ED Staffing Reference Guide

Some Emergency Departments (EDs) in Ontario are facing short- or long-term physician staffing challenges. The ED Staffing Reference Guide has been developed by the HealthForceOntario Marketing and Recruitment Agency and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to:

• Help ED Chiefs, CEOs and other hospital leaders, as well as Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs), understand and access government programs and incentives that may assist emergency departments.
• Promote the sharing of ED best practices.

The overall intent is that Emergency Departments’ physician staffing be considered from a comprehensive, strategic and sustainable perspective. As new initiatives are introduced, the guide will be updated. Feedback on this guide is welcomed; please e-mail emerg@healthforceontario.ca.

The ED Staffing Reference Guide is also available in individual sections and pages. Click on the links below to access and print information quickly.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Strategies and Tips

• Introduction
• ED Checklist 
• ED Scheduling Tips
• Creative Use of ED Alternate Funding Agreement (AFA) Funding 
• Equal Pay for Locums 
• Common Credentialing 
• Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist 
• Physician Assistant 
• Physician Involvment and Accountability for Staffing Challenges 
• Create Small Business Mentality 
• Culture Change
• Executive Support for ED Chief

Summer 2007 ED Staffing Support Programs

• Summer Flexibility for Coverage Hours in Workload Hospitals 
• Summer Shift Premiums (for recruitment vacancies) 
• Summer Regional Group Locums 
• Summer Primary Care Group Locums 
• Summer HealthForceOntario ED Stipend Physicians 
• Summer Variation Coverage

Longer-Term ED Staffing Support Programs  

• Holiday Coverage Premium 
• Mentorship Program 
• Emergency Department Coverage Demonstration Project (EDCDP) 
• Contract Administration and Support 
• ED Recruitment Program 
• Enhancements to ED AFA Payments 
• Flow Through Payment to Fee for Service
• Hospital On Call Coverage 

Appendices          

• Glossary 
• Participants in the Development of the Reference Guide