Table 6 Education Strategies with Medium or Low Importance and Feasibility

Expand opportunities for interprofessional education. Examples could include: using funding to stimulate change; collaborating between ministries of health and education; ensuring that academic and clinical training sites are both supportive and supported; and making sure there are collaborative practice environments where students can train and work.

Provide specific incentives including admissions preferences for students interested in rural practice.

Entry to-practice rehabilitation programs should offer summer mentorship opportunities for promising local high school students to experience the university and to explore the realm of professional education while earning credit towards high school graduation.

Create a multi-professional support program for Aboriginal students. For example a college or university could work with a remote community to educate a group of students in a range of health professions which the community needs.

Ensure a return on investment in continuing professional development and skills upgrading through the use of Return of Service Contracts.

In rural and remote areas create a tiered pathway approach through modular education and laddered credentialing to provide students with the option to graduate into the health care workforce at various stages of training.

Provide sufficient flexibility in accreditation standards to allow greater use of rural practice sites as part of the professional education process.