Internationally Educated Healthcare Professionals- Sault College

Organizational Stakeholder’s Testimonials

MICHEL O’CONNOR

LEAD, NORTH EAST REGIONAL PSW WORKFORCE REGIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE

ONTARIO HEALTH NORTH

Michel O’Connor is the Lead of the North East Regional PSW Workforce Steering Committee under Ontario Health North (OH North) (previously the North East LHIN). The Steering Committee’s purpose is to identify and promote mitigation strategies to the challenges affecting the affecting the retention, recruitment, sustainability of the PSW workforce.

“Strategic planning and operations should take into account human resources availability along the anticipated demand for services in order to allow for effective and equitable delivery of quality healthcare.”


“Ontario Health is a good intermediary between the local health system priorities and the provincial policies. This allows for the identification and communication of our local priorities to inform provincial policy development. A good majority of those policies are channelled through Ontario Health, in order to implement at the local level.”


“In the organizational context, there is value to have such a mechanism to be in the position to respond to emerging local health priorities. We have six Ontario health regions, as opposed to 14 Local Health Integrated Networks (LHINs). This integration creates an opportunity to pull common threads, with common issues and common opportunities that can be found among these organizations. It proved to be more efficient, and this was evident as Ontario Health responded to this pandemic.”


Healthcare challenges in the community and how Ontario Health responded during this pandemic


“During this pandemic, Ontario Health was positioned in a vital role to juggle different priorities, support the implementation of certain response protocols, and ensure financial resources are made available. At present, we are shifting away from responding to the pressures of the pandemic towards planning and ramping-up capacity.”

“Ramping up of services like home care, long-term care, and surgical services is the current mind shift and the onus is on Ontario Health and its relationship with local health service providers.”



Personal Support Workers and PSW Grandfathering Membership

Mr. O’Connor stated that there is an increasing amount of ageing population in the North demographically. The OECD1 which estimates that by 2040, Canada will require 80% more individuals in the healthcare workforce to maintain the current ration of HHR to population aged 65 years of age or older.


HealthForce Ontario (now part or Ontario Health) collaborated with Ontario Personal Support Workers Association (OPSWA) and other agencies to create this initiative to address the demand for healthcare workers. The initiative is target at recruitment, local education, and training, allow re-entry of past PSWs that have left the workforce, and giving importance to capacity building. A preceptorship is also an option, through organizations and colleges, especially for the internationally educated healthcare workforce who cannot readily enter the workforce due to Ontario regulations.



“The Personal Support Worker Grandfathering Membership is a way to address the demand for healthcare workers in our community.”


Mr. O’Connor agrees that there is a demand for Personal Support Workers but unfortunately, this demand is not backed up by meaningful statistics to quantify the shortage. He states that the system planning efforts is relying mostly on local anecdotal information and secondary data. He stated that PSW is not recognized as a stand-alone occupation, and it’s being recognized under two National Occupational Classification codes (NOC). There is a plan to roll out a Health Human Resources Inventory tool but has received some apprehension to push through because this would entail additional obligations for providers during this pandemic.


Mr. O’Connor also added that the Rural Northern Immigration Pilot program also identifies that Personal Support Workers and other members of the healthcare workforce as the key priority for this program.


Message to Internationally Educated Healthcare Professionals


Mr. O’Connor advises Sault College students, who are interested to join the healthcare workforce and who are experiencing career challenges, to engage themselves with Sault Sainte Marie employers to address the demand for healthcare workers in the community.

DIRECTOR JENNIFER OSESKY

ONTARIO HEALTH



Director Jennifer Osesky is Ontario Health’s Director of Planning and Integration-Algoma and also works as an esteemed professor at Sault College, Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario.



Ontario Health



Ontario Health was formed under legislation by the provincial government to look at managing and planning the delivery of health care services across the province of Ontario. It is the amalgamation of 21 different healthcare organizations across the province of Ontario, including the integration of 14 LHINS (Local Health Integration Networks) as of April 1, 2021.



