Grant: Project Grant

The high demands of Canada's healthcare system have significantly impacted workers, resulting in high rates of absenteeism and turnover. Our previous research with healthcare workers, including medical laboratory professionals, identified chronic understaffing as a longstanding issue that worsened during the pandemic. Participants emphasized that decisions made without frontline input often disrupted daily operations and contributed to burnout among staff. Evidence shows that system-level interventions are more effective than individual-focused ones in improving worker well-being and retention. Given financial pressures in healthcare, practical, strengths-based organizational solutions are urgently needed. To address this, we piloted a study with Ontario hospital-based medical laboratory professionals using a solution-focused model, an approach adapted from psychotherapy that generates actionable, realistic solutions efficiently. The results were highly promising, yielding meaningful insights with clear implementation pathways. Building on this success, and using a preventative approach, our proposed study will apply this model in a codesign process that engages both frontline staff and management. This ensures that workers are empowered as active contributors while management helps refine solutions for feasibility. We will conduct focus groups with both medical laboratory technologists and mental health clinicians, two groups facing severe retention challenges in Canada, with significant consequences for Canada's population if not addressed. Data from each group will be analyzed independently, then compared to identify commonalities and differences across professions. Finally, working with partners, we will produce best-practice guidebooks and webinars to support healthcare organizations nationwide. By developing scalable, evidence-informed strategies, this project aims to strengthen retention and help mitigate the healthcare workforce crisis across Canada.