Making Progress:
Task Force Two publishes important report

Task Force Two has reached an important milestone after one year of work. The research component of the first phase is now complete and Task Force Two has published an important study related to physician human resources: “Physician Workforce in Canada: Literature Review and Gap Analysis.” A second report stemming from research undertaken in phase one is scheduled to follow in the spring of 2003. As the Task Force prepares to move into the second phase of its three-phase mandate, both of these reports will assist the Task Force in the development of a human resource strategy for physicians in Canada. Key findings of this gap analysis report are summarized below.

Identifying Gaps in our Knowledge

“Physician Workforce in Canada: Literature Review and Gap Analysis” identifies gaps in our knowledge that should be addressed in developing an effective human resources strategy for physicians in Canada. The authors identified, analyzed and assessed the information on the physician workforce published since 1990. In all, the authors reviewed 196 different monographs, studies, reports and other documents. They also conducted 31 interviews with key informants.

The report provides an overview of the environment in which physicians work, and a summary of the many important trends and issues that are shaping the physician workforce today.

Most importantly, the report identifies several areas in which significant information gaps exist in our country’s current understanding of the physician workforce. Specifically, the report notes gaps in the understanding of:

• Certain aspects of the profile of the physician workforce in Canada;
  
• Changes to the physician environment and how those will affect human resources planning;
  
• Patient needs and demand for medical services;
  
• How changes to the scope of practice for physicians (those services and procedures only licensed physicians are allowed to provide) will affect physician human resources;
  
• How medical schools and teaching hospitals will have to evolve to meet changes in physician human resources needs;
  
• How advances in medical knowledge and technology will affect human resources planning for physicians; and
  
• Gaps in access to data and on-going research to keep pace with the constant changes to Canada’s healthcare system.

The authors explain that these gaps must be addressed in order to develop an effective human resources strategy for physicians. The report concludes with recommendations for improving the collection of data and information and calls for future research activity in a number of key areas.

To read the full text of “Physician Workforce in Canada: Literature Review and Gap Analysis,” please click here.