Three IHPME faculty teams have received funding from the Government of Canada to expand research, improve planning, and build on workforce data.
By: Marielle Boutin
In light of increased challenges experienced by healthcare workers, the Government of Canada has announced project funding to support a better future for care employees. As part of this $47 million federal funding initiative, 15 innovative projects will be carried out to tackle healthcare challenges such as the shortage of skilled labour, high burnout rates, and decreased morale among workers.
Three IHPME faculty members are among those whose projects have been selected to receive this crucial funding.
“Congratulations to the grant recipients. These projects are essential in addressing the critical challenges faced by our healthcare workforce and improving patient care and health outcomes across the country,” says Dr. Audrey Laporte, Director of IHPME.
The IHPME 2024 Grant Recipients
Lianne Jeffs – Health Systems Research (HSR)
Project title: Examining and Exploring the Implementation and Impact of a Leadership Intervention on Work Life and Fundamental Care Delivery
Funding amount: $734,484
Duration: Three Years
Dr. Lianne Jeffs is the inaugural Scientific Director, Science of Care Institute, Research and Innovation Lead and Senior Clinician Scientist with Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute at Sinai Health and IHPME faculty affiliated with the Health Systems Research (HSR) program. Dr. Jeffs’ project involves implementing a program titled LAMP (Leadership and Mentorship Program) to develop nurses’ leadership skills, enabling them to provide better care for their patients. Dr. Jeffs was driven to pursue this research due to a decline in fundamental care and a decrease in morale among nurses, an issue that was amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We recognize the crucial role nurses play in delivering high-quality, compassionate care, and understand that offering meaningful leadership opportunities is key to retaining the nursing workforce,” says Dr. Jeffs.
According to Dr. Jeffs, the program’s objectives are to improve patient outcomes, increase job satisfaction among nurses, and improve the healthcare system by cultivating a more resilient workforce, ready to take on future challenges and provide high-quality care during crises like COVID-19.
On a personal level, I was beyond thrilled about the news of receiving funding to build capabilities for nurses to lead our health system in the caring space. This grant will enable us to restore and rebuild our nursing profession in efforts to transform fundamental compassionate care and society in deeply meaningful and profound ways.
– Lianne Jeffs
Monika Krzyzanowska – Health Systems Research (HSR)
Project Title: Optimizing the Cancer Care Workforce Utilizing Existing Health Human Resources
Funding amount: $742,120
Duration: Three Years
Dr. Monika Krzyzanowska is Chief of the Odette Cancer Program at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Regional Vice President, Cancer Services, for Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario). She is also a faculty member affiliated with the Health Systems Research (HSR) program at IHPME. Dr. Krzyzanowska’s project, CAREFORCE (Collaborative Approach to Research Optimization in the Cancer Care Workforce), aims to improve cancer care by fine-tuning the use of the current healthcare workforce and is a result of health systems constraints such as the consistent shortage of skilled practitioners, high rates of burnout, and the persistent need to find innovative ways to deliver care during a time of high demand. Dr. Krzyzanowska and her team, which also includes fellow IHPME members Drs. Melanie Powis, and Ambreen Sayani as co-investigators, and Dr. Abi Sriharan as co-principal investigator, will connect teams from across Canada through a program that will provide them with training on how to optimize their practices while undertaking a project that will involve solving a specific workforce challenge. Dr. Krzyzanowska hopes this project will help build capacity within the healthcare system to solve workforce issues and develop best practices to tackle problems proactively.
There has been a substantial increase in the last several years in challenges related to the workforce in healthcare. I have observed this firsthand as a frontline healthcare provider and as a leader within the health system, but you don’t need to work in the system to be aware of this issue. The workforce is the backbone of all health systems. Figuring out effective strategies to address workforce-related challenges is relevant across the entire spectrum of care delivery from prevention to end-of-life care. While our specific grant focuses on cancer care, the approach can be applied to any area of health.
– Monika Krzyzanowska
Catharine Walsh – Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research (CEHCR), Health Professions Education Research (HPER)
Project title: Implementation of an Evidence-Informed, Simulation-Based Coaching Leadership Intervention to Address Pediatric Healthcare Workforce Burnout and Support Performance
Funding amount: $749,875
Duration: Three Years
Dr. Catharine Walsh is an Educational Researcher at the SickKids Learning Institute and a Scientist at the SickKids Research Institute and the Wilson Centre. She is also a faculty member affiliated with the Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research (CEHCR) and Health Professions Education Research (HPER) programs at IHPME. Dr. Walsh’s project is focused on improving leadership in Canada’s pediatric health sector. Building on research conducted by Dr. Abi Sriharan, Dr. Walsh’s research team is implementing a coaching program called CLIMB (Coaching Leaders to Improve Management and Well-Being). Like Dr. Krzyzanowska’s grant, Dr. Walsh’s funded project involves tri-leadership, including a clinician lead (NPI), a Research PI, and a Knowledge User PI. Dr. Abi Sriharan serves as the Research PI on both grants. The program uses simulations to help healthcare leaders develop management and coaching skills to address healthcare provider burnout and foster a resilient, equitable, and inclusive work environment. According to Dr. Walsh, her research is driven by a desire to improve the quality of care for children and youth and strengthen the Canadian healthcare system.
Receiving this grant is incredibly meaningful to me as it enables us to make a tangible difference in the pediatric healthcare sector. It provides the necessary resources to implement our vision for fostering resilient and supportive healthcare environments, ultimately improving the well-being of providers and the quality of care for children and youth. This funding represents a critical step toward creating sustainable solutions that will have a lasting impact on the health of our communities.
– Catharine Walsh
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Marielle Boutin
Email Address: ihpme.communications@utoronto.ca