Health Services and Policy Research Support Network

Background
Development Phase
Current Processes

Background
In March 2003, the British Columbia Ministries of Health Planning and Health Services transferred $8 million to the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR). Under the terms of the transfer agreement, the funds were to be used to conduct research to improve the effectiveness of health-care reforms and assist in fulfilling the Ministry's obligation to the public accounts committee and other select standing committees of the legislature to evaluate the change initiatives the government has undertaken. The agreement identified three priority uses for the funds:

Implement and fund specific projects that evaluate changes already made to the BC health system.
Build capacity in BC for undertaking research into future health redesign and change initiatives.
Lever additional funding from other sources to further enhance research activities into health redesign and change initiatives.

The Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research consulted with the Health Ministries, Health Authorities, health service providers and the health services and policy academic research community to develop an action plan. This was achieved through the creation of a representative planning committee called the Interim Operating Council and two Task Force Groups, one focused on developing recommendations for capacity building and a second on programs to address research priorities. Their deliberations were guided by two key elements. First, participants recognized that the imperative for the Ministries and Health Authorities was rapid action to evaluate the effects of changes already made. Second, participants felt it was imperative to balance the requirement for fast-track action on current priorities with an equally pressing need for developing capacity to undertake pro-active planning and research to inform the development, implementation and evaluation of future health system changes. In this, they developed and were guided by a consensus vision for a high quality, sustainable health system in British Columbia grounded in excellent health services and policy research.

Development Phase
In the original proposal submitted to and approved by the Ministries of Health to guide the planning process, MSFHR proposed developing a BC Health Services Research Network. The Interim Operating Council recommended that the name be changed to Health Services and Policy Research Support Network. They recommended that "support" be incorporated into the name to clarify that the purpose of this network is not to do research, but to work with the full range of creators and users of research to facilitate processes for developing and funding research questions and for building research capacity. The following was approved by the Ministry as the initial governance and operational framework for the Health Services and Policy Research Support Network:

Leadership Council - Network Role

Membership

Deputy and Assistant Deputy Ministers of Health
Health Authority CEOs

Function

Receive advice from the Network Operating Council on research and capacity building initiatives and funding
Approve priority areas for research and capacity building initiatives
Approve funding

Network Operating Council

Membership

Health Authority and Ministries of Health designates
Representatives of the academic community with expertise in health services and policy research, systems and business expertise
Representatives of the health service provider community
Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research designate
External representatives
Other stakeholders and/or fields of expertise - e.g., health industries, business development

Function

Consult with the full range of stakeholders to identify priority issues for research and capacity building initiatives
Develop recommendations on priority initiatives for consideration by Leadership Council
Maintain a central inventory of health services and policy research capacity and expertise
Develop recommendations for funding programs/mechanisms for research and capacity-building initiatives
Evaluate network activities and effectiveness

Network Secretariat

Director and staff with knowledge of the Ministries of Health, Health Authorities and health services and policy research
Function

Facilitate the work of the Operating Council
Manage the Network's inventories, situation analyses and funding programs
Supported as appropriate by Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research infrastructure (e.g., peer review, inventory capacity)

Working Groups and Task Forces

Struck as required by the Operating Council
Function

Some may be ad hoc - additional expertise required to explore a priority research area/question or a capacity building initiative.
Some may be standing committees - e.g., access to information issues.

Current Processes
As outlined in BC Health Services and Policy Research Support Network - A Report to Leadership Council, the Network and three core funding areas were approved for action in January 2004. A Steering Council (PDF) replaced the Interim Operating Council as the primary advisory body for the Network. They met for the first time in March 2004 and over a six month period with support from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research developed guidelines for, received and held a formative review of capacity-building applications from BC's six Health Authorities. They also developed the principles and guidelines for two research funding competitions: one to support the development of Investigative Teams (infrastructure support) and an Operating Grants program to support research projects addressing the priority areas identified by the Ministry and Health Authorities. They also established a Partnership Program to support BC researchers applying to national granting competitions.

In March 2005, the Ministry of Health Services and the MSFHR Board of Directors approved a revised governance structure for the Network. The structure endorsed the consultation processes established by the Network for the development of recommendations and delegated to the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Foundation the powers, duties, functions and decision authority to make grants from HSPRSN funds for approved activities. The Terms of Reference for the HSPRSN Steering Council have been revised to reflect these changes.