Regional Health Workforce Planning for Integrated Care Models: Application of a Workforce Planning Toolkit in One Ontario Health Team

Background and Objectives: Canada is experiencing a health workforce crisis. Integrated models of care, including Ontario Health Team (OHTs), are important examples of large-scale reform focusing on local populations and a regional health workforce. To ensure a workforce meets population needs, we must use a regional approach to workforce planning. While significant work has been published on health workforce planning, few examples of how regional integrated care systems can apply workforce planning models to address population needs exist. This project aims to inform policy to support regional workforce planning for integrated care strategies. Methods: Using an exploratory mixed methods single case study design, an OHT including rural and urban populations served as the case. The selected Health Workforce Planning Model (HWPM) identified in a scoping review was applied. A mixed methods approach included multiple regional, provincial and federal data sources to describe the population, health needs and service providers. Document analysis of publicly available workforce planning documents across all OHTs was completed. Discrete analysis was conducted for quantitative data. Results: Using the HWPM, data was captured regarding service requirements (population data demographics, health status, health services utilization) and capacity (health workforce) to identify potential gaps. 6 federal/provincial data sets were used to describe the population. 19/93 regional organizations completed surveys to obtain workforce data. Review of 54 OHT websites found only 12 had documents mentioning health workforce planning, including strategic plans (66.7%) and other reports. Conclusions: Key recommendations focused on the need for: health workforce planning governance structures and accountability provincially and within OHTs; standardized and comprehensive data and reporting across sectors; and infrastructure at the provincial level and within regions to support health workforce planning.