Technical committee recruitment

Join a Technical Committee

Collaboration is part of our DNA. By working with many stakeholders, we can increase our reach and achieve collective impact.

HSO is looking for people who share a vision for safer care and a healthier world and who want to co-design standards that empower and enable people around the world to continuously improve quality of care.

If you have significant lived experience and expertise in one of the following areas, then we are looking for you!

  • People who are currently accessing health and social services in a particular area or have recently done so, and people supporting them in their care.
  • People working in health and social service organizations.
  • People working in government ministry, department, or agency (health or otherwise) or in a health organization that works at arm’s length from government, such as a health quality council or association.
  • People with subject-matter expertise working in applied research, academia, or the private sector.

We invite you to apply to join one of our technical committees by clicking the button below. You will be directed to our HSO & Accreditation Canada Opportunities page, which includes a full list of our technical committees and highlights any committees in active recruitment.

Apply to Join a Technical Committee

Technical Committees meet an average of 10 to 12 times per year. Meetings are held virtually. Meeting dates are confirmed and shared with Technical Committee members. Meeting frequency depends on the progression of the standard development process and the needs of the individual Technical Committee.

A meeting agenda and supporting documents are provided to all Technical Committee members for their review before each meeting. Meeting minutes are provided to Technical Committee members following the meeting.

Joining a Technical Committee is voluntary. If you are a person with lived experience and you join a Technical Committee, you will be offered an honorarium. Additional details about membership and honorariums will be provided if you are selected for the committee.

Technical Committees:

If you have questions about Technical Committee recruitment or the status of your application, please contact technicalcommittees@healthstandards.org

TC001 – Integrated Health Services

The Integrated Health Services (IHS) Technical Committee develops standards and assesses leading practices related to the delivery of health care and services at the macro level, including jurisdictions, ministries and regions, to provide integrated health services within their systems. IHS standards are based on the World Health Organization (WHO) framework on Integrated People-Centered Health Services (World Health Organization. (2015). WHO global Strategy on People-Centered and Integrated Health Services: Interim Report. Retrieved from http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/155002/1/WHO_HIS_SDS_2015.6_eng.pdf)), and address key policy options, interventions and approaches that align with the framework’s five strategic priorities:

    1. Engaging and Empowering People and Communities
    2. Strengthening Governance and Accountability
    3. Reorienting the Model of Care
    4. Coordinating Services Within and Across Sectors
    5. Creating an Enabling Environment

TC002 – Leadership and Governance

The Leadership and Governance Technical Committee develops standards and assesses leading practices related to the pursuit of excellence in leadership, governance and clinical governance of health and social service organizations. Leadership includes the organization’s commitment to a culture of person centred care, patient and worker safety, organizational learning and development, operational and performance management, decision making supports, resource allocation, and the infrastructure needed to drive excellence and quality improvement in the organization. Governance includes responsibilities of governing bodies to provide direction, demonstrate accountability, and be engaged in the activities of their organizations that drive quality and safety. Clinical governance addresses the responsibility of organizations to be committed to continuous quality improvement to achieve excellence in clinical care. The scope of this work looks at practices at the organizational, governing body and leadership levels, rather than at individual or position-specific responsibilities.Technical Committee members may include: patients and families with lived experience receiving services from health and social service organizations, current or potential standard users such as leaders across all levels of health and social service organizations, policy makers from national, provincial/territorial and regional health authorities, general interest: academics/researchers, health service administrators, subject matter experts, community members and others.

TC004 – Medication Management

The Medication Management Technical Committee develops standards and assesses leading practices that promote a collaborative approach to addressing all aspects of the medication pathway, which includes the patient’s role in medication management. This includes medication management in all health sectors, including community, long-term, ambulatory and acute environments of care. Specific attention will be paid to themes such as opioid management, antimicrobial stewardship and high risk medications.

TC006 – Indigenous Health

The Indigenous Health  Technical Committee develops standards and assesses leading practices related to health and social services that are provided to Indigenous communities. The standards are based on a holistic model of care and treatment characterized by the integration of physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental components of health and well-being identified in Indigenous traditions and cultures.

