2002/03 Annual Service Plan Report Ministry of Health Planning

Appendix 4: Update on New Era Commitments

New Era Commitment	Status	Action
Ensure that BC health care is universal, accessible, portable, comprehensive and publicly administered, consistent with the five principles of the Canada Health Act.	Ongoing	Health authorities have established three-year health service plans to renew and reform patient services in each region in accordance with CHA principles.
Establish provincial health standards that ensure all citizens in every part of the province are entitled to equitable, reliable, high quality health services.	Done	Province wide standards have been established for emergency, acute care, and specialty services.
Develop performance measures that are annually audited and publicly reported for each health standard, to ensure provincial and regional health authorities are accountable for fulfilling their duties to provide the prescribed levels of patient care.	Done	Performance agreements have been developed with each health authority, which define expectations and measures for three fiscal years.
Ensure that appointees to regional health boards are representative of their communities' needs and accountable for their performance in meeting provincial health standards.	Done	Six new health authorities have been established, new boards appointed, and new accountability contracts and measures established.
Work to minimize inter-jurisdictional overlaps that are adding confusion and costs to health care delivery.	Done	The number of health authorities has been reduced from 52 to 6, to provide greater efficiency and coordination within regions.
Negotiate with the federal government to restore all of the health care funding withdrawn through budget cuts.	Ongoing	The First Ministers Accord on Health was completed in February 2003. The Accord will result in an increase in federal funding for health services.
Work with doctors, pharmacists and others to find a cost effective alternative to reference based pricing.	Ongoing	Government has accepted the recommendations of an independent panel (December 2002) to conduct a comprehensive review of PharmaCare and to work with pharmaceutical companies in identifying alternatives.
Work with front line health care professionals to act on their ideas for maximizing the value to patients of every health dollar spent.	Ongoing	The Dialogue on Health in October 2001 brought together 140 professionals, administrators and other experts. The Legislature's Select Standing Committee on Health held hearings in 10 communities, and received 700 submissions for its December 2001 report on health care renewal. MOHP's Chief Nurse Executive has met nurse groups around the province. MOHP's planning process includes input from provincial, national and international experts in service delivery.
Launch a massive recruitment drive to bring non-practicing RNs and LPNs back into our health care systems.	Underway	The government's nursing strategy helped BC gain 538 new practicing nurses in 2002. During the year, 195 nurses were provided grants to take nursing refresher programs to re-enter the nursing field. In the last two years, over 500 nurses have been supported through this initiative.
Provide assistance and opportunities to help nurses develop the specialized skills needed in intensive care units, emergency rooms and operating rooms.	Ongoing	The 2001 nursing strategy provided 315 nurses with specialty training in critical and emergency care. In 2002, a further $2.8 million was provided for specialty and ongoing education, which supported several hundred additional nurses with their continuing education needs.
Expand training programs for care aides, licensed practical nurses and registered nurses, in collaboration with our universities, colleges and institutions.	Ongoing	The number of new RNs, LPNs, RCA and other Allied Health Student spaces increased from 2001/02 by 682.
Increase training spaces and recruitment of foreign-trained nurses and physicians.	Ongoing	In 2002, there was an increase of 31% in the number of foreign nurses who became RN's in British Columbia. HealthMatch BC has been active in overseas recruiting. In addition, 106 qualified foreign nurses have been nominated for positions in BC since 2001 through the Provincial Nominee Program. Foreign residency positions for doctors have increased at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver.
Increase the number of medical school graduates over the next five years.	Underway	A new provincial medical school is being established, with campuses at UBC, UNBC and UVic. Medical school spaces will almost double, from 128 to 224, by 2005.
Increase the number of residency positions in BC hospitals over in the next five years.	Ongoing	Following the new provincial medical school being established, with campuses at UBC, UNBC and UVic, the health ministries are now working with health authorities and the three universities to expand the residency program in B.C. Expanding the program will help alleviate regional shortages by providing a new pool of student doctors who will complete their residency programs in hospitals outside the Lower Mainland.
