2023 R07 – BC Health Attraction and Retention
- Year: 2023
- AVICC Number: R07
- UBCM Number: RR13
- Zeballos
Whereas the Ministry of Health has overall responsibility for ensuring that quality, appropriate, cost-effective, and timely health services are available for all British Columbians;
And whereas rural, remote communities are subject to a loss of services due to position vacancies:
Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province of BC continue to support regional health authorities by increasing the health budget for nursing, physicians, and health care professionals attraction and retention, as well as including opportunities for all other emerging health care providers, such as physician assistants.
- Year: 2023
- AVICC Number: R07
- Sponsor: Zeballos
- Resolution Type: Provincial
- Category: Health and Social Development
- AVICC Decision: Endorsed as amended
- AVICC Action: Forwarded to UBCM
- AVICC Response link
- UBCM Number: RR13
- UBCM Decision: Not considered - Similar ask to another resolution
- Provincial Response:RESPONSE TO UBCM 2023-SR1: Ministry of Health The Ministry of Health Standards of Accessibility and Guidelines for Provision of Sustainable Acute Care Service by Health Authorities sets the framework to ensure sustainable and quality of care for BC residents. In particular, residents of rural areas need to be assured of accessibility to acute care services. Health authorities and the Ministry of Health the Ministry establish provincial standards of accessibility so that health services provided ensure sustainability and quality of care for BC residents. This guideline document has been attached for your reference. Our government is focused on reducing barriers for international educated health professionals to help increase the supply of those professionals working successfully in our health care system. That is why we have announced additional actions to recruit more doctors by expanding pathways for international medical graduates IMGs to enter BCs workforce, including: - A further expansion of the Practice Ready Assessment-BC program for internationally trained family physicians which will triple from 32 seats to 96 seats starting March 2024; - The introduction of a USA certified class of licensure through the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC CPSBC to fast-track eligible US-trained physicians to practice pediatrics, internal medicine, or emergency medicine in community settings such as in urgent and primary care centres, community clinics, and family practices; - The introduction of Associate Physicians, a new class of registration that provides a route for IMGs not eligible for licensure as independent medical practitioners, to work under the direction and supervision of an attending physician within structured, team-based care settings. The Ministrys Rural Practice Programs works with health authorities and other partners to improve health services in rural areas of the province. The programs provide a range of supports, including financial incentives, to assist and facilitate the recruitment and retention of physicians in rural communities. The Rural Programs guide has been attached for your reference. The Province also funds Health Match BC, a free health professional recruitment service that helps both internationally educated and Canadian-trained health professionals relocate and practice in BC. In September, the Ministry of Health announced it is working with the CPSBC to introduce physician assistants into BCs emergency departments. This will support health care workers to provide services to patients and help patients access the services they need as we continue to build out team-based care across the health care system. Expanding the scope of health care professionals is part of BCs Health Human Resources Strategy. The strategy supports patients by ensuring they get the health services they need and are cared for by a healthy workforce. It focuses on 70 key actions to retain, recruit and train health-care workers, while redesigning the health care system to foster workplace satisfaction and innovation. Actions taken to build out team-based care for patients include the expanded scope of practice for pharmacists to prescribe for 21 minor ailments, the tripling of nurse practitioners, the new payment model for family physicians, the new collective agreement with nurses, the building of a second medical school at Simon Fraser University, the increase of 602 new nurse training seats, and the building of primary care networks.
- UBCM Response link
The AVICC acknowledges that we are grateful to live, work, and play on the traditional territories of theCoast Salish, Nuu-Chah-Nulth and Kwak-Waka’wakw Peoples