Alberta Innovates- Health Solutions

Introduction:

This document outlines the implementation plan for AHFMR for the "Health Research Agenda for Alberta", and should be read in conjunction with that paper. The "Agenda" outlines the vision, principles, and goals that this implementation strategy is meant to address. The implementation strategy balances the requirement to be open to innovative ideas and new approaches, and, at the same time addresses the immediate pressing needs of the health system, the various research communities and the public. To do this requires a very broad multidisciplinary base of activity (referred to as capacity) that can carry out the theoretical and original research on which the advances of tomorrow are based.

At the same time, such a research environment, which has the necessary skills and expertise, is a fundamental component of evidence-based decision-making. It should be closely and effectively linked with the policy and decision-makers communities, and through these dynamic linkages, respond effectively to the immediate, intermediate and long-term needs of the "users" of research, informing policy and practice in the health system.

The implementation plan describes four complementary activities.

1. Building and maintaining a broadly-based and responsive research capacity through training programs and investigator support;

2. Catalyzing proactive research capacity development through networking and partnerships throughout the broad Alberta health community;

3. Contributing to a platform of evidence-based decision-making in health through internationally recognized health technology assessment;

4. Contributing to knowledge, policy and practice through programs and projects of health services research focused on the priorities of the health system.

1. Building and maintaining a broadly-based and responsive research capacity through training programs and investigator support.

   The two fundamental elements for developing the human resource capacity are quality training programs and incentives for researchers. Incentives include protected time for the research activities (generally through salary support), acknowledgment of the value of the research accomplishments for individuals, and opportunities to share research results. Both are critically dependent on high-quality, supportive environments in the educational and health care delivery systems.

   The existing AHFMR programs for the support of trainees and independent investigators are currently being used, and will continue to be used to support and increase the human resources capacity for health research in the province. The number of persons in each category is determined by the quality of the applicants, and the available resources. In 2002, AHFMR is supporting 24 health studentships, 9 health fellowships, 28 population health investigators, 10 health scholars and senior scholars, and one health scientist.

   The program descriptions and the guidelines can be obtained from the AHFMR or seen at http://www.ahfmr.ab.ca.

   In addition to these programs, the AHFMR supports a special program, called SEARCH (Swift Efficient Application of Research in Community Health), to increase capacity in Alberta's health regions for producing and using locally relevant research on health needs and health services. The primary clients of the program are health organizations, who select and support individual participants. The program is built upon partnerships among many institutions, sectors, and individuals, and depends primarily on the partnership of the Foundation with Alberta's health authorities and universities. AHFMR provides funding, leadership and administration of the program. The Foundation has supported three iterations of this program; a fourth is scheduled to commence in 2003.

2. Catalyzing proactive research capacity development through networking and partnerships throughout the broad Alberta health community.

   Through the Applied Health Research Programs of the Foundation, AHFMR provides a locus for proactive research capacity development through networking and partnerships. These activities facilitate, nurture, enable and support research, networks, and partnerships between the Foundation and a wide range of sectors in the health service field. The intent is not only to add to knowledge through research, but to facilitate the application of knowledge through effective linkage and exchange with practitioners, policy and decision-makers. The current programs include the SEARCH network -- consisting of current trainees and "graduates" of the formal SEARCH programs, the Community Research Ethics Board of Alberta (CREBA), the Health Research Transfer Network of Alberta (RTNA), the Alberta Family Practice Research Network (AFPRN), and the Alberta Consultative Health Research Network (ACHRN).

3. Contributing to a platform of evidence-based decision-making in health through internationally recognized health technology assessment.

   As part of the Health Research Collaboration Agreement with Alberta Health and Wellness, the Foundation administers a program of health technology assessment -- the systematic evaluation of the properties and impacts of health care technology. The primary purpose of this program is to provide objective information to support health care decisions in policymaking. The activities of the AHFMR Health Technology Unit include the production of timely, relevant and thorough assessments of health technologies using systematic and reproducible research methods; supporting the health technology assessment activities of the regional health authorities and provincial boards; supporting the HTA educational programs offered by the Alberta universities, and providing placements for training; maintaining international linkages through membership in the international HTA organizations; and, providing a reference center through a growing collection of HTA documents from Canadian and international sources.

4. Contributing to knowledge, policy and practice through programs and projects of health services research focused on the priorities of the health system.

   The Health Research Fund is administered by the Foundation on behalf of Alberta Health and Wellness. It supports research projects proposed by investigators and/or decision-makers relevant to health services, population health, and health technology assessment research in the Province of Alberta. Applications to the fund are made annually through a Letter of Intent. The authors of successful letters are invited to submit full proposals. All applications are reviewed by a committee of health services researchers and policy and decision-makers.

   In addition to the research projects, the Foundation will support programs of research focused on provincial needs and priorities. Following an extensive consultation process, four theme areas have been determined:

   • Continuum of care and delivery models
   • Information management and information technology for health improvement
   • Financing and public expectations
   • Governance and accountability
   The knowledge base in focused areas of all four themes has been the subject of systematic reviews entitled "State of the Science Reviews" which are available on the Foundation's web site, or from the authors.

   The Foundation will be supporting programs of research that address these four theme areas, and that are effectively linked with policy and decision-makers. Further details may be found on the AHFMR web site.