“The mission and vision of Ontario Health is to deliver high quality and equitable health care system to everyone in Ontario regardless of who they are or where they live.”



Director Jennifer Osesky oversees a budget of about $264 million, including five hospitals, long-term care (LTC) homes, community support service delivery organizations and all service providers, except for primary care physician services which are directly managed by the Ministry of Health.



Ontario Health’s strategic planning in the last year our primary focus has been on the delivery of COVID-19 related planning and service, trying to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on, not just individuals but also on the services delivered (visitors for LTC residents with dementia and cognitive decline, adult day programs, complex restorative care in the community and LTC settings). Ontario Health is pivoting its focus in the next 6-12 months on the restoration of the services and delivery of care that have been delayed and deferred due to COVID-19, which includes significant priorities like surgery, diagnostic imaging, mental health, and addictions.







Ontario Health is currently in a state of transition within the health care system. Ontario Health has been vital in the development and success of the following projects:



Operation of 20 beds for both residential withdrawal management and safe beds in the community and the Algoma District, dealing with mental health and addiction issues (alcohol or substance use) till May 2020 (closure due to fire and flood)

Creation and funding of a new facility or location to restore operations and services, as announced by the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP), through the efforts of the Ministry of Health local stakeholders, Sault Area Hospital and Ontario Health

Program Integration, where two organizations work together and transition services from one to the other, approving a motion to allow the integration of the Adult Day Program between the FJ Davey Home, Sault Ste. Marie to the Alzheimer's Society, Sault Ste. Marie, allowing the same staff, program, and amount of funding to serve eight more individuals a day.



“Health human resource is and continues to be a really big challenge.”



During the pandemic, Ontario Health had noted there is not enough human resources in the health care system across the province and most definitely in Northern Ontario communities. Especially in outbreaks, with high-risk contacts in the workplace, this highlighted the critical need for close area monitoring (lunchrooms, smoking rooms, public transportation) and the use of PPE (personal protective equipment).



“We just do not have enough capacity to be able to support the system the way it needed to be.”



There is a need to rally the health care system together to try to create capacity from within organizations to be able to support any health care setting that is facing challenges, whether in terms of PPE, staff, or technology. Sault Area Hospital, for example, would offer to send their IPAC (Infection Prevention and Control) Team and Infectious Specialist physician in a Long-Term Care home if it went into an outbreak, to help address and mitigate risks.







Challenges during the COVID-19 Pandemic



“Despite the challenges of COVID-19, there was some really great learnings about how we could work together better.”



Ontario Health supported outbreaks by:



Managing funding initiatives like wage enhancements for PSW's to try to encourage people to take on roles that they may have not been comfortable with due to the financial incentive

Supporting COVID-19 planning tables which included 7 tables across the North that represented the different geography that engaged not just the traditional healthcare system but also public health

Pulling together Mobile Enhancement and Support Teams (MESTs) made up of volunteers from organizations across the healthcare system, including hospital staff, home and community care staff, community support service staff from groups like the March of Dimes, Alzheimer's Society, or other organizations, to be deployed out to different settings to support and augment staffing in moments of crisis



Opinions and Insights about the Personal Support Worker Grandfathering Membership Initiative



Director Jennifer Osesky brought the idea of the Personal Support Worker Grandfathering Membership Initiative from the North East LHINs to Sault College to address the demand for healthcare workers in the community, by recruiting students and doing reference checks.



“As a Professor at Sault College, it gives me an opportunity to connect with healthcare professionals and hopefully support them, to give them a perspective that will allow them to be successful as they move forward.”



“It is almost unimaginable to me that I sit with a classroom of health care professionals ranging from physiotherapists, dentists, optometrists to physicians and everything in between, and yet these students are so under-utilized, and we have a system that is so desperate and the disconnect is really hard for me.”



