|
|
New Report from CIHI Examines Current State of Canada’s Health Care Providers
Monday November 26, 2001
(TORONTO) – Amid public and policy debates on issues facing health professionals, such as possible shortages,
on-the-job injuries, and recruitment and retention strategies, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI)
released today a special report that presents a consolidated reference about what we know and don’t know about
Canada’s health care providers.
According to CIHI President and CEO, Richard Alvarez, "Canada’s Health Care Providers summarizes important information
and highlights critical issues facing our health care providers today. It is evident that we need better information
to understand and take stock of the current situation to better plan for future requirements. This is critical in
light of an aging population, an aging workforce and changes in the way health care services will be delivered in the future."
CIHI’s report presents a fact-based compilation of current research, historical trends and new data, on what we know and
don’t know about Canada’s health care providers, serving as a foundation for understanding some of the critical and complex
issues facing these professionals today. Produced with the help of the Institute for Work & Health, Canada’s Health Care
Providers draws on new data and analysis from CIHI, as well as research produced at the local, regional, provincial,
national and international levels.
"The report covers a broad range of health care providers," explains Jennifer Zelmer, CIHI’s Director of Health Reports
and Analysis. "Where possible, we have tried to include information not only on Canadians employed in health occupations
who rise each morning to care for those in need, but also the millions who provide care to family members and friends."
Highlights of Canada’s Health Care Providers include:
- Absenteeism and on-the-job injuries are high among health care workers
People who work in health care were one-and-a-half times more likely to miss work because of illness and disability
than workers in other sectors in 2000. On average, 7.2% of Canadians in full-time health occupations were absent
for health reasons each week. That compares with 4.8% of all other workers. Health workers also tended to be away
for longer (11.8 days on average because of illness or disability in 2000 compared with 6.7 days for other workers). If
the average absenteeism in health care could be reduced to that for all Canadian workers, it would mean the equivalent
of more than 13,700 "extra" full-time employees on the job, including almost 5,500 RNs.
- The mix and scope of practice of providers are changing
Registered nurses represent the largest group of regulated health professionals, followed by physicians. But there
are now more than 30 health professions regulated under legislation in at least one province or territory. Their
skills and roles differ across the country and often overlap. For example, midwives, now regulated in four provinces,
may deliver babies in addition to family physicians and specialists.
- Counting the number of providers doesn’t tell the whole story
There were more than 232,000 nurses and 57,800 physicians practising in Canada in 2000. However, there is an
unequal distribution of health professionals across the country. Ensuring the right numbers of health care providers,
with the right mix of skills, who are available to provide appropriate health services, where and when they are
needed, is a complex task and is influenced by many factors. Some examples include changes in the demographics and
health of the population, in work patterns of health professionals, and in the demographic
characteristics (e.g. aging) of health care providers. These and many other factors can affect the need for, and
availability of, health care providers.
- Job satisfaction among health care providers
According to the Statistics Canada Workplace and Employee survey, more than four in five Canadians working in
non-health related occupations (90%) were satisfied or very satisfied with their job in 1999. This compares to 85%
of those in health occupations. In a recent study of 19 urban teaching hospitals, job satisfaction among nurses
was correlated with patient satisfaction with nursing care received and some patient outcomes such as pain
management following obstetrical care.
- Health educational requirements are changing
Training requirements are changing for many health professionals. For example, Canada’s nursing associations are
moving towards a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree as a minimum for entry into nursing practice.
Scientists at the Institute for Work & Health are actively involved in several research projects examining the health
of health care workers. In a collaborative chapter of Canada’s Health Care Providers that focuses on the health of
health care workers, researchers from the Institute highlighted many of the work-related health issues currently
affecting the health care sector. As an example, explains Dr. Michael Kerr, a research scientist at the
Institute: "Health care workers, particularly nurses, are vulnerable to musculoskeletal injuries from lifting
and moving patients. They may also be subject to other workplace hazards, such as accidental needlestick injuries,
infection, illness, stress, burnout and physical and verbal abuse."
"Good information, with a pan-Canadian perspective, is absolutely critical for addressing the concerns of today and
the need for health personnel for the future. Without this information, government officials in each province or
territory are left to focus on only part of the national picture," notes Dr. Tom Ward who chairs the
Federal/Provincial/Territorial Advisory Committee on Health Human Resources and the Advisory Committee for
CIHI’s report, and is Deputy Minister of Health for Nova Scotia. "Canada’s Health Care Providers is an exciting
and necessary step in the direction of providing provinces and territories with the information they require to
make good decisions regarding health human resources."
"Canada’s Health Care Providers is part of CIHI’s ongoing commitment to work to improve the breadth and depth of
information available to help inform current discussions about health human resource needs in Canada," adds
Mr. Alvarez. "We look forward to continuing to work with our partners across the country to address the information
gaps that remain, such as the dearth of information on health care managers and administrators."
Next: About CIHI 
 Top
 Back to News & Events
|
|
|
In this release:
