December 5, 2000 For Immediate Release

The University of Northern British Columbia will play a larger role in northern health education and research, following today's BC Ministry of Health Action Plan announcement.

The Action Plan consists of more than 25 new health programs, including some targeted specifically at health education and research in rural and remote regions of the Province. A number of new programs have particular relevance for UNBC:

· The Government is committing $620,000 to establish a BC Rural and Remote Health Research Institute at UNBC. This Institute will undertake and coordinate research on a variety of northern health issues, such as population health, delivery of services, and education of health professionals in the North. The results of the research - conducted in partnership with northern communities and agencies - will help the Ministry of Health build relevant solutions to health care access and delivery. It's expected the Institute will begin to hire researchers and staff by the spring. The Institute will be the foundation upon which the University will build additional opportunities for the education of health professionals.

· The expansion of 400 new seats in Nursing education provides a number of possible opportunities for UNBC:

- Increased enrolment in the four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program, offered with the College of New Caledonia in Prince George. UNBC is also investigating opportunities to offer the Nursing degree in Quesnel (in partnership with CNC) and Terrace (in partnership with Northwest Community College).

- Inclusion of the post-RN BSN program. This two-year program will provide additional education for Registered Nurses with diplomas (two-three years of training) to upgrade to a bachelor's degree level. The need for this program is particularly apparent in the North, where a high percentage of nurses require options for degree completion.

- The addition of a Nurse Practitioner program, to provide nurses with advanced knowledge and decision-making skills. Nurse practitioners provide and enhance health delivery in rural and remote areas, where physician services may be limited. UNBC is prepared to offer advanced training in this area.

· The announcement of 300 scholarships of $3500 annually will provide financial assistance to health care providers in their pursuit of post-secondary education.

"The establishment of the BC Rural and Remote Health Research Institute is a significant boost to our vision of enhancing health education in the North," says UNBC President Charles Jago. "There is increasing evidence of poorer health status among northern and rural populations. By working with communities, we can use targeted research to investigate innovations in health service delivery and look at the incidence and distribution of diseases among populations. A greater understanding of these factors will inform both health policy and health education."