Addition of Interventional Radiology (IR) suite will improve access to procedures at Horizon’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital

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) – Horizon Health Network (Horizon) and the Chalmers Foundation are pleased to announce an additional (second) Interventional Radiology (IR) suite will be installed at Horizon’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital (DECRH), improving access to surgical services.

“The expansion of this service reflects our commitment to delivering accessible and high-quality care to meet the needs of the patients in the Fredericton area,” said Horizon’s interim president and CEO Margaret Melanson. “This second suite will improve access and the patient experience by reducing wait times, enhancing scheduling flexibility, and ensuring prompt access to specialized equipment and personnel.”

“This would not be possible without the support of the Chalmers Foundation and their generous donors,” Ms. Melanson added.

The Chalmers Foundation has approved a fundraising campaign of $1.7 million for the installation of the second IR suite. 

“We look forward to engaging with the community, and in particular, the local business community to help reach our $1.7 million goal by the end of 2024 to get this vital component up and running as quickly as possible. The IR suite is a strategy that helps address the growing demand for interventional radiology procedures at the DECRH, including some oncology needs,” said Chalmers Foundation CEO Charles A. Diab, PhD.

“The Foundation raised $1.7 million in the 2023 calendar year, and now we are looking to do the same in just 9 months which demonstrates the commitment of our Board and staff to helping support healthy, caring communities,” Mr. Diab added.

The IR suite will allow physicians to perform procedures that use minimally invasive image-guided procedures to diagnose and treat diseases in nearly every organ system. IR suites are designed to provide enhanced support for vascular procedures.

The existing IR suite has been instrumental in facilitating various interventional procedures across multiple specialties. There has been an increase in the number of patients requiring vascular interventions, including angioplasty, stenting, embolization, and other minimally invasive procedures. The creation of a second specialized suite will help accommodate this rising demand. In 2021-22, the DECRH IR team completed 1,589 cases (some cases include multiple exams/procedures). In 2022-23, that number rose to 2,465 procedures – a 38% increase.

The new suite will be equipped with state-of-the-art imaging technologies and interventional tools specifically tailored to address the complexities of vascular procedures, ensuring precision and efficiency in treatment. Staffing for the new suite will include highly trained technologists and nurses to complement the existing vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists. 

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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