPNs to know the competencies needed to work in another province.
  • Each affected province and its educational institutions can use the detailed competency profile to ensure relevant and timely training for LPNs.
  • Employers can use the profiles for job descriptions, nurse resource planning and more effective utilization of LPNs within the health care system.
  • The project identified utilization and mobility issues facing LPNs in Atlantic Canada, particularly "lack of knowledge among employers regarding LPN competencies," "lack of standardization among competency requirements across jurisdictions and regulatory bodies" and "role and responsibility conflicts with other nursing professions."
  • LPN professional associations now have a foundation for establishing professional development programs that will result in better health care services for the public.

Outcomes

The LPN professional associations in the four Atlantic Provinces now have a powerful recruitment, training, marketing and evaluation tool to help them achieve the goals and objectives for their professions.

Contact Information

John Thomson Alberta Health and Wellness
17th Floor Telus Plaza North, 10025 Jasper Avenue P.O. Box 1360 - Station Main Edmonton, AB T5J 2N3
Telephone: 780-427-7164
Website: Government of Alberta Health and Wellness (www.health.gov.ab.ca)

Aboriginal HHR Projects Completed in 2007/08

Regional Forum in Ontario: Knowledge dissemination to promote Aboriginal Workforce Participation Initiative model for retention of Aboriginal health care workers

Amount/ Duration

$50,000 - 2007/08

Recipient

Government of Ontario, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

Project Description

Inspire and motivate health care stakeholders to increase access to quality health care for Aboriginal patients/clients through health human resource initiatives.

Key Results

Brought together Aboriginal partners, educators, health care sector representatives, researchers, federal and provincial government representatives and others to share knowledge and discuss the challenges and innovations in supporting Aboriginal health human resources.

Outcomes

One hundred and seventeen people attended the conference in Toronto on May 15 and 16, 2007. Most were health providers or representatives from post-secondary institutions. The forum focused on information exchange, capacity building and collaboration.

Participants learned about:

  • Aboriginal HHR challenges from the perspective of executive directors of health centres;
  • initiatives underway at colleges and universities to address the educational challenges faced by Aboriginal people;
  • best practices in recruitment and retention of Aboriginal health care practitioners; and
  • Aboriginal HHR innovations in other parts of Canada.

Contact Information

Lynne Nagata Allied Health Human Resources Policy and Planning Unit
Ministry of Health and Long Term Care
56 Wellesley St., West, 12th floor Toronto, ON M5S 2S3
Telephone: 416-327-7612
Website: Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Ontario (www.health.gov.on.ca)

Health Human Resources

Amount/ Duration

$490,950 - 2004/05 to 2007/08

Recipient

Assembly of First Nations (AFN)

Project lead was previously the National Indian and Inuit Community Health Representatives Organization.

Project Description

Since the development of transfer of First Nations health funding from First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, the roles and responsibilities of Community Health Representatives (CHRs) have continued to evolve. Data on the number of CHRs, location, roles and responsibilities have not been updated since the 1990s.There is no longer a standard job description for CHRs in First Nations (FN) communities, who may be nurses, medical transportation clerks or other providers.

This project researched the trends in CHRs in FN communities and proposed options for the future to address and strengthen this essential health promotion role.

Key Results

  • Reviewed existing documentation and data to collect information on the current status and trends regarding CHRs in their health promotion role, and current provincial/territorial and FN health systems and trends.
  • Conducted key information interviews to supplement the above analysis.
  • Developed a research and recommendations paper.
  • Provided recommendations and options on the future of CHRs and their health promotion role, and built consensus on a recommended option using the National First Nations Health Technicians Network.

Outcomes

The report described options including the development of core competencies for CHRs that reflect their various jurisdictions and describe the value of laddering existing representatives into accredited health careers.

