Patients benefitting from quick access to physiotherapy, occupational therapy thanks to successful pilot project in DECRH ED

All New Brunswickers deserve accessible and quality health care and a positive patient experience, and this initiative is one example of how Horizon is committed to providing that every day.

(FREDERICTON) – An innovative pilot project taking place in the emergency department (ED) at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital (DECRH) is resulting in better, more coordinated patient care while also having a positive impact on hospital patient flow.

The initiative, launched in January 2024, sees patients who could benefit from accessing physiotherapy or occupational therapy (OT) services identified during triage and quickly connected to professionals located on-site within the department.

This proactive approach is designed to provide quicker access to therapeutic services at the point of care, while reducing wait times, preventing unnecessary admissions, decreasing the length of stay, while improving the overall patient experience.

Through this initiative, patients presenting to the ED are able to obtain assessment, management of symptoms and treatment from qualified physiotherapists and occupational therapists while reducing the need for additional visits or delays in accessing services.

“This innovative approach is not only enhancing the overall quality of care provided to patients, but also contributes to more efficient operations and patient flow in our ED,” said Jacqueline Gordon, Horizon’s Regional Director of Therapeutics.

“By connecting patients to physiotherapy and occupational therapy services within the emergency department itself, this is helping to improve patient outcomes and patient flow, while optimizing our staffing resources and enhancing the overall patient experience during their visit.”

The concept of utilizing physiotherapists and occupational therapists as part of a multidisciplinary ED team has been successfully implemented in other parts of Canada.

Physiotherapists play an integral role in the assessment, diagnosis, triage and management of patients with musculoskeletal injuries, as well as patients who may be showing a decline in function.

Physiotherapists can also assess and treat mobility issues, provide instruction on appropriate mobility aids and facilitate safe discharge planning from the ED, among other functions.

Occupational therapists, meanwhile, are able to provide support to the ED team in a variety of ways, including providing assessment and recommendation on admissions, identifying and recommending appropriate adaptive equipment and services, connecting the patient to community services, and advocating for the patient and their individual needs.

“Our dedicated ED teams work extremely hard to provide the best possible care for every patient who comes through the door, and the addition of physiotherapists and occupational therapists to the department has helped ensure patients in need of these services are able to access them quickly and efficiently,” said David Arbeau, Executive Director for the Fredericton and Upper River Valley area. “Leveraging the unique skills and expertise of these professionals, and successfully integrating them into the ED environment not only demonstrates Horizon’s commitment to utilizing innovative tactics to provide better patient care, but also reflects the dedication and commitment of our physicians and staff, who always strive to provide excellent patient care during every interaction.”

Physiotherapy and OT resources are available in the ED Monday to Friday.

These professionals work collaboratively with the on-duty ED social worker and the rest of the ED team to ensure patients, many of whom are seniors who may be experiencing challenges with mobility or cognition, are able to access appropriate, compassionate and well-rounded care during their visit.

Well over 100 patients were able to access physiotherapy or OT services in the DECRH ED through the first month of the pilot projects, with hundreds more patient interactions taking place in the months since.

Patients have also expressed high levels of satisfaction with the service so far.

Similar initiatives are also in place at Horizon’s Saint John Regional Hospital and The Moncton Hospital, and Horizon is examining ways of enhancing the scope of these services moving forward.

Horizon has a plan to improve health care in New Brunswick. Our plan is focused on retention and recruitment efforts and improving the overall patient experience by addressing patient flow and access to services. Further details about Horizon’s four priority areas are available at HorizonNB.ca. This initiative also supports the Government of New Brunswick’s provincial health plan, Stabilizing Health Care: An Urgent Call to Action.

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