$15 million for patient care attendant bursary program
The provincial government announced the establishment of a new bursary program destined for patient care attendants (PAB).
The announcement was made on Aug.14 by Danielle Mccann, Quebec Health and Social Services Minister, was accompanied by Marguerite Blais, Minister responsible for seniors and caregivers, and Jean Boulet, Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity.
The initiative represents an investment of $15 million, which will be spread over 2,000 bursaries of $7,500 each.
Because PABS play an essential role in the health care system, the bursary program is part of a comprehensive plan to make the profession more attractive and to improve the retention of new PABS.
“PABS play a crucial role for patient management and are key components to multidisciplinary healthcare teams,” claimed Mccann. “Establishing this new
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bursary program will help us in the future to recruit competent resources, and in sufficient numbers, to answer the needs of our patients and to ensure that they will receive the best care and services possible.”
The Quebec health system is composed of over 41,500 PABS, but the Ministry of Health and Social Services believes that 32,500 more PABS will be necessary in the next five years to answer Quebec’s ageing population’s increasing needs.
A total of 123 bursaries will be distributed in the Eastern Townships. The CIUSSS de l’estrie-chus is currently discussing with the different educational institutions to agree on arrangements that would help start up the initiative as soon as possible. “We’re confident that this bursary program will help encourage interested students to become the new generation of PABS, a profession that is so crucial to health care and social services,” commented Gaëlle Simon, the CIUSSS de l’estrie-chus’s human resources, communications, and legal affairs assistant director.
“The work they do with seniors ensures them a caring and reassuring presence. Our government is working hard to highlight this profession, and this announcement and this incentive measure is a great example of that,” explained Blais. “With our ageing population and their increasing needs for support and assistance care, recruitment is a priority for us.”
The program aims to support health and social services facilities in Quebec to improve attraction, retention, and the availability of this working force. It will also help financially support selected candidates throughout their training as PABS and will favour the addition of candidates in training programs.
“We are certain that this initiative will allow us to support and increase the number of qualified PABS coming from recognized training programs,” mentioned Boulet. “We are adding this to our campaign, announced in May, to highlight the work that PABS do and to attract more workers towards the profession. Our government takes its responsibilities seriously and that is why we are working as a team on this crucial issue.”
In order to become PABS, students must obtain an Assistance in Health and Home Care vocational diploma (DEP) that is 870 hours long, which is offered in vocational training centres (CFP) across Quebec. The program allows graduates to access the profession of PAB but also that of Health and social services auxiliary (ASSS), which provdes provide home care and services to patients.
The bursaries will be spread out between health and social services institutions in relation to their PAB representation rate. Institutions will have to proceed to the selection of individuals who will begin training to become PABS. They will benefit from the bursary in exchange of succeeding in the program and signing a two-year contract which commits them to the institution that sponsored them.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services will be responsible for the program’s follow up and will later proceed to its evaluation.