Horizon provides update on plans to strengthen ED coverage at Sussex Health Centre

(SUSSEX) – Horizon Health Network is making considerable progress in implementing a new, blended care model at the Sussex Health Centre (SHC) designed to enhance the coverage and services provided in the emergency department (ED).

Horizon leaders were in Sussex on Monday, Aug. 26, where they were able to engage with ED physicians and staff, as well as area municipal, provincial and federal representatives to provide an update on this process and gather valuable input and feedback.

This innovative approach will integrate nurse practitioners (NPs), advanced care paramedics (ACPs), respiratory therapists (RTs), and a virtual care solution to support ED physicians and ensure consistent access to emergency care for patients in the Sussex area.

Recognizing the importance of rural hospitals, Horizon is committed to keeping the Sussex Health Centre ED open under its existing hours and continues to work toward the long-term goal of restoring 24/7 service.

The priority remains to ensure that the ED is staffed with physicians, and Horizon continues to aggressively recruit for additional physician support.

Notably, a new physician has recently been hired for Zone 2, which will directly contribute to improving coverage in Sussex.

Despite extensive recruitment efforts, there will be occasions when securing on-site physician coverage for the Sussex ED is challenging. In these cases, the new blended care model will ensure patients receive timely, quality, and safe care. This model includes:

• Integration of NPs, ACPs, and RTs: These skilled health care professionals have been providing essential support in the Sussex ED since June, working alongside physicians to ensure patient safety and continuity of care. NPs, ACPs, and RTs bring a valuable skill set, including the ability to provide urgent and critical care services in collaboration with the ED team.
• Virtual Care Solution: Horizon is working to establish a virtual clinical support model for the Sussex ED, which would allow the clinical team to quickly connect with and obtain expertise from an emergency physician when one is not available on-site. Horizon has engaged Teladoc Health to assist in addressing staffing gaps and maintaining service continuity, drawing on the success of similar models in other provinces, such as Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Saskatchewan, which – like most provinces – are experiencing similar challenges as New Brunswick.

“Horizon understands that patients in the Sussex area expect reliable access to emergency services,” said Greg Doiron, Horizon’s VP Clinical Operations. “The introduction of this new care model is not a replacement for physician coverage but a proactive measure to ensure that the Sussex ED remains available to the community to provide the care they need, even in the event of physician shortages.”

In early Fall 2024, Horizon will engage with physicians, staff, patients, and other stakeholders to continue the development of this new model and ensure they are informed of the new virtual care solution, while gathering feedback to better understand any potential barriers or concerns. This input will be essential to the planning and implementation process, ensuring that the model meets the needs of the Sussex community.

This new model is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the Sussex Health Centre and ensure a sustainable, reliable care delivery system for years to come.

Horizon continues to make progress in staffing for the enhanced model, with one new physician hired, one returning from leave, and additional locum coverage secured. Four site visits are scheduled for the fall with potential candidates. By later this fall, Horizon expects to have two full-time RTs providing 12 hours of coverage per day, further bolstering the ED team.

Horizon is committed to ensuring that the Sussex Health Centre ED remains a pillar of health care in the region, providing high-quality, safe, and reliable care to all patients.

The introduction of this blended care model represents a significant step forward in achieving that goal, while Horizon continues to work toward securing full-time, on-site physician coverage.

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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