TC008 – Long-Term Care Services

The HSO Long-Term Care Services Technical Committee (TC008) will take an evidence-informed, systematic approach to developing standards that assess best practices for providing safe, high quality, and reliable care in LTC homes and/or residential homes for Canadians, their families and caregivers, and the supporting workforce. The Technical Committee will collaboratively work with residents and families to provide clear, standardized, evidence-informed practices that enable the delivery of resident- and family-centred care and services that are mindful and purposeful for all Canadians.

TC009 – Primary Health Care

The Primary Health Care (PHC) Technical Committee develops standards and assesses leading practices related to primary health care, disease prevention, health promotion, population health and community development within a holistic framework, guided by the principles of access, equity, multi-sectoral collaboration, community participation and empowerment (World Health Organization. (1978). Primary Health Care. Retrieved from http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/1978/9241541288_eng.pdf). PHC is provided through a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach that recognizes the socio-political, economic and cultural contexts that influence the social determinants of health for individuals, families and communities.

TC010 – Acute and Surgical Care Services

The Acute and Surgical Care Technical Committee develops standards and assesses leading practices related to the delivery of health care and services in acute care and surgical care settings.

The Acute and Surgical Care Technical Committee will advise on the development of standards and the identification of leading practices; and will write standards that promote a collaborative approach to preventing and reducing patient safety incidents, improving people-centred care, and improving satisfaction within these fields, often in consultation with ad hoc working groups.

Some of the standards under the purview of this Technical Committee are: Inpatient Services; Critical Care; Emergency Department; Cancer Care; Transfusion Services; Perioperative Services and Invasive Procedures; Independent Medical/ Surgical Facilities; and Safe Surgery Checklist.

We are also recruiting for the role of Chair of the Acute and Surgical Care Technical Committee to lead the members in the development and revision of standards, including writing the standards. As the Chair of the Acute and Surgical Care Technical Committee, you are a leader with expertise and insight in acute and surgical care. You are committed to the co-design of standards and will collaborate with and guide the technical committee members to create standards products that will make health services safer, better, and more equitable.

TC011 – Mental Health and Addictions

The Mental Health and Addictions Technical Committee (TC011) develops standards for the delivery of mental health and addition services across the lifespan, encompassing a range of care settings, including acute and community-based services. This work includes promotion, education, early intervention, crisis intervention, counseling, therapy, treatment, and peer/self-help programs.

HSO seeks applicants with expertise, including lived experiences, in areas such as crisis intervention, mental health support services, and trauma-informed care. Candidates that will stand out include those that understand legislative changes, evolving scopes of practice, the opioid crisis, and the integration of technology in the Canadian healthcare landscape.

TC012 – Care in the Home and Community

The Care in the Home and Community Technical Committee develops standards and assesses leading practices related to services that clients of all ages receive within their homes and communities, that support independent living and quality of life. The services received address diverse care needs and are commonly delivered by regulated health care professionals (e.g. nurses, social workers and physiotherapists), unregulated health care professionals (e.g. personal support workers, health care aides, and community development workers), volunteers and carers. (Note that care in the home and community does not include primary care or emergency care services.)

TC015 –Biomedical and Diagnostic Laboratory Services

The Biomedical Laboratory Services and Diagnostic Imaging Services Technical Committee develops standards and assesses leading practices related to the delivery of biomedical laboratory services and diagnostic imaging services.

Biomedical laboratory services are provided in organizations such as a healthcare systems, hospitals or independent centres. Collaborative approaches to service delivery are used where the laboratory team works with the laboratory users to deliver safe and quality services to clients. Biomedical laboratory services address a continuum of laboratory services, from responding to requests for services to communicating the results. They can include routine and specialized biochemical analyses required in the areas of pathology, genetic testing, hemostasis, hematology, biochemistry, microbiology, transfusion medicine and molecular biology.

Diagnostic imaging services assist health professionals in monitoring, assessing, diagnosing and treating patients’ health conditions in healthcare systems, hospitals or independent centres. An integrated approach to diagnostic imaging services is promoted in order to deliver safe and quality diagnostic imaging services to clients. Diagnostic modalities covered by the standard include general radiology, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, interventional radiology, bone densitometry, ultrasound, mammography, and nuclear medicine (including positive emission tomography).

