Published
2023-01-25
Issue
Section
Original Reports
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Geneviève Maltais LaPointe, Kim Lemky, Pierre Gagne, Jill Konkin, Karl Stobbe, Gervan Fearon
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All work in JRMC is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
A Step-by-Step Process for Assessing the Economic Impact of Regional Medical Campuses in Canada
Geneviève Maltais LaPointe
Brandon University
Kim Lemky
Aurora College
Pierre Gagne
PGC - Private consultation company
Jill Konkin
University of Alberta
Karl Stobbe
McMaster University
Gervan Fearon
George Brown College
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/jrmc.v6i1.4554
Keywords: Regional Medical Campus, Economic Impact, Distributed Medical Education, Canadian Input-Output Model, Simplified ACE Model
Abstract
Background: Regional medical campuses (RMCs) create positive economic impacts in communities and small cities. RMCs increase educational capacity, medical services, and address the shortage or maldistribution of physicians in rural areas. Our paper answers the question: How do you assess the economic impact of a RMC?
Methods: The Canadian Input-Output (I-O) model and the Simplified American Council on Education (ACE) model are adapted to assess the economic impact of an individual RMC using a step-by-step process. The models are tested using data from three Canadian RMCs.
Results: A comparison of the two models found similarities with data requirements and spreadsheet calculations. However, the Canadian I-O model spreadsheet is linked to Statistics Canada multipliers and calculations are more complex. Outputs are calculated for multiple economic variables. The Simplified ACE model, in contrast, uses a single multiplier and provides a single number by input category and a cumulative total of all impacts.
Conclusion: Both models successfully assess economic impacts of RMC. The step-by-step process allows RMC administrators and others to understand the limitations of each model, but also facilitates an in-house economic assessment of RMC. The authors provide guidance on choosing the best model.
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Author Biographies
Geneviève Maltais LaPointe, Brandon University
MA, Research Analyst, Institutional Data & Analysis, Brandon University
Pierre Gagne, PGC - Private consultation company
MD, MSc, FRCP(C) Founding Regional Dean, Campus de l’Université de Montréal en Mauricie, Québec
Owns a private consultation company (PGC), providing consulting services in medical change management and regional medical campuses/ distributed medical education implementation
Jill Konkin, University of Alberta
Professor, Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB
Karl Stobbe, McMaster University
MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Saint Catharines, ON
Gervan Fearon, George Brown College
PhD, President, George Brown College, Toronto, ON
