Ekeland E1, Boesen MW1, Rygh E1
1The Norwegian Fund for Post-Graduate Training in Physiotherapy, Oslo, Norway
Background: Nearly 50 years ago the Norwegian Physiotherapist Association reached a unique agreement with the government and employer representatives. The agreement secured financing of post-graduate education for physiotherapists in Norway. Rooted in the National Insurance Act, the agreement regulates annual transfer of funds to The Norwegian Fund for Post-Graduate Training in Physiotherapy.
The Norwegian Fund for Post-Graduate Training in Physiotherapy established a strategy with long-term investment management. The Fund was managed in order to allow both capital growth and annual disbursement of scholarships. These have been awarded to physiotherapists for educational and research purposes.
This Norwegian model may serve as an inspiration for other countries developing new models for funding professional development.
Purpose: To strengthen the competence of physiotherapists and knowledge development in physiotherapy in Norway.
Methods:
· Establishing a framework for transfer of funds rooted in national laws
· Asset management with long-term strategy with the aim of increasing capital through investments in equities and bonds.
· Based on political guidelines, financial support of efforts to strengthen the physiotherapist´s competence through
Þ Supporting education communities for master- and phd-education
Þ Supporting communites for continuing education
Þ Supporting communites for research in physiotherapy
Þ Scholarships to physiotherapists to post-graduate education and research
Þ strengthen research in physiotherapy in primary health care
Results:
· Total disbursement of nearly 70 million Euro. The disbursements have for years exceeded than the annual transfer from National Insurance to the fund.
· Due to The Norwegian Fund for Post-Graduate Training in Physiotherapy individual scholarships summed to more than 9 million Euro to physiotherapists participating in continuing evidence-based education
·7,5 million Euro have been allocated to develop and establish five Physiotherapy-specific master´s programmes and several post-graduate education programmes
· 12,8 million Euro have been allocated to develop and operate a comprehensive, knowledge-based continuing education program in physiotherapy
·35 million Euro have been awarded for the development of formal research qualifications for physiotherapist (phd-degree, professorship) and the development of strong environments/communities for research, education and professional competence building in physiotherapy at universities and hospitals.
· This includes a 10-year research programme in physiotherapy in primary care
Conclusion(s): The Fund's financing of physiotherapists has demonstrated the importance of
· establishing an agreement on transfer of money to the purpose continuing education in physiotherapy, well rooted in National Acts.
· establishing a clear and long-term strategy for capital growth while providing support to post-graduate education. The allocation strategy must be in line with community needs and policy guidelines in health, education and research.
· supporting developing strong communities for research and post-graduate training for physiotherapists
· supporting physiotherapists individually by providing scholarships that stimulate physiotherapists to participate in professional development
Implications: Long-term and predictable system of financial support is fundamental for high-quality knowledge-based physiotherapy service.
Keywords: Model for long-term funding, Professional development, Knowledge-based
Funding acknowledgements: i. The Norwegian Fund for Post-Graduate Training in Physiotherapy.
The Norwegian Fund for Post-Graduate Training in Physiotherapy established a strategy with long-term investment management. The Fund was managed in order to allow both capital growth and annual disbursement of scholarships. These have been awarded to physiotherapists for educational and research purposes.
This Norwegian model may serve as an inspiration for other countries developing new models for funding professional development.
Purpose: To strengthen the competence of physiotherapists and knowledge development in physiotherapy in Norway.
Methods:
· Establishing a framework for transfer of funds rooted in national laws
· Asset management with long-term strategy with the aim of increasing capital through investments in equities and bonds.
· Based on political guidelines, financial support of efforts to strengthen the physiotherapist´s competence through
Þ Supporting education communities for master- and phd-education
Þ Supporting communites for continuing education
Þ Supporting communites for research in physiotherapy
Þ Scholarships to physiotherapists to post-graduate education and research
Þ strengthen research in physiotherapy in primary health care
Results:
· Total disbursement of nearly 70 million Euro. The disbursements have for years exceeded than the annual transfer from National Insurance to the fund.
· Due to The Norwegian Fund for Post-Graduate Training in Physiotherapy individual scholarships summed to more than 9 million Euro to physiotherapists participating in continuing evidence-based education
·7,5 million Euro have been allocated to develop and establish five Physiotherapy-specific master´s programmes and several post-graduate education programmes
· 12,8 million Euro have been allocated to develop and operate a comprehensive, knowledge-based continuing education program in physiotherapy
·35 million Euro have been awarded for the development of formal research qualifications for physiotherapist (phd-degree, professorship) and the development of strong environments/communities for research, education and professional competence building in physiotherapy at universities and hospitals.
· This includes a 10-year research programme in physiotherapy in primary care
Conclusion(s): The Fund's financing of physiotherapists has demonstrated the importance of
· establishing an agreement on transfer of money to the purpose continuing education in physiotherapy, well rooted in National Acts.
· establishing a clear and long-term strategy for capital growth while providing support to post-graduate education. The allocation strategy must be in line with community needs and policy guidelines in health, education and research.
· supporting developing strong communities for research and post-graduate training for physiotherapists
· supporting physiotherapists individually by providing scholarships that stimulate physiotherapists to participate in professional development
Implications: Long-term and predictable system of financial support is fundamental for high-quality knowledge-based physiotherapy service.
Keywords: Model for long-term funding, Professional development, Knowledge-based
Funding acknowledgements: i. The Norwegian Fund for Post-Graduate Training in Physiotherapy.
Topic: Professional issues; Professional issues
Ethics approval required: No
Institution: N/A
Ethics committee: N/A
Reason not required: Model for management of funding professional development.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