TC017 – Rehabilitation Services

The Rehabilitation Services Technical Committee develops standards and assesses leading practices related to the pursuit of excellence in rehabilitation services in various settings from acute to community care settings. The technical committee reviews how these rehabilitation services are planned, delivered and evaluated in partnership with clients and families in order to meet the needs of populations that require this care. The scope of the standard includes access to services, assessments, co-design and co-implementation of care plans with clients and families, and planning for care transitions. Rehabilitation services can include rehabilitation medical care, physical and occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, nursing and nutritional therapy as well as other support services.

Rehabilitation Technical Committee Members could include (but are not limited to):

  • Patients and families with lived experience related to rehabilitation, care-givers
  • Current/Potential Standard users: Case Managers, Clinical Epidemiologists, kinesiologists, movement and exercise specialists, Nurses, Neurologists, Occupational Therapists, Physiatrists, Physical Therapists, Physicians, Professors/Educators, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Recreational Therapists, Rehabilitation Nurses, Rehabilitation Psychologists, Speech-Language Professionals, athletic trainers
  • Healthcare Organizations: leaders in health care organizations specializing in/providing rehabilitative services, associations, commissions
  • Policy-Makers: National, Provincial/Territorial, and Regional Health Authorities
  •  General Interest: Clinical Researchers, Rehabilitation/Academic Researchers, “Experts” in rehabilitation

TC018 – Technology-Enabled Health

The Technology-Enabled Health Technical Committee develops standards and assesses leading practices focused on the importance of technology in the delivery of health services through facilitating communication, information transfer and education. Technology in health care is also used to help organizations plan services, make better decisions and run more efficiently through data analytics that address operational challenges like cost structures, clinical quality, workflows, supply chains and risk management. Technologies include telehealth, telemedicine, electronic medical records and electronic health records, and the governance of health information within and across organizations.

TC022 – Spinal Cord Injury

The Spinal Cord Injury Technical Committee develops standards and assesses leading practices related to spinal cord injury (SCI) programs, services, and supports that are people-centred, coordinated, integrated, and informed by the lived experience of people with SCI. This includes but is not limited to: the co-design and delivery of system-wide people-centred SCI programs and supports; building an integrated model of SCI care and services for coordinated delivery across the SCI continuum – from acute, to rehabilitation, and re-integration into the community; best practices for health system provider organizations and specialized SCI care teams as they engage with people and communities to co-design SCI care and service delivery models; and promoting awareness and co-design methodologies to ensure that the needs of all people with lived experience of SCI are met across the full continuum of care, regardless of when or where they wish to access care.

TC023 – Assessment Methodologies

The Assessment Methodologies Technical Committee advises on the development of assessment methodologies used in assessment programs. It provides guidance and expertise on the methods used to assess conformance with health standards.

Expertise sought includes:

      • Statistical methods (such as sampling)
      • Evaluation of health service organizations
      • Health systems assessment using quantitative and qualitative methods
      • Program evaluation, including expertise in mixed methods such as observation, semi-structured interviews and documentation reviews
      • Expertise in designing program guidelines that could be used to assess performance and issue decisions, etc.

TC024 – Academic Health Centres and Clinical Research

The Academic Health Centres and Clinical Research Technical Committee develops standards and assesses leading practices related to delivery of highly specialized care (tertiary and quartenary) and services within an academic health sciences setting that has a formal contract with universities to provide education, such as health professional education and biomedical engineering.

The impact of academic programs and clinical research on organizational structure, processes and delivery of patient care will be addressed. It supports services founded on three missions: (1) providing patients with timely access to highly specialized care; (2) training the next generation of health care providers; and (3) conducting leading-edge research and making it available to clinicians, administrators, policy makers and the public [National Task Force on the Future of Canada’s Academic Health Sciences Centres].

Members could include (but are not limited to): University Presidents, Provosts, Vice-Presidents of Research; Deans of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Health Sciences, and Rehabilitation Sciences or their respective Vice-Deans of Education and Research; Presidents and CEOs of Academic Healthcare Organizations, Provincial/Regional Health Authorities, or community-based institutions; Presidents and CEOs of Health Research Institutes; and Federal, Provincial, and Territorial regulatory bodies.

TC027 – Communication in Health Services

The Communication in Health Services Technical Committee is responsible for standards related to effective, open and clear communication in health services delivery. Communication barriers affect the safety and quality of care that patients receive as well as the ability of the team to provide efficient and cost-effective care.