Contact Information

Rose Sones Assembly of First Nations
Trebla Building, 473 Albert Street, Suite 810 Ottawa, ON K1R 5B4
Telephone: 613-241-6789 ext. 305
Website: Assembly of First Nations (www.afn.ca)

First Nations Health Human Resources Planning

Amount/ Duration

$522,410 - 2004/05 to 2007/08

Recipient

Assembly of First Nations (AFN)

Project Description

Provide capacity funding for AFN to provide leadership and engage in ongoing health human resources planning and strategies. AFN represents First Nations on various health human resources advisory committees and working groups, ensuring that First Nations issues, priorities and perspectives are included. AFN also provides assistance to First Nations regional organizations and communities in their HHR strategies.

Key Results

Provided leadership and engaged regional Aboriginal organizations in HHR strategies. AFN also actively participated on the Aboriginal Health Human Resources Initiative and other advisory committees and working groups on health human resources, providing First Nations perspectives and priorities in the planning. Information on health human resources was shared with regional First Nations organizations and communities.

Outcomes

First Nations participation in regional and national HHR planning, which ensured their perspectives and priorities related to HHR initiatives, are represented in regional and national HHR planning.

Contact Information

Rose Sones Assembly of First Nations
Trebla Building, 473 Albert Street, Suite 810 Ottawa, ON K1R 5B4
Telephone: 613-241-6789 ext. 305
Website: Assembly of First Nations (www.afn.ca)

Inuit HHR Specific Initiative

Amount/ Duration

$505,500 - 2004/05 to 2007/08

Recipient

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK)

Project Description

Build capacity for ITK to engage in HHR planning.

Ensure Inuit perspectives and priorities are represented in HHR strategies and planning.

Key Results

Provided capacity funding for ITK to provide leadership and engage in ongoing health human resources planning and strategies.

ITK represents Inuit on health human resources advisory committees and working groups, ensuring that Inuit issues, priorities and perspectives are included. ITK also supports Inuit communities and organizations through ongoing dissemination of information on HHR initiatives and resource material.

Outcomes

Inuit perspectives and priorities were considered in the work of advisory committees and working groups. Inuit organizations were kept informed of HHR initiatives and strategies. Funding also supported the engagement of Inuit in HHR work regionally.

Contact Information

Tracy Brown Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
170 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 510 Ottawa, ON K1P 5V5
Telephone: 613-232-8181 ext. 271
Website: Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (www.itk.ca)

Addressing Curricula and Admissions /Support Policy Changes

Amount/ Duration

$395,823 - 2004/05 to 2007/08

Recipient

Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC)

Project Description

Provide leadership and tools to the 17 Canadian medical schools to incorporate Aboriginal health care into their curricula.

Key Results

The AFMC in collaboration with the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada completed and translated a cultural competency framework for core competencies in Aboriginal health for Canada's medical schools.

The framework will help medical schools adopt Aboriginal health curricula.

Outcomes

  • Created a cultural competency framework for Aboriginal health care at the undergraduate level for faculties of Medicine.
  • Engaged medical schools to include Aboriginal health care in their curricula.

Contact Information

Barbie Shore Association of Faculties of Medicine
265 Carling Avenue, Suite 800 Ottawa, ON K1S 2E1
Telephone: 613-730-0687
Website: Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (www.afmc.ca)

Aboriginal HHR Framework: Aboriginal Indicators in CIHI's National Minimum Data Set (NMDS)

Amount/ Duration

$490,950 - 2004/05 to 2007/08

Recipient

Organization for the Advancement of Aboriginal Peoples' Health also known as National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO).

NAHO, in partnership with the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) and First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB), initiated the development of a comprehensive framework on Aboriginal HHR intended to assist in identifying data elements and planning methods for use in future HHR projects and to monitor First Nations, Inuit and Métis (FN/I&M) involvement in health careers.

Key Results

Project partners attended national roundtables for FN/I&M Advisory Committees, produced an analysis on the efficiency of current data collection methodologies, collaborated to develop and complete a MDS, and provided information on the performance of an environmental scan.

Activities

  • Engaged Aboriginal partners and facilitated on-going support for the Aboriginal HHR Initiative / environmental scan frameworks and draft MDS.
  • Developed Aboriginal-specific definitions with CIHI and translated MDS.
  • Conducted needs-based health human resources planning for FN/I&M communities.
  • Examined the strengths and weaknesses of the environmental scans and challenges associated with accessing data sources, comparability of data, data quality and privacy concerns.

