A study recently released by the Government of Canada confirms a significant healthcare workforce gap in Canada that will worsen over the next ten years if no action is taken. Rural, remote and northern areas in Canada will continue to experience an even larger gap. One issue identified in Caring for Canadians: Canada’s Further Health Workforce – The Canadian Health Workforce Education, Training and Distribution Study was the limited training capacity in the North.
The University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy’s regional Communities of Practice model was highlighted as one of the innovative programs in Canada that is helping address healthcare issues. Since 2015, the School has employed Regional Clinical Coordinators (RCCs) in 14 regions across Ontario. RCCs connect preceptors, students and the School with pharmacists and health professionals in their areas. This work contributes to a model that provides students with direct patient care experience across Ontario including in northern and rural areas. These unique learning experiences give students the confidence to work within diverse communities to deliver equitable and exemplary care.
“Our School is committed to service in northern and rural communities. Since our program began, we have worked with stakeholders to provide experiential learning opportunities for our pharmacy students. We now look forward to expanding our work and providing more pharmacy students opportunities to work and learn in northern and rural communities,” says Andrea Edginton, School of Pharmacy hallman director.
In addition, the School is collaborating with government, academic partners and other stakeholders to grow the pharmacy profession in northern and rural communities. We are actively working on providing more training opportunities for pharmacy students to live, work and learn in these communities. This broader initiative supports the School’s vision to fuel a diverse pipeline of future pharmacists to provide to close the healthcare workforce gap and to ensure access to healthcare and better patient outcomes in northern and rural communities.
“Practicing in the north is a fantastic opportunity for students to develop their skills. Many of these communities have limited access to health care professionals and services. Students are able to work directly with interdisciplinary teams and have a unique opportunity to showcase their pharmaceutical knowledge. Working in the north can be a career-defining experience. The ultimate reward is knowing that you are making meaningful contributions to patient health outcomes,” adds a School of Pharmacy RCC.