ICTC in partnership with COACH, CHIMA, ITAC Health, and Canada Health Infoway have undertaken a project to develop a sector study of HI & HIM professionals in Canada. The study will provide evidence-based research that will be used to develop a long-term strategic human resource plan for the sector.
The sector study includes the following two components:
1. A Situational Analysis of eHealth in Canada – the report “eHealth in Canada: Current Trends and Future Challenges” is now available (click here)
2. A Health Informatics (HI) and Health Information Management (HIM) Human Resources Report – A landmark study that estimates the current supply of, and five-year requirements for, Health Informatics (HI) and Health Information Management (HIM) professionals in Canada. The study also looks at how many workers have formal training or experience in working with Electronic Health Information Systems (EHIS). The outcome of the study will give healthcare partners an evidence-based foundation for the development of human resource strategies for the future. This report is being released on November 2, 2009. (click here)
Why a sector study of eHealth in Canada?
The critical issue facing the eHealth industry in Canada is labour. Vendors are not able to bid or deliver on business opportunities because they are unable to secure the human resources and eHealth projects are being delayed or cancelled or, are being offered to vendors outside of Canada because of human resource shortfalls.
A report by eHealth Ontario entitled “Ontario’s eHealth Strategy 2009-2012” identified the “Probability” and “Impact” of “Insufficient human resources available to execute Strategy” as the highest risk to the province in implementing its 3 year plan.
A recently released report from the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) entitled “Supporting Transformation: A Vision for e-Health Human Resources for Ontario”, January 2009 states that “The inadequate supply of e-Health human resources in Ontario presents a major challenge in meeting current and future demands for e-Health adoption across the system”.
The health industry in Canada is a multibillion dollar business that is looking to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to realize efficiencies in process, productivity, and expenditures. This sector requires employees with a complex set of skills that are both ICT intensive and deep in the domain knowledge of Health. Understanding the Canadian labour market for eHealth is critical to developing an action plan to support this vital industry.