George Brown College tackles long-term care crisis with new program to better prepare healthcare professionals

George Brown College is launching a first-of-its kind new postgraduate program to help improve quality of care in complex and long-term care settings.

TORONTO (June 8, 2020) – Amid growing calls for systemic changes to be made to long-term care in Ontario, George Brown College is launching a first-of-its kind new postgraduate program to help improve quality of care in complex and long-term care settings.

Keeping in line with current shifts to remote learning, the program was intentionally designed for online delivery and integrates simulation and problem-based learning grounded in educational game and digital open world learning. The virtual learning environment (VLE) trains healthcare professionals working with Ontario’s growing senior population. In 2017 the Canadian Institute for Health Information projected that Canada's population of individuals aged 65 and older would jump by 68 per cent in 20 years.

Launching this fall, the Interprofessional Complex and Long-Term Care program, developed in collaboration with Ontario Centres for Learning, Research & Innovation in Long-Term Care (CLRI) at Baycrest and Ryerson University, represents a unique approach to healthcare
education, aimed at providing evidence-based, collaborative training for optimal care.

“With heightened focus on critical vulnerabilities in long-term care settings, it is more important than ever to enhance the skills and core competences of healthcare providers,” says Wendy Ellis, Chair, School of Nursing George Brown College. “Increasing access to programs that not only teach health care, but communication, interprofessional collaboration and problem-solving is crucial. This program gives students the opportunity to collaborate virtually, to learn from each other, and to work towards providing excellent client care.” 

Students will participate in a variety of collaborative real-life scenarios in which interprofessional teams work together to solve clinical cases. Students will also participate in micro lectures, readings and discussions. The two-semester program consists of seven courses, taken at both George Brown and Ryerson University, and includes a 120-hour clinical field placement. 

The program is open to all healthcare providers including nurses, personal support workers, dental professionals, fitness specialists and hearing specialists. Graduates can work as coordinators or managers in health-care facilities to deliver interprofessional care.
The Interprofessional Complex and Long-Term Care program builds on George Brown’s commitment to put students at the forefront of the digital economy. For more information on the program, visit Interprofessional Complex and Long-Term Care program page.

About George Brown College

Toronto's George Brown College prepares innovative, adaptable graduates with the skills to thrive in a rapidly changing job market. With three campuses in the downtown core, the college blends theory with experiential learning, applied research, and entrepreneurship opportunities. George Brown offers 171 full-time programs and 200 continuing education certificates/designations across a wide variety of professions to more than 31,500 full-time students, including 27 percent international students, and receives more than 65,000 continuing education registrations annually. Students can earn certificates, diplomas, graduate certificates, apprenticeships, and degrees. www.georgebrown.ca 

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For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Joyann Callender
External Communications Manager
George Brown College
jcallender3@georgebrown.ca