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Fall 2005
Released in the fall of 2005, Amelie's report: Retention of Health Professionals in Rural Nova Scotia contains valuable information that is useful for groups and individuals interested in retention of health professionals in Nova Scotia's rural areas.
Summer 2005 - Policy Change Research Project Proposal
Focusing on retention of health professionals and building on the ‘community environment' recommendations from Brad Osmond's 2004 Rural Communities Impacting Policy (RCIP) report (see below), the intern would be involved with community profiling and asset mapping based on typical community indicators such as income and population - but also focusing on health disparity-type indicators. Community Counts could be used for data collection besides primary methods (e.g. interviews) and the new Community Development Policy could serve as one policy context.
Working with four (or more) regions in rural Nova Scotia, the intern would do an in-depth case study in Yarmouth and the other regions would participate in the research project by providing input and figuring out applications of the research methods and results for their own regions. Outcomes of the research could include a “menu” of ‘community environment' retention options for the particular region. For example, the creation of local Community Development Associations (CDAs) or the establishment of region-wide community-based committees focusing on certain areas such as physical infrastructure. (roads, wharves)
• There are broader applications of this work beyond health professionals in terms of community asset-mapping and other policy implications around revealed health disparities.
• Potential community partners include: Eastern Shore Musquoidoboit Community Health Board (CHB), Yarmouth CHB, Guysborough Antigonish Strait DHA (GASHA) and the North Inverness CHB.
Click here for a MSWord version of the research proposal
Click here to contact Amelie Lombard, Research Intern
Winter 2005
At the 2005 Rural Policy Forum in Tatamagouche, NS, participants in the "rural health" workshop repeated the recommendations in Brad Osmonds report by identifying community health boards (on the ground community participation) and the new provincial Community Development Policy as key factors in the retention of health professionals issue - indeed, that healthy and sustainable community environments are essential for ANY type of population retention. With this in mind, it seemed right to build on Brad's work by having the 2005 RCIP intern work in this area.
Fall 2004
Brad Osmond's report was published (see bottom of page) and delivered to all Community Health Boards & District Health Authorities in Nova Scotia and various government departments at the Provincial and Federal level.
Summer 2004 - Policy Change Research Project
Rural Nova Scotia is faced with its own unique issues around recruitment and retention of health professionals. Community Health Boards have made it clear that this issue needs to be brought to the forefront immediately. No longer can communities rely on a system that is not providing long-term benefits. The Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia, a rural area located outside of Halifax/Dartmouth has been impacted by shortages in health care professionals for the past ten years.
Nearly all the health professional positions are experiencing problems with recruitment and retention. Many strategies have been tried but have been unsuccessful and initiatives to enhance the supply have proven extremely unsuccessful for rural areas. It is important to understand what is happening in this region and how they can overcome the barriers to help maintain their health care services for the population (Martin, 2004). The findings from this study are relevant for other rural communities both within Nova Scotia and beyond.
Research Question
What are the barriers that rural communities face when trying to recruit/retain health professionals? How can they be overcome?
Research Objectives
• Examined strategies that have been used elsewhere and assessed their fit for rural Nova Scotia.
• Described policies that have impacted rural health care services in Canada and internationally.
• Documented experiences of the Eastern Shore Musquodoboit Community Health Board (ESMCHB) and key informants in the community when trying to recruit/retain health professionals.
• Made connections between local, national and international strategies for the recruitment/retention of health professionals.
• Made recommendations to help rural NS overcome barriers to recruitment/retention including a policy statement.
Policy Barriers to Recruitment and Retention of Health
Professionals in Rural Areas of Nova Scotia - by Brad Osmond - August 2004
Policy Barriers to Recruitment and Retention of Health
Professionals in Rural Areas of Nova Scotia - Summary Report - by Brad Osmond - August 2004
Winter & Spring 2003-2004 - Rural Health in Nova Scotia
Taken from the 2004 Rural Policy Forum Report (p. 99)
There are many important reasons for focusing on the health of rural Nova Scotians. First, over half of the NS population lives in rural areas. Second, Nova Scotia's economic base is very dependent on the health and sustainability of its rural communities. Third, mounting evidence suggests that both health status and health service are disadvantaged by rural living as compared with urban living. Finally, many of the health challenges are different for urban versus rural people.
Health services training and service investments are primarily urban, neglecting small communities and issues such as rural environmental and occupational health. There are three key components of rural health: health status, social determinants of health, and health services. Any or all of these three components are potential areas for policy development and change.
From this broad selection of issues, the issue of recruitment and retention of health professionals was chosen - in part from participant feedback in the 2004 Forum workshop, but also because of the 2004 Interns' extensive experience in this area. (Brad Osmond)
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Related Resources
RCIP Discussion Forum
RCIP Rural Policy Forum
(Feb 2004) Report
RCIP Rural Policy Forum - February 2005
Past RCIP Intern Reports Policy Barriers to Recruitment and Retention of Health
Professionals in Rural Areas of Nova Scotia - by Brad Osmond - August 2004
Policy Barriers to Recruitment and Retention of Health
Professionals in Rural Areas of Nova Scotia - Summary Report - by Brad Osmond - August 2004
Powerpoint Presentation of Rural Health Project - Rural Health Conference (Sudbury, October 2004)
**NOTE: To receive notice about when new files or updates are posted in relation to Brad's work, email Brad at: bosmond@dal.ca and you will be added to his notice distribution list.
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