Government of Yukon, Yukon Hospital Corporation and health partners release new Health Human Resources Strategy to better meet Yukoners’ needs

Press Release

13/12/2023

This is a joint news release between the Government of Yukon and Yukon Hospital Corporation.

Today, the Government of Yukon, Yukon Hospital Corporation and health partners released a Health Human Resources Strategy to better ensure that Yukoners have access to the health care services they need, when and where they need them.

The Health Human Resources Strategy provides a systemic, coordinated and informed roadmap towards a health and social services system that will meet Yukoners’ current and future needs. It builds on recommendations from the Putting People First report, which aims to improve the health and social services, outcomes and experiences of everyone in the territory.

The Health Human Resources Strategy outlines 25 actions to be implemented jointly by the Government of Yukon and the Yukon Hospital Corporation, in partnership with the Health Human Resources (HHR) Steering Committee.

These 25 actions will be implemented over the next three years with the goal of increasing and supporting the Yukon’s current and future health workforce of physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, traditional healers, social workers and support staff. The Strategy builds on existing progress in the Yukon’s health and social service sectors and includes key metrics to track progress and success, which will be reported publicly.

The 25 actions span five key pillars which aim to boost the delivery of quality care and services and attract more health professionals to live and work in the Yukon. The five pillars are:

Retain: Build and support skilled, passionate, healthy, diverse and inclusive teams.
Recruit: Grow and attract a passionate, engaged and qualified workforce reflective of the needs of Yukoners.
Plan: Collect the right data to support long-term workforce planning, identify gaps and make evidence-based decisions.
Innovate: Promote and implement new ways of working and learning.
Learn: Create more growth, training and educational opportunities for Yukoners to learn locally.

To support the implementation of the Strategy, the Yukon government will be investing an initial $3.3 million between now and April 1, 2025. This funding will help to support work on immediate term priorities and allow us to move forward with progressing key elements of the strategy, including new training and education opportunities, new recruiting and retention initiatives and developing supports for internationally educated health professionals to practice in the Yukon. Additional funding for long-term initiatives will be made available through future budgetary processes as the strategy is implemented.

The health and wellbeing of Yukoners is the foundation of a strong and thriving territory. This Strategy, focused on recruiting and retaining nurses and health professionals, will strengthen our health and social service systems as we continue to fill crucial health care roles across the Yukon. I look forward to sharing progress as we continue working with partners to retain, recruit and plan for healthcare professionals to live and work across the territory.

Minister of Health and Social Services Tracy-Anne McPhee

The Yukon government and our health system partners understand the intensity of the health human resources crisis and we have been taking actions to address it. Our strategy features bold and innovative solutions to address immediate health care challenges and prepare for long-term health care needs in the Yukon. In our strategy, we are seeking and including lived-experience contributions from health and social providers such as nurses, physicians, social workers and many others who have insights that are essential to shaping a resilient and healthy Yukon workforce.

Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services Tiffany Boyd

This Health Human Resources Strategy is a significant step forward in our journey to not only address immediate healthcare needs but also to sustain long-term excellence in patient care. By fostering a supportive and innovative environment, we aim to attract and retain health professionals who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of Yukoners. Together, we’re building a health system that is resilient and reflects the spirit and strength of our communities.

Chief Executive Officer Yukon Hospital Corporation Jason Bilsky

Quick facts

In response to the global shortage of healthcare workers and the Yukon’s health human resource challenges, the Government of Yukon and the Yukon Hospital Corporation helped form a Health Human Resources (HHR) Steering Committee with leaders from across Yukon’s health sector in March 2023 to include:
- The Government of Yukon;
- Yukon Hospital Corporation;
- Yukon Medical Association;
- Yukon Registered Nurses Association;
- Yukon Medical Council;
- Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada;
- Council of Yukon First Nations;
- Yukon University;
- Kwanlin Dün First Nation; and
- Yukon Employees Union.
The committee has established eight working groups representing areas of recruitment, engagement, housing, immigration and licensing, internationally educated health professional integration, data and planning, training and emerging positions.
On December 1, 2022, the Government of Yukon announced a $6 million package of retention and signing bonuses for nurses employed by the Government of Yukon.
These retention and recruitment bonuses are being provided to Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and Licensed Practical Nurses, until March 31, 2024, who are in a position requiring a nursing designation and performing nursing duties for the Government of Yukon.
Since December 1, 2022, the Department of Health and Social Services has recruited 60 nurses, including 44 Registered Nurses and 16 Licensed Practical Nurses.
Significant funding has been allocated to this project, including:
- $2 million to enhance recruitment and retention of new health professionals across the Yukon. In fiscal 2023-24, this includes:
  - $500,000 to develop a cross-sectoral Yukon Health Human Resources Strategy;
  - $464,000 for Community Nursing and Nurse Practitioner funding for additional nursing full-time employees (FTEs); and,
  - $649,000 for Nurse Retention and Recruitment Incentives;
  - $387,000 for 3.8 FTEs for Human Resources. The new positions will help support the Health Human Resource Strategy and Internationally Educated Health Professionals, they will also work on recruitment initiatives for health professionals.
  - The Government of Yukon has provided $50,000 to the Yukon Medical Association to financially support a physician locum recruiter. This role is dedicated to helping recruit physicians to serve Yukoners in locums, which are typically 2-6 weeks in duration (Short-term) or 2-6 months (Long-term).

Backgrounder

The 25 actions are:

To build and support skilled, passionate, healthy, diverse and inclusive teams:

1.1. Engage the health and social workforce

1.2. Develop retention strategies

1.3. Expand anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives

1.4. Review, enhance, and recommend mobility practices

1.5. Ensure confidential and safe reporting channels are in place

1.6. Increase timely access to wellness supports

1.7. Expand financial incentives

To grow and attract a passionate, engaged and qualified workforce reflective of the needs of Yukoners:

2.1. Develop recruitment strategies

2.2. Improve housing availability

2.3. Streamline licensing pathways

2.4. Streamline processes for granting hospital privileges

2.5. Evolve health professional laws

2.6. Establish a clear IEHP integration pathway

To collect the right data to support long-term workforce planning, identify gaps and make evidence-based decisions:

3.1. Gather comparable health workforce data

3.2. Create a health workforce data strategy

To transform how we educate, train, create and support new roles by evaluating current processes, leveraging partnerships, and utilizing digital tools to create change:

4.1. Deploy team-based family health models

4.2. Leverage existing health roles in a new way

4.3. Identify digital tools to support the health workforce

4.4. Provide sustainable and accessible virtual care and telehealth services

To expand opportunities to access education and training in health professions, including opportunities that ensure Yukon-specific education and training programs that will allow Yukoners to learn locally:

5.1. Develop formalized career pathways and upskilling processes

5.2. Build leadership competencies

5.3. Expand capacity to train

5.4. Expand and promote educational opportunities

5.5. Develop a rural family medicine residency program

5.6. Provide sponsorship for training

Media contact

Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca

Kim Sheridan
Communications
867-334-8832
kim.sheridan@yukon.ca

Jessica Apolloni
Communications, Yukon Hospitals
867-393-8698
Jessica.apolloni@yukonhospitals.ca

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