HSPRSN Program Evolution

Task Force on Future Directions
New Program Development

Task Force on Future Directions

In 2007, the HSPRSN Steering Council struck a task force on Future Directions for Research & Capacity Building. This initiative reflected the HSPRSN commitment to ensuring that programs are changed or augmented as necessary to build capacity for and undertake health services and policy research that is relevant to the BC health authorities and the Ministry of Health Services. The Steering Council subsequently endorsed the task force report, including a recommendation to discontinue the HSPRSN open operating grants program in favour of a more iterative process to narrow and select priority areas for attention.

Following extensive consultation the HSPRSN Steering Council recommended that remaining HSPRSN funds be directed at research into health human resources. This was precipitated by the MSFHR Board decision to integrate two of the HSPRSN programs (Health Authority Capacity Building and Investigative Teams) with similar MSFHR programs and by the decision to discontinue the open operating grants program. It also reflected the desire of the Steering Council members to ensure that the remaining uncommitted funding (about $4.5 million) was used as effectively as possible to address health system priorities. The task force recommended and Steering Council approved selecting a limited number of priority areas for attention.

Task Force on Future Directions for Research & Capacity Building (PDF)

New Program Development

In January 2008 BC health authorities and the Ministry of Health Services received a list of priorities that had been developed by the HSPRSN Future Directions Planning Task Force and were asked to reference it in identifying their top two priorities.  Five of six health authorities chose health human resources as a priority topic. Sub-topics included: scope of practice (particularly innovative roles), inter-professional practice, productivity, change management to implement new ways of providing care and recruitment and retention.

In March 2008 Steering Council members reviewed the input. They reached consensus that the remaining HSPRSN funds should be focused on identifying and addressing priority health human resources issues as they relate to how care/services are provided (e.g. better employment of existing resources, developing new care models, etc.). They also concurred that the purpose of the research should be to assist the system in better addressing the needs of patients/populations, improve health outcomes and contribute to improved levels of staff engagement and job satisfaction.

During April/May 2008, 28 key informants representing professional practice and human resources in the health authorities and the Ministry of Health Services as well as the major health unions were interviewed. These informants identified three health human resources subthemes as their priorities: ways to better employ existing providers, development of new models of staffing and development of new models of care. They also confirmed that research on these subthemes should be directed at more effectively meeting patient needs and improving staff engagement and productivity.

Synthesis of the Interviews Conducted Regarding Health Human Resources Research Priorities (PDF)

In June 2008, the HSPRSN Steering Council endorsed a recommendation to focus attention on health human resources, specifically in the three subthemes identified above. Following Board approval in September, the HSPRSN instituted a request for proposals process to gain further insight into what knowledge and research capacity currently exists in relation to the three priority sub-themes to inform the development of research funding strategies. The RFP was let in February 2009, and the final report received in June, 2009.

In addition, HSPRSN partnered with the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF) in funding a scoping exercise on health human resources productivity. The report was delivered in July, 2009.

Programs to address health human resources research and capacity needs are now under development, with funding initiatives expected to be announced in 2010.

Health Human Resources Research Program

Last updated December 1, 2009