Anticipated Results

Completion of draft MDS with indicators, data elements and current data sources, privacy impact assessment and definitions unique to the data set.

Three reports were completed:

  • Supply, Production and Workload Indicators for the Aboriginal Minimum Data Set: Facilitating Needs-Based Health Human Resource Planning for Aboriginal Communities (national level environmental scan);
  • Establishing a Minimum Data Set to Support the Advancement of NAHO's Aboriginal Health Human Resource Initiative: Next Steps (review of national and regional environmental scans with recommendations for developing MDS); and
  • Options for MDS (examined options for Aboriginal HHR data collection).

Contact Information

Steven Vanloffeld National Aboriginal Health Organization
220 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 1200 Ottawa, ON K1P 5Z9
Telephone: 613-237-9462 ext 504
Website: National Aboriginal Health Organisation (www.naho.ca)

Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative (IEHPI)
Projects Continued in 2007/08

Effective Integration of Internationally Educated Health Professionals to Yukon Health Care System

Amount/ Duration

$714,270 - 2007/08 to 2009/10

Recipient

Yukon Ministry of Health and Social Services

Objective

  • Disseminate important knowledge of the Yukon work context to assist internationally educated health care professionals (IEHPs) to make informed decisions about choosing to live and work in the Yukon.
  • Facilitate processes for IEHPs to achieve assessments of qualifications in preparation for full professional licensure and subsequent employment in the Yukon's health care system.
  • Develop effective approaches to integrating new professionals into the Yukon's health care system.

Activities

  • Develop and disseminate high quality promotional materials to recruit a range of IEHPs to the Yukon.
  • Investigate and establish the best approach for the Ministry to assess the credentials of IEHPs for employment in the province.
  • Provide a range of integration activities, including bridging programs and refresher courses, to ensure that IEHPs are well prepared to practice in the Yukon health care system.

Anticipated Results Output

Increase the capacity of the Yukon to successfully attract, train and retain IEHPs.

Contact Information

Yukon Ministry of Health and Social Services, Whitehorse, YK Y1A 2N1
Telephone: 867-667-3673
Website: Yukon Health and Social Services (www.hss.gov.yk.ca)

Atlantic Integration Framework for Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiatives

Amount/ Duration

$1,340,448 - 2007/08 to 2009/10

Recipient

Nova Scotia Department of Health

Objective

Create a continuum of integrated services throughout the Maritimes in order to attract, integrate, retain and increase the capacity of internationally educated health professionals (IEHPs) throughout the Atlantic Region.

Activities

The Atlantic Integration Framework will support to launch demonstration pilot projects such as: partnering with the Western provinces and Northern Territories to develop and implement midwifery national assessment tools; expanding an information portal for IEHPs who wish to come to Atlantic Canada; expanding the successful IEHP portfolio development program and making it available online; developing language and communication supports for nurses; and developing a framework for a micro-credit system for IEHPs to address financial barriers.

Anticipated Results

Provide self-assessment opportunities for IEHPs prior to arrival in Atlantic Canada; timely skill and knowledge assessment processes; structured educational and clinical pathways to fill gaps; and enhanced infrastructure for socio-cultural and career integration of IEHPs and their families.

Contact Information

Jennifer Murdoch Nova Scotia Department of Health
1690 Hollis Street Halifax, NS B3L 4H9
Telephone: 902-424-2900
Website: Nova Scotia Government Department of Health (www.gov.ns.ca/health)

Offshore Assessment for Internationally Educated Nurses

Amount/ Duration

$536,112 - 2007/08

Recipient

Alberta Health and Wellness

Project Description

  • Pilot project was an expansion of Alberta's Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN) Assessment Centre. The Centre, operating out of Mount Royal College in Calgary, provides IENs with the opportunity to have their language, knowledge, and competencies assessed in order to prepare them for licensure and employment in Alberta.
  • Project expedited the licensure process by enabling IENs to undergo Mount Royal's assessment overseas before immigration to Canada and identified and offered supplemental learning that was required of overseas IEN awaiting immigration.

Key Results

In the fall of 2007, assessments of IENs were undertaken in London, England; Dublin, Ireland; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Doha, Qatar.

