UNIVERSITY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
UPEI and Health PEI release health system capacity report

UPEI and Health PEI have released the findings of the health system capacity report (the Spindle report).

The Spindle Strategy Group was engaged by UPEI and Health PEI to understand and catalogue the health care system's capacity to successfully integrate medical learners; to identify any gaps in infrastructure, human resources, policies and programs, systems, and structures; and to devise an evidence-based roadmap including necessary investments and timelines to address those gaps.

Dr. Greg Keefe, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Prince Edward Island said, "We want to thank Spindle Strategy Group for their dedicated work on this project. The scope of the project was a health system capacity assessment for the future integration of future medical learners into the health system." The Interim CEO of Health PEI, Corinne Rowswell commented, "As we move forward, we are mindful of the current state of health care on PEI and our duty to care for Islanders. We are working together with our partners to improve access to health care for all and recognize the significant value medical education provides to health-care systems."

The Spindle report is a starting point. The report itself is based on a mathematical model that suggests an approach to integrate medical learners into our health care system. The report estimates up to 43 new physicians will be required over nine years; the model assumes these physicians will spend a minimum of 80 per cent of their time providing clinical care to Islanders and a maximum of 20 per cent of their time teaching.

What the report doesn't factor in are the challenges of developing a medical school in a post-pandemic health-care system with a growing population that currently has gaps in access to care and service delivery that need to be addressed.

"Now the real work begins the work of engaging fully with the health system, physician community, and other stakeholders to explore the options and possibilities both outlined in the report and no doubt more as UPEI, Health PEI, the government, and physicians work through how to do this together," said Dr. Preston Smith, incoming inaugural Dean, UPEI Faculty of Medicine.

Smith, who grew up in Summerside, comes to UPEI after a lengthy career steering the direction of other medical faculties. He served as senior associate dean at Dalhousie's faculty of medicine for five years, helping to establish the university's family medicine residency program in PEI. He played a leadership role in the establishment of the Dalhousie faculty's regional campus at the University of New Brunswick. He served as dean of the college of medicine at the University of Saskatchewan from 2014 until this year.

"I look forward to building our new UPEI Faculty of Medicine and working with all stakeholders on this transformative project for improved health care on PEI," added Smith.

Canada has seventeen medical schools across thirty-three campuses. All existing medical schools are expanding their seats. There are several new medical schools in development. Seventy-five per cent of medical school graduates indicate they want teaching opportunities as part of their career. UPEI and government's support for the development of the UPEI Faculty of Medicine has ensured that PEI will no longer be the only jurisdiction in Canada without a medical school.

The detailed report can be accessed on the UPEI Faculty of Medicine web page at https://www.upei.ca/medicine/community-engagement.

Backgrounder