Health human resource planning in Canada: a typology and its application

A series of group interviews were conducted with key stakeholders in Canadian health human resource (HHR) planning. Interviews revealed that innovative HHR models arose primarily in response to perceived needs at the front line. At the same time global HHR initiatives were implemented by policy makers based on population level estimates of need. A large disconnect is identified between the top down and the bottom up approaches to HHR planning. This paper makes two important contributions. First, it provides a comprehensive typology of HHR models currently being utilized in Canada. The classification of existing HHR models is a necessary first step to standardized evaluation of effectiveness of various HHR approaches in terms of improving access to care and health outcomes. Second, the creation of a new type of health care professional is proposed--the collaboration agent. The collaboration agent is to provide much needed leadership to bottom up endavours at the front line. Furthermore, the collaboration agent is to mediate between the top and the bottom, thereby improving deficient communication and funding channels.