After assessment, candidates were informed of areas in need of further development before being eligible for licensure in Canada, such as professional communication, health assessment, pharmacology and clinical practice skills.

Outcomes

  • IENs completed the assessment process and understood the type of supplemental learning that may be required before licensure in Canada.
  • The College's assessment capacity was increased as additional assessors were trained to provide offshore assessment.
  • Mount Royal College, the Government of Alberta, and the Government of Canada better understand the benefits and challenges of conducting assessment services offshore and can now share lessons learned.

Contact Information

Pam Nordstrom Mount Royal College
4825 Mount Royal Gate, SW Calgary, AB T3E 6K6
Telephone: 403-440-6549
Website: Mount Royal College (www.mtroyal.ca)

Implementation Strategies for Faculty Development Program for Teachers of International Medical Graduates (IMGs)

Amount/ Duration

$329,000 - 2006/07 to 2009/10

Recipient

Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC)

Objective

Invite Canada's 17 faculties of medicine to organize training sessions for teachers of IMGs, using the materials developed in the Faculty Development Program.

Activities

  • Dissemination of materials developed by the Faculty Development Program through training sessions, enabling faculty development leaders and teachers to utilize and apply these materials effectively.
  • Inviting the 17 faculties of medicine, through the AFMC website and newsletter, to submit proposals to organize training sessions. The faculties are also being encouraged to invite their provincial IMG program to attend the local sessions so they can pilot the Faculty Development Program for their IMGs.
  • Due to its success, the program has been expanded to reach more Canadian faculties and to ensure its sustainability.
  • Expansion of the multimedia faculty development program for physicians and preceptors who work with IMGs.

Anticipated Results Output

Physicians and teachers working effectively and collaboratively to prepare IMGs for Canadian practice.

Contact Information

Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada 265 Carling Avenue, Suite 800 Ottawa, ON K1S 2E1
Telephone: 613-730-0687
Website: Associations of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (www.afmc.ca)

Understanding the Canadian Health Care System, Culture, and Context: An Orientation Program for Internationally Educated Health Professionals (IEHPs)

Amount/ Duration

$1,283,465 - 2006/07 to 2009/10

Recipient

University of Toronto (U of T), Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

Objectives

Development of a pan-Canadian orientation program for IEHPs by U of T, in collaboration with Health Canada, six professions and the governments of Ontario, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Activities

Stage One involved collation and analysis of existing orientation programs for IEHPs to identify gaps and develop a comprehensive learning needs profile for IEHPs. Vehicles for delivery of programming (e.g. print, face-to-face, internet) were examined to establish the most effective and efficient learning platform for teaching and learning.

A comprehensive program was developed in Stage Two. The developers designed the program in a face-to-face classroom format and piloted delivery of the program in a range of settings across the country.

The online course was developed and will be piloted. This format will allow more IEHPs to access profession-specific bridging programs.

Anticipated Results Output

  • A structured and systematic pan-Canadian orientation program for IEHPs will be developed that will focus on the many dimensions of practicing as a health care provider in the Canadian health care system. The program will be accessible to a wide range of IEHPs across the country.
  • An analysis of existing IEHP orientation programs and delivery mechanisms.

Contact Information

University of Toronto 144 College Street Toronto, ON M5S 3M2
Telephone: 416-978-2889
Website: University of Toronto (www.utoronto.ca)

Formation des professionnels francophones de la santé formés à l'étranger

Amount/ Duration

$1,000,000 - 2006/07 to 2009/10

Recipient

Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS)

Objectives

Develop three initiatives to increase the number of health professionals available to deliver health services in minority francophone communities outside of Québec.

Activities

  • Establish an inter-cultural training program focusing on minority francophone communities. This program will enable faculty, teachers and staff working with francophone IEHPs to promote their integration into these communities.
  • Create a training program to increase the success of francophone internationally educated nurses in nursing licensing examinations.
  • Enable consultation sessions and the development and implementation of an action plan to promote the availability of training, assessment and integration programs for IEHPs in French.