“The program is a good opportunity for those who are Internationally Educated Nurses to get into the health care system, to observe and learn as they work to get their own licenses. I think that that's primarily the desire of internationally-educated students is to come here to look for an opportunity to get their credentials, and to be able to practice in the field that they've been trained in.”



“I see this as sort of a WIN for everyone.”



“The program gives Nursing students an opportunity to work in the health care system, give you an opportunity to develop contacts in the health care system, and sustainable earnings to be able to support yourself while you work to get your accreditation.”



“This is also making such a huge impact on the residents, primarily in long-term care, creating capacity that we would not otherwise have in the healthcare system.”



Words of Advice for International Students and Internationally Educated Healthcare Professionals-



“…PERSEVERE.”



“My words of advice to you and other students is to PERSEVERE.”



“It is difficult but by virtue of the fact that you've left your lives, you've moved halfway across the world, you are resilient. Unfortunately, the healthcare system in Ontario and Canada is not at a place where it is easy for you to transition so that means that you carry the burden of all those extra steps you need to conduct to be able to have your accredited professional designation. The road is a little complex and sometimes can be quite long, but I think if you can, particularly for those Internationally Educated Nurses, if you can start working as a PSW and start to observe in the health care system, you can determine what you want to do. You need to have a goal to work towards if you are looking to get into the health care system as a graduate in healthcare administration. I think currently there are some good opportunities I know a lot of my former students are working at the hospital they have a tendency to get hired as screeners for COVID, ward clerks, PSWs.”



“I would encourage you to try to get your foot in the door to an organization like a Community Hospital where you can then move within that kind of setting, and it allows for a better income to be able to support the demands of working towards your own professional designation in Ontario.”



“I continue to recommend students and graduates to pursue PSW Grandfathering, including other programs under Sault College, like Health Informatics, Gerontology, etc.”

DIRECTOR IAN DE SILVA

ONTARIO PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKER ASSOCIATION



Mr. Ian Da Silva is the Director of Operations for OPSWA (Ontario Personal Support Worker Association). This organization is a branch of the Canadian Support Workers Association which is the national provincial professional association for frontline healthcare workers otherwise known as Personal Support Workers or Healthcare Workers in Ontario.



OPSWA is an association for Personal Support Workers and other frontline healthcare delivery workers that are in Ontario. Over the last few years, OPSWA is working very closely together with the government to build a regulatory mechanism to create a public state guard for frontline healthcare workers, protecting them from harm. Traditionally, they were advocating for self-regulation of PSW which is now reversed to advocating for the regulation of workers



"Health care workers are exhausted, so the quality of care is declining." According to Mr. Da Silva, the quality of care is lowering down because of the division of the delivery of care that result from the lack of standards in providing healthcare across the province of Ontario. OPSWA is now trying to reverse that problem. He also added that one of organization's major challenges is maintaining the staffing, especially in the middle of a pandemic.


“Due to the high demand of healthcare workers, one of the roles played and opportunities OPSWA had back in 2019, was to successfully bring in International Educated Nurses (IEN) when we were approached by the Ministry of Health. One of the essential parts comes down to standardization of education to make sure we have exceptional healthcare delivery”.



PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE AND DEVELOPMENT



"AT OPSWA, WE CONTINUOUSLY STRIVE TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO AID THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKERS THROUGHOUT ONTARIO. OUR GOAL IS TO STANDARDIZE KNOWLEDGE IN PSW POLICIES & RESPONSIBILITIES AND PROVIDE CAREER & PSW TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL PSWS."



OPSWA considers Internationally Educated Nurses and Midwives eligible for membership, even those who do not hold a license in their home countries. "When it comes with Nurses and Midwives, they instinctively know what to do with the needs of the patient."



There is also consideration for other International Educated Healthcare Professionals (IEHP) by evaluating their experiences and skills, particularly those working in a healthcare area. Additionally, all IEHPs are welcome to be a part of the program as long as they have the experience and set of skills to provide health assistance in a healthcare facility.


