Overview & benefits
As one of CHSRF's flagship programs, the Executive Training for Research Application (EXTRA) program develops capacity and leadership to optimize the use of research evidence in managing Canadian healthcare organizations.
EXTRA gives health system managers across Canada the skills to better use research in their daily work, as a way to increase evidence-informed decision-making in the health system.
The EXTRA program targets health service professionals in senior management positions - nurse executives, physician executives, and other health administration executives.
Spread over three away-from-home residency sessions which incorporate curriculum modules, the fellowship experience offers:
- knowledge of research evidence (its existence, location, and relevance/application)
- the capacity to draw on "system thinking"
- development of collaborative professional relationships
- the ability to introduce and manage evidence-informed change
Program Benefits
EXTRA is designed to have short-term and long-term impacts at three levels: on the fellows themselves, on their organizations, and on the overall healthcare system.
Professional Development
- Gain the skills to find, assess, and apply research to become more effective at evidence-informed decision-making - knowledge and skills that will serve you throughout your career.
- Use research, data, and information with greater confidence.
- Collaborate with colleagues from across the country and across disciplines to acquire skills in evidence-informed decision-making in the management of health systems, learning from diverse healthcare settings.
- Gain exposure to the forefront of today's healthcare management issues and gain comparative and international perspectives with access to top-flight faculty, recognized experts, and guest lecturers from Canada and abroad.
- Play a leadership role in your organization and help create an evidence-informed decision-making culture.
- Communicate and teach the skills needed for improved use of research in the management of healthcare organizations.
- Develop collaborative working relationships that go beyond the formal EXTRA program and take part in an emerging community of practice.
The EXTRA program is formally recognized by the University of Montreal, Royal Roads University, and the University of Toronto. Graduates of the EXTRA program can earn university credits toward a Diplôme d’êtudes supérieures spécialisées in health services administration (DESS) or an MSc at the University of Montreal. Royal Roads University offers credits towards a Graduate Diploma in Health Systems Leadership, and the University of Toronto offers credits toward the MSc Health Services Research from the Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation.
EXTRA fellows also qualify for the following:
- a diploma conferred by the program partners – the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation, the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian College of Health Leaders, the Canadian Nurses Association, and the Quebec Consortium (INESSS)
- Continuing Medical Education Credits offered by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the College of Family Physicians of Canada
- Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Level 1 credits by the Canadian College of Health Service Leaders (CCHL)
- CCHL Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation
- CCHL Fellowship Program—as a partner, CCHL offers the EXTRA fellows who meet the pre-requisites for admission, as determined by CCHL, the opportunity to obtain a CCHL Fellowship designation that takes into account the EXTRA fellowship work
- certification levels will apply to competency-based e-learning curriculum
- Linkages with the LEADS in A Caring Environment capabilities framework that has been adopted by CCHL
Organizational Performance
- Benefit your organization with use of research to improve healthcare delivery, innovation, and cost-effectiveness.
- Create a culture of evidence-informed decision-making; share your new skills with colleagues and accelerate change in the organizational culture.
- Bring new ideas and knowledge into your organization through interaction with peers from diverse healthcare settings and disciplines.
- Assess your organizational performance and benchmark against best practices of other organizations and regions across the country.
Health System Benefits
- Improve the overall quality and effectiveness of the Canadian healthcare system through better decisions, supported by evidence from research.