The Department of Health and Social Services is taking further steps to ensure that Islanders have access to an adequate supply of health professionals. A dedicated health human resource recruiter and a health human resource planner have been hired, and a comprehensive analysis of the supply of health professionals in the province is now being conducted to assist in planning for future human resource needs.
Health and Social Services Minister Jamie Ballem advised that the new initiatives support the goals of the health and social services system strategic plan to improve the sustainability of the system and maintain a healthy skilled workforce. "To have a sustainable system, it is critical that we have continued access to both financial and human resources. The addition of qualified new staff, along with effective human resource planning based on good labour market information and a partnership approach, will help us achieve our goals both in the immediate and longer terms," said the minister.
In his role as health recruiter, Glen Doyle of Charlottetown will be responsible for developing and implementing recruitment campaigns for health and social services professionals, and liaising with employers, educators and students. Glen has extensive experience in human resource management with the Department of Health and Social Services and the Regional Health Authorities.
The new health human resource planner is Wayne Dunsford, also of Charlottetown, who will lead the development of a system-wide human resource plan to meet present and future needs. Wayne has a strong background in economics, forecasting, and statistical analysis in the public and private sectors.
Human resource planning and recruitment will be enhanced by the availability of information gathered through the supply and demand analysis which is now underway.
The analysis includes three components. "First, it will provide us with a profile of our current supply of providers. Secondly, it will identify supply, demand and training issues over the next five years. And finally it will provide us with a forecasting model to assist in planning for future needs," the minister said. "Because the private sector and the education sector have a major impact on the supply of and demand for health professionals, we are very pleased that they are partners with us in this project."
A final report is expected in the fall. It will include an inventory of all health professionals in the public and private sectors by occupational group and employment sector, and a demographic analysis of the health and social services workforce based on factors such as age, gender mix, years of service, origin of training and retirement eligibility. A database of health education and training programs in Atlantic Canada will also be available to identify capacity to produce trained professionals and guide the allocation of resources in this area. "For the first time, employers and educators in both the public and private sectors will have access to a dynamic forecasting model and a central database of information to support coordinated human resource planning and continued access to quality health and social services in the province," said the minister.
The study is being conducted by DMR Consulting of Fredericton and provincial partner Steve McQuaid of The Discoverers Group of Charlottetown who began in February to develop a profile of 52 occupational groups in the public sector, and 28 groups in the private sector. Funding for the study is provided by the Canada/Prince Edward Island Labour Market Development Agreement, co-managed by Human Resources Development Canada and the provincial Department of Development and Technology.
The study is managed by an advisory committee of representatives from the Department of Health and Social Services, Department of Education, Human Resources Development Canada (ex officio), the Public Service Commission, the Regional Health Authoritieis, and private sector employers.
More information on the analysis is available on the provincial government website at www.gov.pe.ca/hss.