Since the program was launched, OPSWA started accepting Physicians who wanted to do personal care, Personal Support Workers, and have also received requests from Dentists, Physiotherapists, etc. OPSWA offers assessment of credentials and pre-approval requests for PSW Grandfathering Membership.



"If you’re working in a healthcare facility, performing well, and you want to become a PSW Grandfathered Member, we can look into that. We are working to expand the list for PSW Grandfathering Membership to include other IEHPs because the need is high right now and they are needed to support the community.”



GRANDFATHERING MEMBERSHIP



"DUE TO THE MASS SHORTAGE OF PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKERS IN THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO, HEALTHFORCEONTARIO AND THE ONTARIO PSW ASSOCIATION ARE ANSWERING THE CALL FOR HELP. OPSWA IS VERY SPECIFIC AS TO WHO CAN APPLY AND BE GRANTED GRANDFATHERING. THIS IS A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS."



MESSAGE TO THE CAPSTONE PROJECT TEAM



“This is a home-grown operation, you are all new Canadians, you’ve taken leadership. This is REMARKABLE."


"What you're forming is the beginning of a new professional community in the Soo, for Personal Support Workers and you have gone ahead and did this."


"The real things right now in Canada and internationally, are these ideas of home-grown situation. This is grassroots, and looking into this, IMPACTS the COMMUNITY."



"I can't think of a better program to be behind and, the leadership you're showing here is remarkable, it’s wonderful and so welcome. There are no other groups like you in Ontario at all. There is none other, it’s completely unique."



"You’re the only ones that have ever taken the initiative to actually see, this is what we're going to do, we have a team, and for the record, brilliantly organized. This is stunningly well-organized! I have to take a lesson here and there, lot of elements here that are incredibly valuable. I really would encourage that we take a look, maybe meet up again and set up a time to meet with people in the North and reintroduce this program. If we can get it to the next stage, it would be worthwhile for sure”.



“I am overwhelmed because this is a community-led initiative from people that are actually Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN) and Internationally Educated Healthcare Professionals. I am not an Internationally Educated Healthcare Professional, so the struggles and the things that this group have are completely unique, and I think it's time for IENs/ IEHPs to actually take charge at this a bit more. And this, with your presence, is so welcome."



"This is EXCELLENT, and I really do applaud your initiative. It’s exciting.”

REBECCA KEOWN

PROFESSOR AND PROGRAM COORDINATOR IN HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION

SAULT COLLEGE



Rebecca Keown is working at Sault College as a full-time lecturer and program coordinator in Healthcare Administration department. She stated that Sault College is a student-centered institution. She explained that the healthcare administration curriculum teaches students about the financial, ethical, regulatory, legal, and communication issues that occur behind the scenes in healthcare organizations, allowing healthcare professionals to offer care to patients. It is focused towards assisting healthcare administrators in becoming better leaders. The goal is to provide high-quality care to patients. As a result, having a robust infrastructure allows patients to receive high-quality care.


The college's values are putting students first and their success, which is the key focus as stated by Professor Rebecca. She also added that students have been hired locally at a hospital and at long-term care facility, demonstrating the importance of the healthcare administration curriculum to the community and the profession of health care which makes her think that their department is successful.



Professor Rebecca stated that Algoma has done an exceptional job managing the pandemic. Leaders who are experts in infectious disease have done an outstanding job leading the community through this pandemic. Sault College followed protocols and swiftly transitioned to remote teaching, moving to a remote environment, and selecting a platform to provide learnings to students. They had incorporated what is going on in their environment into their lessons and learnings. In this way the school can continue to provide education to students even though they are in the middle of a pandemic.


PSW Grandfathering Membership is a great initiative according to Professor Rebecca and she believes that there are a lot of very talented Internationally trained Health professionals coming into the community. She also stated that the Grandfathering program should be expanded to include and provide additional options and allow other healthcare professionals.