The standards aims to establish safe, high-quality health services and social services across the continuum of care. It will address the necessary organizational structures and processes required at the governance and leadership levels that support and ensure effective communication. This work will serve as a platform for an international standard for use in communities world-wide.

TC028 – Palliative and End-of-Life Care

The Palliative and End-of-life Care Technical Committee develops standards and assesses leading practices related to care and services that people receive regardless of the healthcare setting. The services address diverse care needs focused on improving quality of life by partnering with people and their families to ensure that both physical and psychosocial needs are met. These services start early in the palliative care journey, not just at the end-of-life, and are commonly delivered by a diverse group of health care professionals, support workers, volunteers, and carers.

TC029 – Allied Health Education Programs

The Technical Committee on Allied Health Education Programs develops standards based on evidence informed practices that focus on academic quality, both didactic  and clinical integration for successful student achievement. The education program must demonstrate that their curriculum, learning environments and resources  are  sufficient to prepare learners for competent, safe and effective practice at entry level. The Technical Committee will begin immediate work on developing and approving Allied Health Education Standards used for the purpose of accrediting Allied Health education programs. Such standards ensure that the education programs are delivering quality education and producing graduates that meet pre-defined national standards of competence, set by the profession. The standards apply to training performed in a variety of different settings, such as large academic centres, rural hospitals, clinics, private laboratories, paramedic services, etc. Technical Committee Members could include (but are not limited to): Healthcare learners, new graduates (less than 5 years of practice), patients, educators from allied health education program, healthcare professionals, representatives from national and provincial professional associations  and provincial regulatory bodies.

TC030 – Global Health Technical Committee

The Global Health Technical Committee develops standards related to the provision of health care services to clients who travel outside of their home country to obtain health care. The scope of this work looks at addressing structures, processes, and outcomes for organizations that provide health care services to international clients, including: investing in global health care services, having the right team, delivering quality global health care services, maintaining accessible and efficient clinical information systems, and having a positive impact on health outcomes. Technical Committee members may include: patients and families with lived experience receiving services from organizations providing global health care services outside their home countries, current or potential standard users such as organizations providing health care services to international clients, policy makers from international, national, provincial/territorial and regional health authorities, and those with a general interest and expertise in the subject such as academics, researchers, health service administrators, subject matter experts, community members and others.

El Comité técnico de salud global desarrolla estándares relacionados con la prestación de servicios de cuidado de la salud a clientes que viajan fuera de su país de residencia para obtener cuidados de la salud. El alcance de este trabajo tiene en cuenta el tratamiento de estructuras, procesos y resultados para organizaciones que le prestan servicios de cuidado de la salud a clientes internacionales. Esto incluye la inversión en servicios de cuidado de la salud global, la disposición de un equipo adecuado, la prestación de servicios de cuidado de la salud global de calidad, el mantenimiento de sistemas accesibles y eficientes de información clínica y la obtención de un impacto positivo en resultados de salud. Entre los miembros del Comité técnico pueden incluirse: pacientes y familias que han vivido la experiencia de recibir servicios de organizaciones que presten servicios de cuidado de la salud global fuera de su país de residencia; actuales o potenciales usuarios estándares, como organizaciones que le presten servicios de cuidado de la salud a clientes internacionales; responsables de políticas de autoridades sanitarias internacionales, nacionales, provinciales/territoriales y regionales; y aquellas personas que tengan interés general y experiencia en el tema, como académicos, investigadores, administradores de servicios de salud, expertos en el tema, miembros de la comunidad y otros.

TC031 – Infection Prevention and Control

Health Standards Organization’s (HSO) is recruiting Technical Committee (TC) members to drive the development of a new National Standard of Canada CAN/HSO 4001 Infection Prevention and Control (IPC). HSO is seeking applicants with subject matter expertise including lived experiences relevant to planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating an IPC program for all care settings across the lifespan, inclusive of pandemic planning. This standard will focus on enabling high quality, people-centred care with clear requirements and accountabilities to support clients and their families, teams, organizational leaders, governance bodies and other stakeholders as they work together towards achieving personalized and safe IPC care practices and services.

TC032 – Perinatal Health

The Perinatal Health Technical Committee develops standards and assesses leading practices related to the delivery of health care and services in prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal health settings.

