Update on PCAP and Working Short Premium

As announced in a joint BCNU and HEABC bulletin on June 6, a significant number of units around the province began trialing in-patient and critical care tools to support the development of an appropriate patient care assessment process (PCAP) tool.

While this work was underway, as was determined in the May 22 joint agreement, payment of the Article 28.04 Working Short Premium (WSP) was suspended until July 4 to allow for the development and implementation of an appropriate PCAP.

There has been extensive work undertaken by both parties to resolve the outstanding issues with respect to the PCAP and this work is continuing.

Therefore, effective July 5 the health authorities and Providence Health Care will resume payment of the broad working short premium, as per Article 28.04 of the 2019-2022 Nurses' Bargaining Association provincial collective agreement (PCA) in all direct care areas. Patient Care Coordinators will be included once the PCAP is complete.

The PCAP tool and processes are intended to help nurses and managers of a unit, department or service jointly determine patient care staffing needs, as described in Article 60 of the PCA. When an agreed PCAP tool is in place, the broad WSP will cease for that area.

Data collection and feedback gathering continues and will expand to other practice areas beyond acute, critical care, pediatrics and Long-term Care as agreements are reached.