MESSAGE TO INTERNATIONALLY EDUCATED HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND OUR CAPSTONE PROJECT



Professor Rebecca's first piece of advice for International Educated Health Professionals is to leverage networks; Sault Sainte Marie is a small community, and people who work in healthcare know other people who work in healthcare, and she believes that reaching out and asking for aid through those networks is a fantastic way to get support.


“I think the project is great. It's such a great topic and it sounds like you've got a lot of traction. You are bringing in all these stakeholders and so I think that's great! I think it's a really important topic and I'm excited about it ”.


“This is a really excellent topic and I think that you're doing a really great job”.


Secondly, she expressed that we should learn about the different healthcare companies in Sault Sainte Marie and look at their employment openings. Lastly, to have someone go through the resume or cover letter and offer suggestions; it is especially essential if the person is new to the community or nation to create a resume that the hiring manager is acquainted with. She also stated that the career path is not necessarily a straight one, and that you may be able to reach where you want to go by taking the roundabout route, doing something that is not in line with your background but may get you to your desired destination. Professor Rebecca believes that the capstone project was a fantastic idea, and it seems like it drew a lot of interest. Moreover, she will lend a hand and support the team throughout our entire journey.




“THE VALUE OF THE COLLEGE IS REALLY ABOUT PUTTING STUDENTS FIRST AND STUDENT SUCCESS. I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF VERY TALENTED INTERNATIONALLY-TRAINED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY.”

DEAN MARILYN KING

Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology


Marilyn King is the Dean of Health, Community Services, Interdisciplinary Studies, Media and Design at Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology.



Sault College.

BUILDING OUR FUTURE. SHAPING OUR CHARACTER.



SAULT COLLEGE’S VISION

We will make our society a better place by providing a transformative life experience through empowering those who study with us to think and learn in progressive and innovative ways.



SAULT COLLEGE’S MISSION

Sault College will be recognized as the pre-eminent student-centred post-secondary institution in the province with an unyielding dedication to giving students the tools to reach their goals, and in doing so, will be a cornerstone of the communities we serve.



SAULT COLLEGE’S VALUES

Student-centred. Invitational. Respect. Excellence. Communication. Collaboration. Eco-conscious.

Partnerships. Inclusive. Innovative. Reconciliation.



Dean Marilyn shares about the school’s mission and vision and emphasizing that the school’s strategic planning is student-centred especially focused on the students’ experience, providing the best resources available, and encouraging progressive and innovative ways to think and learn. Dean Marilyn states that Sault College’s commitment to the students extends beyond graduation, empowering students to reach their career goals and obtain jobs.



As part of the College’s strategic direction, Sault College will take action on the following six strategic priorities:



• People

• Programs

• Partnerships

• Place (facilities)

• Pedagogy

• EnterPrise (ERP)



Based on the annual Key Performance Indicator (KPI) survey for student satisfaction of the Sault College system, Dean Marilyn states that this vital information offers the college an indication of how students perceive the college, their experience, the atmosphere, the college's teaching, and learning, and many other factors.



“Sault College is dedicated to providing students with an amazing and transformational experience. Sault College desires to be a part of the POSITIVE TRANSFORMATION and for it to be a TURNING POINT in people's lives. “



Furthermore, Sault College continues to investigate which programmes appear to be the most effective. It is currently working towards stand-alone Nursing degrees at Sault College to strengthen healthcare training. Programmes are geared towards better quality and delivery of healthcare. The aim is all about establishing a solid healthcare organization, establishing partnerships with clients, and moving beyond respectful, patient-centred care.



Healthcare Programmes

Sault College offers Personal Support Worker (PSW) programme for 1 year and Personal Developmental Support Services (PDSS) which widens the scope and career opportunities for graduates who may work as PSWs for the elderly, or as Developmental Support Services workers.



Other programmes offered by the college include 1-year Post-graduate Certificates in Healthcare Administration, Health Informatics. Practical Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing are also offered, with few seats for international students. Additionally, Dean Marilyn states that Sault College has expanded to include two 1-year programs that are starting this year, which are focused on Acute Care, and Gerontology and Chronic illness, with sufficient clinical placement hours in the appropriate clinical setting, both postponed to Fall 2021 Intake due to the pandemic.



