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

Complementary Activities

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

Pan-Canadian HHR Planning

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice (IECPCP)

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

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

Recruitment and Retention

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

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

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

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

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

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

Recruitment and Retention Consultation (2005/06)

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

Healthy Workplace Initiative (HWI)

Knowledge Exchange Day (2005/06)

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

National Survey (2003/04 to 2006/07)

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

Internationally Educated Health Professionals Activities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The IEN Taskforce (2003/04 and ongoing)

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

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

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

Aboriginal HHR Work

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

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

Conclusion

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

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

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