WESTERN REGIONAL TRAINING CENTRE FOR HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH University of British Columbia Department of Health Care & Epidemiology University of Manitoba Department of Community Health Sciences

A COLLABORATIVE TRAINING INITIATIVE University of British Columbia Department of Health Care & Epidemiology Department of Health Care & Epidemiology Centre for Health Services and Policy Research (CHSPR) Centre for Health Services and Policy Research (CHSPR) University of Manitoba Department of Community Health Sciences Department of Community Health Sciences Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP) Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP)

National CHSRF Initiative Five research training centres across the country Five research training centres across the country Funding provided by the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF) Funding provided by the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF) Co-sponsored by: Co-sponsored by: Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research Canadian Institutes of Health Research Canadian Institutes of Health Research

WRTC OBJECTIVES Program designed to train applied health services researchers across disciplines, sectors & institutions Program designed to train applied health services researchers across disciplines, sectors & institutions Equip researchers to respond to the research needs of a wide range of health-care policy makers Equip researchers to respond to the research needs of a wide range of health-care policy makers Overall goal - increase the number of health services researchers Overall goal - increase the number of health services researchers

GRADUATE TRAINING Masters and PhD level – applied training opportunities for Departmental students pursuing an interest in health services research Masters and PhD level – applied training opportunities for Departmental students pursuing an interest in health services research Students meet Departmental course and thesis/dissertation requirements + additional applied HSR training Students meet Departmental course and thesis/dissertation requirements + additional applied HSR training Applications to UBC or University of Manitoba Applications to UBC or University of Manitoba Studentships & Research Funding (approx. $20,000 per year) Studentships & Research Funding (approx. $20,000 per year) Flexibility to move between sites (UBC & UM) for coursework, field placements, or the residency requirement. Flexibility to move between sites (UBC & UM) for coursework, field placements, or the residency requirement.

APPLIED TRAINING Bi-annual workshops at UBC and UM Bi-annual workshops at UBC and UM Field placements at decision-maker sites Field placements at decision-maker sites HSR courses/seminars under development HSR courses/seminars under development Local HSR and related conferences, workshops Local HSR and related conferences, workshops (e.g., e-health, SAS, CHSPR conference) Inter-disciplinary courses offered in other departments and institutions Inter-disciplinary courses offered in other departments and institutions

HSR COURSE Internet course comparing health care systems in Canada, Germany, Ireland and Finland Internet course comparing health care systems in Canada, Germany, Ireland and Finland The “Need to Know Team” is featured as an example of researcher/policy-maker interactions in Canada The “Need to Know Team” is featured as an example of researcher/policy-maker interactions in Canada Assuming the role of individual RHA boards, students are asked to identify priority areas for research and then use the RHA health and health care data on the MCHP website to propose solutions Assuming the role of individual RHA boards, students are asked to identify priority areas for research and then use the RHA health and health care data on the MCHP website to propose solutions

LINKAGES To enhance the program, WRTC is establishing linkages with: Other Regional Training Centres Other Regional Training Centres Affiliates, including CHSPR and MCHP, other university departments, and other academic institutions Affiliates, including CHSPR and MCHP, other university departments, and other academic institutions Decision-makers in health care settings Decision-makers in health care settings

DECISION-MAKERS Involving decision-makers from a variety of Involving decision-makers from a variety of health-care settings in:  Hosting Field Placements  Student Admissions Review  Providing input to Site Advisory Committees  Teaching seminars and courses  Student thesis/dissertation committees

WRTC ACTIVITY UPDATE Funding for ten years Funding for ten years First four WRTC students enrolled in 2001; First four WRTC students enrolled in 2001; twelve new students in 2002 plus affiliate students Environmental Scans of decision-makers completed in BC and Manitoba Environmental Scans of decision-makers completed in BC and Manitoba Retreat (July 2003) to discuss WRTC training directions and decision-maker involvement. Retreat (July 2003) to discuss WRTC training directions and decision-maker involvement.

CONTACT INFORMATION UBC, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE AND EPIDEMIOLOGY Dr. Sam Sheps, Director Tarah Brachman, Program Manager Tel: Tel: UM, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH SCIENCES Dr. Anita Kozyrskyj, UM Director Elaine Dunn, UM Program Coordinator Tel: Tel: (204)