Anticipated Results Output

Increased number of health professionals available to deliver health services in minority francophone communities outside of Québec.

Contact Information

Consortium national de formation en santé 260 Dalhousie Street, Suite 400 Ottawa, ON K1N 7E4
Telephone: 613-244-7837
Website: Consortium nation de formation en santé (www.cnfs.net)

Internationally Educated Health Professionals Centre

Amount/ Duration

$15,952,445 - 2006/07 to 2009/10

Recipient

Government of Ontario, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

Objective

  • Create an Internationally Educated Health Professionals (IEHP) Centre to provide a single point of access to comprehensive information, resources and counselling that will assist internationally educated health professionals to access the information, assessment, education, and training required to practice in Ontario.
  • A Centre for the Evaluation of Health Professionals Educated Abroad (CEHPEA) will be established and linked with the IEHP Centre. CEHPEA expand evaluation services for IMGs and plan for the development of assessment services for other health professionals.

Activities

Develop and operate two new and linked programs: the IEHP Centre and the CEHPEA.

This project builds on the environmental scan and strategic planning that Ontario completed in 2005/06 that indicated a need to increase access to assessment for IEHPs in a range of health professions, and to establish a "one-stop" centre for IEHPs to provide counselling, referrals and access to information and services.

Anticipated Results Output

A single point of access to comprehensive information, resources and counselling that will assist IEHPs to access the information, assessment, education, and training required to practice in Ontario.

Contact Information

Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care 12-56 Wellesley Street West Toronto, ON M5S 2S3
Telephone: 416-314-5518
Website: Health Force Ontario (www.healthforceontario.ca)

Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative - Manitoba Projects

Amount/ Duration

$1,666,133 - 2006/07 to 2009/10

Recipient

Manitoba Health

Objective

Develop five projects with direct impacts on International Medical Graduates (IMGs), medical laboratory technicians, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, medical radiologists, health unit clerks, sterile processing, dental assistants, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists and massage therapists.

Activities

  • Expansion of IMG Assessment Training: The criteria for the IMG program were revisited to be broader and more inclusive in order to enhance the success rate of satisfactory completion of the program. The assessment program now includes a one year mentorship for each successful candidate from the program.
  • Mount Royal College IEN Competency Assessment: Hiring, training and implementation of nurse educators to complete the competency assessments at the Health Sciences Centre. This is in conjunction with bridging programs offered through Red River College in Winnipeg.
  • Resource Guides for Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses: A comprehensive resource guide to improve information disseminated to IENs was completed and is distributed.
  • Medical Laboratory Technician Bridging Program: A program is underway to upgrade unemployed or under-employed internationally educated medical laboratory technicians to a level where they may be certified to practice as medical laboratory technologists.
  • Working Toward Competency-Based Assessment for International Occupational Therapy: Application processes were reviewed to permit international applicants to fully access the Occupational Therapy Mutual Recognition Agreement and a secure supported peer-to-peer network was established.
  • Resource Guide for IMGs: A Manitoba-specific resource guide was completed and is being distributed. The guide includes information on the licensing system (provincial, national bodies and their responsibilities); considerations for preparing for licensure, information on programs available; stakeholders' roles (educators, employers, regulators); alternate careers and support services.

Anticipated Results Output

Increased number of IEHPs entering practice in health professions, increased capacity to assess credentials and experience of IEHPs, and ability to provide clinical training.

Contact Information

Manitoba Health 1043-300 Carlton Street Winnipeg, MB R3B 3M9
Telephone: 204-945-3744
Website: Manitoba Health (www.gov.mb.ca/health)

Internationally Educated Health Professionals - Alberta Projects

Amount/ Duration

$723,499 - 2006/07 to 2008/09

Recipient

Alberta Health and Wellness

Objective

Develop an assessment program focusing on language fluency and communication readiness, as well as a competency-based assessment of nursing knowledge and skills of Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs).

Activities

  • Provide an assessment of the competencies of IENs in comparison to the entry to practice competencies of nurses in Canada.
  • Provide IEN candidates with the necessary preparation, including workshops and study materials, to assist them in preparing for assessment and provide recommendations for preparation and integration into practice and employment in Canadian health care settings.
  • Provide information and support to other interested and appropriate agencies across Canada in their plans and processes for the assessment of IENs.

