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Glossary of Terms

 

account

See user account

 

administrator

See system administrator

 

alpha code

The unique two-character code that identifies a country established by the International Organization for Standards (ISO).

 

attrition

See exit

 

average cost

See cost

 

average salary

The average annual salary paid to an employee in a particular group, such as a cadre or pool of workers.

 

base year

See start year

 

base year ratio

The ratio of health professionals to population calculated for the start year of the projection; this ratio is used to calculate health professional targets for each year in the projection by maintaining the base year ratio as the population changes over time.

 

cadre

A broad category or subset of health workers characterized by the specific training, degree or other qualifications required to practice or be licensed in that field (i.e., nurse).

 

cadre pool

A pool of health workers, composing part or all of a cadre, to which assumptions are applied in a workforce projection. Also pool.

 

configure

The process of setting up the system or a module for use.

   

confirm

The process of reviewing data entered in the system and verifying that the data are correct.

 

cost

The amount of money associated with a change in the number of workers based on salary and other associated costs, such as training costs or severance pay. Also average cost.

   

cost increase

An annual increase in the cost associated with a change in the number of workers expressed as a percentage of the original cost.

 

currency

The medium of exchange of money used in a country or other location.

      

currency code

The unique three-letter code used to define a currency established by the International Organization for Standards (ISO).

    

currency symbol

The symbol used to identify a currency, such as $ for dollars.

 

data source

The verifiable source of data entered in the system, such as a census, survey or information system.

      

duration

The number of years in a projection, usually between 5 and 30 years. Also refers to the number of years that a pool change affects the projection. 

 

edit

The process of changing data entered in the system before saving it, such as when there is a mistake in the data.

 

exit

A decrease in the supply of workers due to employees leaving the workforce. Also attrition.

      

export

To pull all data out of the system for use in another program.

        

feedback

To provide suggestions or ask questions about the system to the developers.

 

goal

See target

 

graphical model

See projection

 

health worker

A health professional who is a member of a cadre and provides health services in a country, either in the public sector or the private sector.

 

health workforce planner

A role that has access to the projection creation and modeling functions but cannot configure the system or access user accounts; this is the primary user role for the system.

          

import

To bring data into the system from another source.

 

initial year of change

The first year in a projection that a pool change takes effect; the initial year of change may be the same as the start year of the projection.

      

intake

An increase in the supply of workers due to employees entering the workforce.

      

ISO numeric code

The unique numeric code that identifies a country established by the International Organization for Standards (ISO).

 

log in

To enter a username and password in order to access the system.

   

log out

To stop using the system and disable access unless a correct username and password are entered.

 

magic data

Configuration data used in the system.

  

model

The formula used to project workforce supply in future years based on the current supply of workers plus projected new workers minus projected losses. Also workforce planning model.

  

module

A component of the system that performs a specific function and may be disabled or enabled.

 

need

See target

 

no access

A role that prevents a user from accessing the system, or disables the user account.

 

out migration

The process of a health worker leaving the country where s/he was trained in order to practice in a foreign country.

 

password

A hidden phrase that provides secure access to the system.

 

percentage change

An annual change in the number of workers based on a percentage of the available number of workers leaving or entering the workforce. Also rate of change.

 

pool

See cadre pool

 

pool change

A change applied to a cadre pool that calculates either an increase or decrease in the number of available workers in that pool.

 

population

The total number of people inhabiting a specific area, such as a country.

 

population growth rate

The percentage by which the population of an area will grow annually.

     

population history

A record of all populations entered in the system and the year for which the population was entered.

 

position

An instance of a job that can be filled by one employee in one facility and represents one box on an organizational chart.

 

primary country

The country that is selected as the primary location for projections; more than one country may be set as the primary country.

      

projection

A calculation of the workforce supply and required workers over time based on workforce data and assumptions made about future changes to the workforce that compares the supply to the requirements and shows the gap between the two. Also graphical model, workforce projection.

   

rate of change

See percentage change

 

requirements

See target

 

retirement

The point at which a worker permanently leaves the workforce, usually due to reaching a specific age.  

      

return

The process of abandoning data entered in the system without saving it.

      

role

Determines the activities that a user can perform within the system.

   

salary

The amount an employee is paid per year for a particular job.

 

salary increase

The amount that a salary is increased each year, expressed as a percentage of the salary.

  

save

The process of writing data to the system; saved data may be corrected or updated at a later point, but the original data are always retained.

      

start year

The year in which a projection of the workforce begins, for which there is known workforce data. Also base year.

 

static change

An annual change in the number of workers based on a specific number of workers leaving or entering the workforce.

 

sub-module

A component that is part of a module and depends on that module to function; sub-modules may be enabled or disabled separately from their parent module.

 

supply

The actual number of workers available for deployment, calculated by adding the current stock to an estimate of the number and types of staff who will be available in the future.

      

supply history

A record of all actual workforce supply data entered in the system, organized by supply year.

 

supply year

The year for which the actual available number of workers is known, which is used as the basis for projecting future numbers of workers; ideally, the supply year is the same as the start year of the projection.

 

surname

Family name or last name.

 

system administrator

A role that has full access to all functions in the system; this role is responsible for configuring the system and managing user accounts. Also administrator.

      

target

The number of health workers necessary to meet the health service need. Also a goal or proposed outcome for workforce plans or projections, such as to meet a specific need or staff up to a certain level. Also goal, need, requirements.

 

target history

A record of all actual workforce target data entered in the system, organized by target year.

 

target year

The year for which the required number of positions is known, which is used as the basis for projecting future needed workers; ideally, the target year is the same as the start year of the projection.

      

training program

A course offered by a training institution that, when completed, qualifies a person to be registered or licensed in a particular cadre

      

user

A person who has access to the system.

      

user account

A record that enables a person to access the system via a username and password, and determines the role of the person in the system. Also account.

 

username

A unique name used by a user to access the system.

 

workforce

The total number of people available to work.

 

workforce planning

A process to determine the policies and strategies to balance workforce supply and demand in order to have the staff in place to deliver the agreed-upon level of health care services over the long term (5 to 20 years).

 

workforce planning model

See model

 

workforce projection

See projection