A measure of access to health care professionals
A low or high ratio may be desirable; interpretations should be evaluated alongside other relevant data (e.g., population need, models of care, mix of health care professionals).
Calculated by dividing the number of health care professionals working in direct care in each health region or province/territory by population estimates and multiplying by 100,000
(Number of health care professionals employed in the profession and working in direct care by health region or province/territory ÷ Population estimate) × 100,000
Unit of Analysis: Service provider per 100,000 population
Total population in a Canadian province/territory or in a health region
Number of health care professionals employed in the profession and working in direct care
Comments
Please note that the available data years, geographic coverage, reporting level/disaggregation and update frequency vary by type of professional.
“Available data year” can refer to data year (for nurses) or to reporting year (for occupational therapists, physiotherapists and pharmacists).