Anticipated Results Output

An ongoing program of assessment by way of an IEN Assessment Centre at Mount Royal College in Calgary, Alberta, that has the capacity to assess the knowledge, skills and competencies of IENs.

Contact Information

Alberta Health and Wellness 17th Floor Telus Plaza North, 10025 Jasper Avenue Edmonton, AB T5J 2N3
Telephone: 780-427-7164
Website: Government of Alberta Health and Wellness (www.health.alberta.ca)

Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative - Nunavut

Amount/ Duration

$635,159 - 2005/06 to 2008/09

Recipient

Government of Nunavut Health and Social Services

Project Description

Provide supports to internationally educated nurses (IENs) to prepare them for success on the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination and for successful employment in Nunavut as well as support to an international medical graduate (IMG) studying family medicine in the south.

Key Results

Twenty three IENs were successfully licensed and began practice in Nunavut after receiving a variety of supports including: 4 orientation sessions of five to six weeks in length; a 5 day Canadian Registered Nurses Exam review and preparation course; the provision of study time, and study groups; as well as tutoring and mentoring services.

The IMG who received financial support to study family medicine is now licensed and practicing in Nunavut.

Outcomes

  • Greatly increased health human resources in the territory with the addition of the IMG practicing family medicine and the IENs providing nursing services in the areas of community health, home care and general nursing.
  • The Government of Nunavut has also built its capacity to orient and support new IENs and will be able to share its experience with other regions looking to build their capacity to integrate internationally educated health professionals in northern settings.

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
Website: Health and Social Services Improving Nunavut's Health (www.gov.nu.ca/health)

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

Amount/ Duration

$370,000 - 2005/06 to 2008/09

Recipient

Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN).

This work is building 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 nurse educators working with IENs, both as faculty in educational institutions and nurse educators in health care agencies.

Activities

  • Create teaching modules that 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.
  • Pilot project phase to include four more sites and also implement a 'train the trainer' program for nurses working with IENs. The program will involve training and support for nurse educators who will design and deliver professional curriculum within two health regions.
  • Input will allow for modifications to the curriculum to ensure the final product incorporates the expertise and experience of health care providers who closely work with IENs.

Anticipated Results

Create broad-based awareness among nurse educators about IEN issues.

Output

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

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
Website: Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (www.casn.ca)

Establishing a National Assessment Collaboration

Amount/ Duration

$193,000 - 2006/07 to 2008/09

Recipient

Medical Council of Canada (MCC)

Objective

Harmonize the tools utilized across the country for the assessment of International Medical Graduates (IMGs) and bring a level of national consistency to this process.

Activities

  • Develop standardized assessment tools for IMGs that will determine the readiness of individuals for one of two streams: ready for practise; ready for residency training.
  • Create a national assessment that is centrally managed and regionally delivered.
  • This includes the development of procedure manuals and logistics guides for all assessors and IMG program directors, central support for scoring, decision standards, appeal procedures, national data and quality improvement programs.
  • Build support and consensus among stakeholders and create a business case to outline the structure of a national assessment process for IMGs entering into first-year post-graduate training.

Anticipated Results Output

It is expected that this initiative will lead to a fair, transparent and consistent approach to IMG assessment in all regions of the country.

Contact Information

Medical Council of Canada
2283 St. Laurent Boulevard P.O. Box 8234 - Station T Ottawa, ON K1G 3H7
Telephone: 613-521-6012
Website: Medical Council of Canada (www.mcc.ca)

Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative - Newfoundland and Labrador Projects

Amount/ Duration

$2,463,619 - 2005/06 to 2009/10

Recipient

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Objectives

Address the gaps in services to IMGs in the recruitment, assessment, orientation and retention processes 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 communication
  • Support Memorial University Medical School to research, develop and pilot a new assessment for determining the eligibility of IMGs for post-graduate studies, clinical placements and eventual practice opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador or Atlantic Canada.
  • Develop and pilot a preceptor training program for preceptors who teach/supervise IMGs.
  • Develop an IMG orientation package.

