Conference Presentation

The following is a text version of the presentation given at the Conference on Timely Access To Health Care, held February 8-9, 2007 in Toronto, Ontario.

Improved Access Through Innovations in Health Human Resources

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Presentation Outline

• Drivers of Innovation in Health Human Resources
• We must act now!
• Introducing HealthForceOntario
• HealthForceOntario In Contex
• HealthForceOntario Strategic Framework
• HealthForceOntario -- Principles
• HealthForceOntario -- Goals
• Increasing access by increased supply ....
• HealthForceOntario - New Roles
• HealthForceOntario - New Roles
• HealthForceOntario - New Roles

Drivers of Innovation in Health Human Resources

Population Drivers:	Health System Drivers:	Health Provider Drivers:
more numerous and older more culturally diverse more chronic than acute diseases increasingly involved, informed consumers seek complementary and alternative care focus on wellness and disease prevention	increasingly based in the community setting delivered by interprofessional teams focus on health promotion and disease prevention greater use of new technology including tele-medicine, robotics and genetics/proteomics	older and seeking career transition and retirement continue to come from a range of other nations want more balance and flexibility in their careers work in a mobile, international and opportunity-laden market demand healthy and stimulating workplaces need new educational models to deal with a rapidly evolving base of knowledge and technology

.... New expectations, capacities and roles are demanded of our workforce

We must act now!

More of the same... the same practice models, the same educational systems, the same planning approaches... will not prepare us

High demand and system pressures creates motivation and opportunity for innovation

Introducing HealthForceOntario

What is HealthForceOntario?

• HealthForceOntario is Ontario's innovative, multi-year, plan to ensure that the right number and mix of appropriately educated professionals are available now and in the future to meet the needs of Ontarians
• Introduced May 3, 2006
• Created in partnership with Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities; and the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration

HealthForceOntario In Context

HealthForceOntario Strategic Framework

HealthForceOntario -- Principles

Must include broad range of providers in the system Recognize educators, leaders, patients, family and community as key members of the strategy Align with government priorities Must engage government, providers, employers, planners, and the people who use the system

Ensure safety and competency for patients and providers Encourage patient/client focused collaborative care Must recognize and treat health care providers as core assets, 'value centres', in the health care system Must be a 'package' for all sectors and players- short, medium and long term

HealthForceOntario -- Goals

• Make Ontario more competitive
• Maintain and develop a competitive work force
• Establish new roles in areas of high need

Make Ontario the employer-of-choice in health care

Increasing access by increased supply ....

• Increase Nurse Practitioner education seats from 75 to 150
• Increase positions for International Medical Graduates from 90 to 200
• 70% increase in Family Medicine training positions
• 23% increase in medical school positions including a new Medical School and 3 new satellite campuses
• Doubling of midwifery positions
• 3X increase in pharmacy positions including a new school of pharmacy
• Since 2000 >=10% increase in practicing OT, PT, MRT and MLT

HealthForceOntario - New Roles

New roles...Under Pilot Implementation

• Physician Assistant
• Nurse Endoscopist
• Surgical First Assist
• Clinical Specialist Radiation Therapist
• AnaesthesiaAssistants
• Advanced Practice Physiotherapists

HealthForceOntario - New Roles

New roles...Under Legislative/Regulatory Process

• New Streams for Nurse Practitioners beyond primary care
• Pharmacy Assistants
• Prescribing authority for Optometrists and RN-EC
• Dental Hygienists scaling and planning without an order
• Regulation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Homeopathy, Kinesiology, Naturopathy, Psychotherapy

HealthForceOntario - New Roles

New roles...Guiding Principles

• Proof of principle exists
• Local champions for demonstration
• Area of need
• Part of patient centred team based care -not competition/replacement
• Safety