Learning and development dimensions of a pan-Canadian primary health care capacity-building project

doi:10.1108/17511870810910065

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Leadership in Health Services

ISSN: 1751-1879

Online from: 1997

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Learning and development dimensions of a pan-Canadian primary health care capacity-building project

Document Information:
Title:	Learning and development dimensions of a pan-Canadian primary health care capacity-building project
Author(s):	Michael Aherne, (The Canadian Pallium Project, Edmonton, Canada), José L. Pereira, (University of Ottawa and SCO Health Service, Ottawa, Canada)
Citation:	Michael Aherne, José L. Pereira, (2008) "Learning and development dimensions of a pan-Canadian primary health care capacity-building project", Leadership in Health Services, Vol. 21 Iss: 4, pp.229 - 266
Keywords:	Canada, Innovation, Knowledge management, Learning, Primary care, Rural regions
Article type:	Case study
DOI:	10.1108/17511870810910065 (Permanent URL)
Publisher:	Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Acknowledgements:	The authors express deep gratitude to the collaborators and participants of Pallium Project (Phase II) for their participation and insights, as well as the trust placed in the authors to design and execute the multi-faceted innovation and capacity-building model that has been described herein. They thank D. Frère Consulting for the Phase II evaluation design and process management. The authors also gratefully acknowledge the early roles and contributions of Drs Wayne Lamble and Albert Einsiedel, Jr, in helping incubate the Pallium Project as an applied action research initiative to examine integrated approaches to continuing professional development.
Abstract:	Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to use a descriptive case study to establish how collaboration, innovation and knowledge-management strategies have scaled-up learning and development in rural, remote and other resource-constrained Canadian delivery settings. Design/methodology/approach – Intervention design was realized through a one-time, collaborative, national capacity-building project. A project portfolio of 72 sub-projects, initiatives and strategic activities was used to improve access, enhance quality and create capacity for palliative and end-of-life care services. Evaluation was multifaceted, including participatory action research, variance analysis and impact analysis. This has been supplemented by post-intervention critical reflection and integration of relevant literature. Findings – The purposeful use of collaboration, innovation and knowledge-management strategies have been successfully used to support a rapid scaling-up of learning and development interventions. This has enabled enhanced and new pan-Canadian health delivery capacity implemented at the local service delivery catchment-level. Research limitations/implications – The intervention is bounded by a Canada-specific socio-cultural/political context. Design variables and antecedent conditions may not be present and/or readily replicated in other nation-state contexts. The findings suggest opportunities for future integrative and applied health services and policy research, including collaborative inquiry that weaves together concepts from adult learning, social science and industrial engineering. Practical implications – Scaling-up for new capacity is ideally approached as a holistic, multi-faceted process which considers the total assets within delivery systems, service catchments and communities as potentially being engaged and deployed. Originality/value – The Pallium Integrated Capacity-building Initiative offers model elements useful to others seeking theory-informed practices to rapidly and effectively scale-up learning and development efforts.