The Perinatal Health Technical Committee will advise on the development of standards and the identification of leading practices; and will write standards that promote a collaborative approach to preventing and reducing patient safety incidents, improving people-centred care, and improving satisfaction within perinatal health services such as obstetrics. The HSO Obstetrics standard – which focuses specifically on in-hospital birth and the immediate postnatal period – will begin revision in 2018.

We are also recruiting for the role of Chair of the Perinatal Health Technical Committee to lead the members in the development and revision of standards, including writing the standards. As the Chair of the Perinatal Health Technical Committee, you are a leader with expertise and insight in perinatal health services. You are committed to the co-design of standards and will collaborate with and guide the technical committee members to create standards products that will make health services safer, better, and more equitable.

TC033 – Emergency Management

The Emergency Management Technical Committee develops standards and assesses leading practices related to the pursuit of excellence in management of health services during emergencies and/or disasters both at the macro and micro level, including jurisdictions, ministries, regions, and acute care organizations. It also looks at emergency medical services including ambulance services, interfacility transport, emergency communication services, pre-hospital emergency health services, and paramedicine.

The Technical Committee reviews how emergency management protocols are planned, delivered and evaluated in partnership with a variety of stakeholders, to meet the needs of the population. It considers practices at the organizational or system levels for the development of comprehensive criteria that address the mitigation, preparedness, response, service provision, and recovery during emergencies, hazards and disasters.

Technical Committee members may include: patients and families with lived experience with health services during an emergency; current or potential standard users such as organizational leaders and providers of emergency medical services, and coordinators of emergency and disaster management at health services organizations; policy makers from national, provincial/territorial and regional authorities, general interest: academics/researchers, emergency management “experts”, community members and others.

TC034 – British Columbia Cultural Safety and Humility

The British Columbia Jurisdictional Cultural Safety and Humility Technical Committee develops standards and assesses leading practices related to the organizational structures and processes that support and ensure culturally safe services, including:

  • Service planning;
  • Research practices;
  • Data collection;
  • Development of culturally safe policies and procedures;
  • Complaints protocols;
  • Resources (human, financial and material); and
  • Staff competency, education, training and learning

The standard will follow the Indigenous patient’s health and wellness journey across the health and social service system, including access to services, health promotion and disease prevention, admission, assessment, treatment, discharge, and end-of-life care. In alignment with Indigenous traditions and values, the standard will incorporate elements of the social determinants of health to ensure that they are holistic and community-oriented. The standard will apply to a variety of health and social service providing organizations. Only applicants who live in the province of British Columbia will be considered.

TC035 – Correctional Service Canada Health Services

The Correctional Health Services Technical Committee (TC) will oversee the co-design and development of a national standard for Correctional Services Canada (CSC) Healthcare Services. The TC will take an evidence-informed, systemic approach to developing a standard that assess best practices for providing safe, high quality, and reliable care in CSC. The TC will collaboratively work with those with lived experience in healthcare service provided by CSC (direct service or family), healthcare providers, policymakers, and researchers to provide clear, standardized, evidence-informed practices that enable the delivery of care and services that are mindful and purposeful for all current offenders requiring health care services through CSC.

TC036 – Cultural Safety and Humility

The Cultural Safety and Humility Technical Committee develops standards that provide health and social service organizations across Canada with guidance on delivering culturally safe services to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples and communities and addressing Indigenous-specific racism in service delivery.

The Technical Committee works to ensure that health and social services are aligned with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis rights, cultures, protocols, and values by providing guidance on the organizational structures and procedures that are required in governance, leadership, and service provision to support cultural safety and humility and anti-racism.

TC037 – Crisis and Distress Lines

The Crisis and Distress Lines Technical Committee (TC037) develops standards for crisis line services, supporting the nationwide 9-8-8 suicide prevention and emotional distress helplines. The Technical Committee addresses all aspects of crisis line delivery from governance and training to intervention protocols and technology. The Technical Committee also focuses on equitable access, cultural safety, and continuous quality improvement to promote the support of all Canadians to immediately accessible crisis and distress supports.

HSO seeks applicants with expertise in crisis intervention, mental health support services, and trauma-informed care. Candidates that will stand out include those with a demonstrated understanding of the challenges and opportunities for quality improvement in national helpline implementation, and the evolving crisis care landscape.

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Standards Review and Development Process

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