Develop a Rural and Remote Training Program that provides forgivable loans to BC students attending accredited nursing and medical schools who agree to practise in a rural or remote community in BC.	Done	The Loan Forgiveness program was established in Aug 2001. In 2002/03, the terms of reference were amended to include LPNs and pharmacists, and to increase the rate of forgiveness up to 33% per year.
Introduce a Rural and Remote Training Support program that provides financial and travel assistance to health care providers who want to update or upgrade their skills and training.	Underway	The $2.8 million identified for specialty and continuing education for nurses was allocated equally to the health authorities, which allowed them to provide education according to their prioritized needs to nurses in both urban and rural and remote areas. Training was also provided for 1,500 new recruits and part-time personnel for Paramedic Level I upgrades within the BC Ambulance Service.
Establish a Rural and Remote Health Initiative to ensure all families get the care they need, where they live and when they need it.	Underway	New health authorities have been created to improve regional services, training spaces have been expanded, and forgivable loans have been implemented for students who go on to practice in rural communities. In addition, a new medical school has been established in Prince George and the northern and rural incentives and locum program has been strengthened in the agreement with the BCMA.
Develop a rural travel assistance program, to reduce rural patients' transportation and lodging costs to receive treatment that is not locally available.	Under Development
Establish a "Leading Edge Endowment Fund," cost-shared with the private sector, to establish 20 permanent BC Leadership Chairs in the fields of medical, social, environmental and technological research.	Done	The $45 million fund has been launched by government and the first chair established for spinal cord research. This is an initiative led by the Ministry of Advanced Education and the Office of the Premier.
Work with health care professionals, caregivers, administrators, community leaders, patient groups and the public to develop a comprehensive 10-year Health Strategy for BC.	Underway	The Picture of Health, produced in November 2002, articulates the government's vision for BC's health care system. MOHP is currently developing the comprehensive 10-year directional plan for the health care system to achieve the vision.
Develop a 10-year human resource plan that properly provides for the training, recruitment and retention of physicians, nurses, specialists and other health care providers in every area of the province, and that addresses critical skills and staffing levels in under-serviced areas.	Underway	Health Human Resource planning has resulted in the implementation of several initiatives to address current provider shortages and improve the long term supply of health care providers. The number of education seats for physicians, nurses and allied health professions has been increased. Recruitment, education, retention, and workplace health strategies continue to be developed with health authorities, educators, professional organizations and unions. MOHP has also established a Western Health Human Resource Planning Forum to coordinate human resource strategies among the western provinces.
Develop an Intermediate and Long Term Care Facilities Plan that addresses the needs of our aging population and frees up existing acute care beds.	Underway	As a first step, government established Independent Living BC to develop 3,500 new independent housing and assisted living units for seniors.
Develop a comprehensive Technology Plan to assist health care professionals in delivering faster, more effective treatment to patients through new information technology and telemedicine.	Underway	As a first step, government is funding $15 million in telehealth programs across BC, together with federal and local partners, including the new BC Telehealth Project launched in February 2002. The programs provide emergency and trauma, pediatric maternity and mental health services for 30 communities.
Develop a Hospital Facilities Plan that identifies each health region's key capital requirements and funding priorities.	Underway	As a first step, health authorities are launching a number of capital improvements, including new operating rooms in Surrey, Kelowna and Vernon, and new facilities will be established in Vancouver and Abbotsford.
Develop a Medical Machinery and Equipment Plan that ensures existing medical diagnostic and care equipment is adequately staffed, fully utilized and properly maintained, and that provides for future investments in new equipment and technologies.	Underway	As first steps, 25 new kidney dialysis centers are being established across the province, new defibrillators have been installed on ambulances, and new CT scanner and MRI machines have been installed in a number of hospitals across BC, including Kelowna, Victoria and Nanaimo.