A policy resolution to attract allied health professionals to rural and under served communities was passed unanimously at the BC Chamber of Commerce Conference.
Written by Board Director Joao Gaspar of the Williams Lake Physiotherapy Clinic, it highlighted the critical shortage of these professionals in rural communities and outlined practical, evidence based solutions to help close the gap.
Gaspar said in the Cariboo, including parts of the Thompson region, fewer than 10 private physiotherapists serve over 90,000 people.
“At first we just looked at physiotherapists where we have quite low numbers in the Cariboo and Thompson region. We also looked at occupational therapists, dietitians, speech and language therapists, clinical counsellors, a big range of allied health workers that we need in rural and under served communities.”
In this policy it pointed out that injured workers equal longer absences, lost productivity, higher WorkSafeBC premiums and loss of business income.
“Our main aim was to create some awareness of what’s going on,” Gaspar said, “these are rural issues but the same things are going on in the Lower Mainland and other places as well. Moving forward the BC Chamber will combine all the resolutions and send it to the various Ministers where we will wait for replies and we can also engage with our MLA’s and MP’s in the various regions to make them aware about the resolution and that we have support from business groups to hopefully bring more light to the problem and hopefully solve the problem.”
The key message in this policy resolution to attract allied health professionals to rural and under served communities is that the province is making it very difficult for qualified allied health professionals, while businesses in rural and industrial towns are left without essential care.
“This isn’t just a healthcare issue. It’s an economic risk. Our resolution proposes practical, common sense solutions,” the Chamber stated.
The policy’s proposed fixes included speeding up credentialing and registration, eliminate unnecessary delays and high costs.
Allow supervised practice, let workers contribute while they finish licensing.
And tie immigration to retention, ensure professionals stay in under served areas.
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