Dean Marilyn also added that Sault College is preparing students in healthcare programmes to meet the standards of accrediting bodies and get excellent marks, to showcase their knowledge, skills, and capacity for critical decision-making.



Message for IEHPs

“I admire all the Internationally Educated Healthcare Professionals, for your courage in coming to another country, for opening yourselves to further education, for branching out and coming to help Canada, especially the community.”





Opinions and Insights about the PSW Grandfathering Membership Initiative



The work of Personal Support Workers work is fundamental nursing care; thus, nurses are the ones who have naturally desired to perform it. Interestingly, not only nurses are interested in the position, but so are other health care workers.



Dean Marylin states that before PSW Grandfathering Membership has started, she was looking into developing a six-week educational training for individuals who may be interested to work in the healthcare industry, such as a Personal Support Worker. This course would provide the education to address the gap and need for healthcare workers. Dean Marilyn envisions that this short programme will help review the participant’s skills, abilities, basic care for patients like assisting them with their meals, lifting techniques, teach them about health and safety, infection control practices, etc. She also discusses the importance of a strong healthcare background and clinical experience to be considered under the Long-Term Care Act and PSW Grandfathering Membership initiative.



As part of the PSW Taskforce Steering Committee for North East Ontario, Dean Marilyn supports the initiative of the Ontario Personal Support Workers Association (OPSWA). Moving forward, she would like to study the possibility of offering and organizing this 6-week course to International Educated Healthcare Professionals whose credentials have been verified by OPSWA for possible PSW Grandfathering Membership.

Testimonials from OPSWA Grandfathered PSW Members

RUEL JOHN HALASAN

*Doctor of Dental Medicine
*OPSWA Grandfathered Member
*Sault College Student- Health Care Administration

Ruel John is a Doctor of Dental Medicine graduate from the Philippines. His dental practice and rich experience was devoted to his patients in his own dental clinic. He is currently enrolled under Healthcare Administration Program at Sault College.

“As I embarked on my journey to Canada, particularly in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, I realized that healthcare professionals are in need, especially in long term care facilities, because of the increasing ageing population in the community.”

“Honestly speaking, I did not know about Personal Support Workers when I came to Canada. Being a PSW, like caregiving, means a great deal to me because it serves people in need of care, particularly the geriatrics community.”

“This career opportunity is also very personal to me because my father was once a caregiver and he proudly raised us. Not only do I serve my patients but I also I want to show my father that I found inspiration in him and followed in his footsteps to raise my own family.”

Ruel John defines Dentistry as a profession that is meticulous and always on service. He states that he came to Canada to pursue his dream to become an International Licensed Dentist and learn how a dentist performs in Canada. He considers himself adept and proficient with knowledge in healthcare, hence aspiring to work in any healthcare-related job. He loves serving people and working in a healthcare facility.

“I believe that being a PSW is aligned with my profession as a dentist, because it involves healthcare delivery. Dentists possess the knowledge and skills needed to become a competent healthcare provider as we serve patients, too.”

“Technical skills required to perform the duties of a PSW needs to be learned. That is why I am thankful that I had my first job here in Canada as a Resident Assistant, assisting PSWs and learning from them as they perform their duties. I gained the skills through this work experience. Moreover, I am thankful that OPSWA has grandfathered me as a PSW, which will allow me to help and serve the geriatrics community here in Sault Ste. Marie.”

“Working as a PSW adds value to the community, especially to the geriatrics community. Sault Ste. Marie has a lot of geriatric people that is why working as a PSW contributes a lot in the community, especially during this pandemic.

“PSW Grandfathering membership by OPSWA is a good initiative, because it helps the community increase the workforce, at the same time, give alternative careers to IEHPs while they work towards the licensure for their respective careers.”