Get Ready for the Alberta Health Care Aide

Get Ready for the Alberta Health Care Aide Directory Pilot

Purpose of Pilot • Trial a selected portion of the HCA • • • workforce to enrol in the Directory Database Envolve Supervisors and/or Human Resources in the Process Evaluate the Outcomes Reassess the Process and Refine for Launch of the Directory for all HCAs in Alberta 2

Who Should Be Involved in Pilot - HCAs? • The title “health care aide” applies to non-regulated, direct client service providers who provide basic health services and assistance/support with activities of daily living. HCAs work under the direct or indirect supervision of regulated nurses or related health professionals. (Alberta Health, 2001) 3

Why HCAs should be a priority? • HCAs are a vulnerable workforce caring • • for vulnerable Albertans expect quality care HCAs do not have a provincial oversight organization

Where Do HCAs Work? AHS estimates the Workforce is 40, 000 HCAs in Alberta. (estimates for AHS only) 5

Why is a HCA Directory important? Data Collection Evidence-Informed Health Human Resource Planning Strategic Foresight Recognition of a Critical Workforce Accountability in Meeting Draft Continuing Care Health Service Standards 6

Other Jurisdictions • Two other Canadian provinces have similar care aide directories: British Columbia Nova Scotia 7

The ‘New’ Alberta HCA Directory Objectives of this project are: Provide HCA data for workforce and educational planning purposes Support HCAs and their employers by providing information pertaining to education and competency status 8

Directory Features Ability to enroll all HCAs in Alberta and have an annual renewal process Web-based and user-friendly Supports transferability of assessed core competency Demonstrates compliance with Continuing Care Health Service Standards 9

HCA Commitment HCAs are required to have their current employment information available, including their primary supervisor’s contact information HCAs are required to have two pieces of valid identification, with one piece being picture identification HCAs are required to have their educational or core competency information, including name and address of educational institution, graduation date, etc. Commitment to login to database and enter required information, log back in and update as necessary and participate in pilot survey 10

Employer Commitment Support HCAs to enrol in the Alberta HCA Directory Provide required feedback on core competency verification to HCAs that name specific supervisors Assist HCAs that my not understand process, by directing them to the Alberta HCA Directory website and contact avenues Utilize the online Alberta HCA Directory employer database to review current HCAs core competency status and participate in pilot survey Once HCAs are enrolled in database during the pilot, they are part of the active database. Employers that participate in the pilot become early adaptor's. 11

Timelines Week of November 7 - Pilot participation requests are emailed Week of November 21 – Training for pilot participants Week of November 28 – Begin of Pilot for 6 -8 weeks During the pilot, the process will be assessed, revised and adjusted accordingly. Project plan is to begin enrolling all HCAs at the end of the pilot. 12

Outcomes • As indicated the process is iterative, adjustments • • • will be made as the pilot proceeds. Two surveys will be held during the pilot to measure the success of the process. The final outcome is after the pilot is complete, the Alberta HCA Directory becomes functioning and all HCAs can apply. Timeline for this is mid. January 2017. All HCAs that participate in the pilot will be part of the directory and will not have to re-apply.

Thank you! Questions? 14