Horizon’s Report to Our Communities highlights advancements in transformative care, showcasing progress, achievements and collaboration

(HORIZON) – Horizon Health Network (Horizon) is advancing care through innovative solutions and a patient-first approach to meet the evolving needs of New Brunswickers.

Horizon continues to identify and deliver patient-centred solutions that prioritize access to care, while improving and optimizing patient flow and experience. The sixth edition of Horizon’s Report to Our Communities highlights organizational progress from April 1 to September 30, 2024, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and innovation.

Since Horizon’s last update in August, 12 new projects are underway and 57 existing projects remain active across all regional hospitals, 7 community sites, and 24 separate departments and programs. These efforts reflect the positive change happening throughout Horizon, all aimed at enhancing access, improving the quality of care, and enriching the overall patient experience.

“To meet the needs of New Brunswickers, we’re changing the way we deliver health care,” said Margaret Melanson, Horizon President and CEO. “We’re moving forward with innovative ideas and approaches that support the provision of quality and patient-centered care across New Brunswick. We have made progress but recognize this journey is ongoing, requiring sustained effort and collaboration. Every small improvement we make contributes to meaningful, long-term progress in the health care system.”

Susan Harley, Horizon Board Chair, said: “We are focused on the foundational work of improving access to primary care in all communities, and to ensure continuity of care as patients move from primary care to surgical or other in-hospital services. We are committed to advancing the necessary changes to ultimately ensure accessible, high-quality and timely care for all New Brunswickers.”

Highlights from the latest report include:

• Horizon eliminated the use of travel nurses at the end of August 2024 and Horizon’s Talent Acquisition teams have exceeded targets, recruiting 1,223 new employees, plus 130 physicians, 375 Registered Nurses (net gain of 199), 167 Licensed Practical Nurses (net gain of 62), and 329 Patient Care Attendants (net gain of 232) from April to September.
  
  
• A successful patient flow initiative is leading to significant efficiency improvements, improved bed utilization, and enhanced overall care for acute patients in the Emergency Department at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, doubling the monthly bed hours saved through streamlined patient discharges and transfers since July, exceeding 150-bed hours by the end of September.
  
  
• Horizon’s Assessment Pilot alongside the Department of Social Development is decreasing wait times for Alternate Level of Care (ALC) patient assessments for placement in long-term care. Patient wait times have decreased from 53 days to 24 days with enhanced communication amongst care delivery teams.
  
  
• Horizon has launched an integrated network of university-affiliated hospitals with academic partners to drive medical innovation through research, education, and collaboration. With over 200 clinicians leading 400 studies, this framework enhances Horizon’s ability to address complex challenges and deliver exceptional care.
  
  
• Horizon and Extra-Mural/Ambulance NB are extending a partnership to explore ways to expand an integrated service delivery model that improves access to primary care for unattached patients in New Brunswick. Following the recent launch in the Fredericton area, both organizations share a vision of providing a seamless primary care model that increases access points for unattached patients.
  
  
• In partnership with Teladoc, Horizon will introduce a comprehensive virtual clinical care solution, offering patients with less urgent medical needs faster access to an emergency physician at both Sussex Health Centre and Charlotte County Hospital. This collaboration leverages hybrid care capabilities to improve access and efficiently manage periods of high demand.
  
  
• Surgical efficiency is on the rise at Horizon with a positive trend in completing surgeries within target timeframes, reaching 62.9% by September 2024—the highest in two years. Since April, 2,500 cases have been cleared from the waitlist, driven by operational efficiencies.
  
  

Horizon’s Report to Our Communities includes many more examples of innovative initiatives and solutions that have been actioned to enhance access to emergency care, surgeries, addiction and mental health services. The report also expands on our work to improve patient flow in our facilities, provide a better experience for our patients and clients, and prioritize the retention and recruitment of health care workers. We encourage New Brunswickers to take the time to read through the report in full.

View the report here.

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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