| Scientific Director: Dr. Colleen M. Flood |
Welcome to the Institute of Health Services and Policy Research. Our vision at IHSPR is to support a vibrant community of excellent researchers who conduct outstanding health services and policy research that informs Canadians about their health care system, is used by decision-makers to strengthen Canada's health care system, and influences health and social policy in Canada and abroad. Our Institute aims to support the outstanding research, capacity-building, and knowledge translation initiatives that are so important to achieving this vision. Since September 2006, as the new Scientific Director of IHSPR, our team at the Institute has worked hard to continue the tremendous work of Dr. Morris Barer, the inaugural Scientific Director of this Institute, and to set new research priorities and strategic directions for IHSPR that are crucial to strengthening Canada's health care system and to improving the health and quality of life of all Canadians.
The challenges that confront health services and policy researchers are staggering, largely because this research touches upon virtually every aspect of health care. These researchers contribute critical evidence on mechanisms and policies to improve the way health care services are organized, regulated, managed, financed, paid for, used and delivered, in the interest of improving the health and quality of life of all Canadians. A national pharmaceutical strategy, the role of the courts in Medicare, public versus private health care financing, and wait lists are just a few of the issues facing health services and policy researchers today. Awareness of the priority issues facing Canada's health care decision-makers, and ability to respond in a timely fashion to these pressing needs, is a core value at IHSPR and is recognized as being crucial to the long-term sustainability of the Institute. Accordingly, IHSPR, in partner with the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF) and six other organizations, recently completed its third round of national consultations, Listening for Direction III, to identify priority issues facing the health care system over the short, medium and long-term, for which new research would be timely. These issues will be translated into research themes for future applied health services and policy research and published this summer (2007) in a final report, Listening for Direction III: A national consultation on health services and policy issues. IHSPR and its Institute Advisory Board have used this national consultation process, along with other sources of information, to inform its own process of defining the following priority research themes for upcoming funding opportunities: Access to Appropriate Care across the Continuum, Health Information, Drug Policy, and the themes that will be announced this summer in the Listening for Direction III final report. Please visit our website for further information pertaining to new funding opportunities.
In addition to continued support for the outstanding accomplishments achieved by Dr. Barer and his Institute staff, including the innovative research teams and training programs designed to build capacity and support excellence in health services and policy research, as well as our new journal (Healthcare Policy) and our new professional association (the Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research), IHSPR will also strive over the coming years to achieve new breakthroughs, particularly in the critical area of knowledge translation. As well as supporting and encouraging the creation of new knowledge, IHSPR is focused on moving health research into action and demonstrating the value and impact of the health services and policy research conducted by our extraordinary community of researchers. To achieve these goals, our Institute is committed to using its strategic budget to support knowledge translation initiatives that will result in the timely translation of relevant research knowledge. We view partnerships, both within Canada and abroad, and the media, as key inputs into our knowledge translation initiatives. Realization of these goals will also depend in part upon the capacity of the health services and policy research community, and in recognition of this IHSPR will focus on ensuring support for researchers along their entire career trajectory, commencing in graduate training through to the culmination of their career, whether it is tenured professor within a university or senior scientist within a research institute.
In the light of Federal Budget 2007 and concern from researchers as to how CIHR will allocate the available funds, I would like to assure you that IHSPR is committed to working with you to maximize the use of research dollars through partnerships with other organizations and CIHR Institutes in order to ensure a sustainable and viable health services and policy research community.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions or feedback.
With warmest regards,
Colleen M. Flood
Scientific Director
CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research