Anticipated Results Output

  • Increased number of IMGs who choose Newfoundland and Labrador for practice and increased retention of IMGs.
  • 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
Website: Department of Health and Community Services - Government of Newfoundland and Labrador (www.health.gov.nl.ca/health)

Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative - Nova Scotia Projects

Amount/ Duration

$4,449,000 - 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 Nova Scotia and (NS) and Prince Edward Island and develop a four-year action plan.
  • Establish a web-portal to welcome and provide information to internationally educated Registered Nurses (RNs).
  • Develop a process to assess internationally educated RNs who do not meet the criteria for writing the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam.
  • Develop a program that allows Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) to acquire skills and knowledge necessary to practice as RNs in Canada.
  • Establish a bridging program, screen applicants, identify learning gaps, and provide academic support to Internationally Educated Practical Nurses (IEPNs) to allow them to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to practice as Licensed Practical Nurses in Canada.
  • Deliver a ten week orientation program to help IEHPs navigate the system towards community integration and employment in NS and PEI.
  • Develop and provide program and training supports for career preparation for IEHPs, including specialized employment counselling, welcome packages for ten professionals, a sixteen week English for IEHPs training program and an exam preparation program for IMGs.

Anticipated Results Output

  • Strategic plan for Nova Scotia IEHPI investment.
  • Improved access to information and orientation for IENs.
  • Training and programs to prepare IENs for 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
Website: Government of Nova Scotia (www.gov.ns.ca)

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 analysis 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
Website: Health - Government of Saskatchewan (www.health.gov.sk.ca)

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 pre-landing skills and qualifications.
  • Improve coordination and planning activities for a sustainable strategic approach to 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
Website: Ministry of Health, Government of British Columbia (www.gov.bc.ca/health)

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

$4,396,552 - 2005/06 to 2009/10

Recipient

The Western and Northern Health Human Resources Planning Forum through a funding agreement with B.C. Health.

Objectives

  • Project activities are underway to accelerate and expand the assessment, training and integration of IEHPs into the health workforce.
  • Develop tools, products and services for IEHPs, designed to improve their chances for attaining licensure and ultimately employment in health services.

Activities

  • Develop effective and standardized assessments of internationally educated nurses in the western provinces and northern territories using process developed by Mount Royal College in Alberta.
  • Develop a Pharmacy Foundation Review Guide to assist internationally educated pharmacists in accessing the education material required to prepare for the Pharmacy Evaluation Exam as a first step to them gaining licensure in Canada.
  • Develop an assessment and bridging program for internationally educated midwives through the Consortium of Midwifery Regulators of Canada.

Anticipated Results Output

  • Acceleration and expansion of assessment, training and workforce integration of internationally educated nurses, pharmacists and midwives.
  • Capacity building for programs aimed at IEHP integration and collaboration between Western and Northern provincial/territorial governments.

Contact Information

Western and Northern Health Human Resources Planning Forum
2-1, 1515 Blanshard Street Victoria, BC V8W 3C8
Telephone: 250-952-3145
Website: Ministry of Health, Government of British Columbia (www.gov.bc.ca/health)

Conclusion

Canada's health care providers continue to be our health care system's greatest asset. Their health and well-being affect the quality of care throughout the health system.

The Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Strategy and Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative are truly collaborative undertakings. Both focus their support on building a strong and sustainable health care system. Through them, and in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, key stakeholders such as researchers, educators, and health care organizations, the federal government continues to demonstrate its commitment to strengthening Canada's health care system.

Need more information?

For up-to-date information on the status and activities of the Pan-Canadian HHR Strategy, please visit our Health Human Resources Strategy web site at: www.health-human-resources.ca

Health Human Resource Connection

The electronic newsletter "Health Human Resource Connection" is designed to highlight initiatives and activities underway through the Strategy.

To subscribe to the newsletter from the Health Human Resource Strategies Division, send an email titled "Database Addition" to: hhrconnection-connexionrhs@hc-sc.gc.ca

Include the following details:

  • name,
  • organization and
  • email address.

Additional feedback or comments on the e-newsletter are welcome.

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