QUEBEC'S SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST SHORTAGE BELGIAN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS COME TO THE RESCUE

PRESS RELEASE

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QUÉBEC'S SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST SHORTAGE BELGIAN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS COME TO THE RESCUE
Montreal, May 9, 2001

Nearly 30 Belgian speech-language pathologists have responded to the Québec government's invitation to practice here temporarily starting this September. An initiative of the Ordre des orthophonistes et audiologistes du Québec (OOAQ), this unusual foreign recruitment campaign is a temporary solution to fill some of the 100 speech-language pathologist vacancies in Québec's public health and education systems.

"As a professional order with a mission to protect the public, we have a duty to do everything in our power to solve the problem of access to speech-language pathologist services and to press the government to take appropriate action," said OOAQ president Louis Beaulieu. "I am pleased to see that our efforts have now paid off, and that thousands of people will benefit as a result."

The recruitment campaign was a joint effort of the OOAQ, the Québec ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, and the ministère de l'Éducation. It also involved leading employers in the province's public health and education systems, as well as the Québec Ministère des Relations avec les citoyens et de l'Immigration and the concerned federal authorities. The process moved very quickly. The plan was proposed to the different government authorities last fall. This was followed by an information gathering trip to Belgium by Beaulieu in November. Belgian speech-language pathologists received a direct invitation to work in Québec for at least one year last March, and were given until April 30 to respond. Of the 350 potential candidates, 28 responded positively. The response rate is impressive considering how little time they had to make the major commitment inherent in the decision to practice their profession abroad.

A delegation consisting of representatives from the OOAQ, the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, and the Ministère de l'Éducation will travel to Belgium during the week of May 28 to interview the candidates. An information session will also be organized for speech-language pathologists who might have been interested in the recruitment campaign but were unable to apply before the deadline. The hope is that this will produce a few more applications.

A positive reaction in the health and education systems

The news brought a huge sigh of relief to public health and education system employers. André Caron, president of the Fédération des commissions scolaires du Québec, commended "the originality of the initiative" that he supports because "it will help school boards to expand their supplementary professional services, especially those provided by speech-language pathologists - services the children in Québec schools sorely need."

The Association des établissements de réadaptation en déficience physique du Québec (AERDPQ) estimates that more than 3,500 children are currently on waiting lists for speech-language therapy. The reason for this is twofold: a shortage of speech-language pathologists in some cases, and a lack of funds in others. "It is absolutely essential to start treating children at a very young age, around 18 months, or as soon as a problem is detected, so as not to compromise their development and schooling," said AERDPQ vice-president Jean-Pierre Blais.

Jacques Lemire, president of the Association des CLSC et des CHSLD du Québec, hailed the move as "coming at the right time for CLSCs and health centres. During the past year, we effectively redefined the basic essential services for children and families that should be available in all parts of Québec over the next three years if the Ministère de la santé et des services sociaux pursues that course. Speech-language pathology services are obviously an important part of the recommended services, but we need access to a sufficient pool of speech-language pathologists in order to succeed."

Other solutions for the medium and long term

It is clear that this injection of Belgium speech-language pathologists is insufficient to meet immediate demand, and that it represents only a short-term solution. In light of this, the OOAQ is also exploring the possibilities in France. The final diploma awarded in France is not equivalent to the one required in Québec, and French candidates would have to take a one-year accreditation program that could be created by the Université de Montréal. A similar effort could be carried within a shorter timeframe in Switzerland. Yesterday, Beaulieu met with officials from the Education Minister's office to discuss the matter and the Ministry confirmed its firm intention to evaluate the Ordre's proposition.

Two long-term solutions were introduced last year to increase the number of speech-language pathologists in Québec. Since 1999, the removal of quotas on the Master's program in speech-language pathology and audiology at the Université de Montréal boosted the number of annual admissions from 50 to 70, so that 20 more graduates a year can be licensed to practice as of fall 2003. Moreover, a new Master's program at Université Laval gets underway this September. It will accept 25 students per year, thereby further expanding the pool of professionals on the market by the end of 2003.

The OOAQ and employer associations consider it essential to increase the number of graduates turned out by Québec universities in order to achieve a lasting solution to the chronic shortage. The OOAQ feels that at least 20 additional places should be created immediately in view of the profession's sociodemographic profile and the growth in public demand.

The Ordre urges that actions be taken to prevent this increase to be offset by the attrition that is becoming apparent within the profession. Since the vast majority of speech-language pathologists are women, many of whom work part-time and most of whom take family leaves, a substantial turnover rate can be expected. This means that the extra graduates will not be enough, and supply will remain well below demand after 2004 unless actions are taken immediately.

About Québec's shortage of speech-language pathologists

Québec's shortage of speech-language pathologists dates back several years. For youngsters, it has meant having to wait more than a year for an evaluation in the public health system, and two to four years for treatment, depending on the region. Many adults and the elderly simply have no access to these services, making the use of private clinics their only choice. Despite the 140% increase in the availability of private services from 1994 to 1997, a one-year wait is still not uncommon.

Last October some 4,500 people at physical disability rehabilitation centres were on waiting lists for specialized services that might include a speech-language pathologist. Waiting periods ranged from four months to three years and have scarcely improved since.