Fredericton-area patients benefitting from Horizon’s successful patient flow initiatives

(FREDERICTON) – Horizon’s commitment to improving access and overall experience for patients has resulted in several successful patient flow initiatives in the Fredericton area.

In an effort to ensure coordinated, patient-centred care and increase access to critical services at Horizon’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital (DECRH), several patient flow initiatives have been implemented and are showing significant progress.

“Initiatives like these help us improve access and the overall patient experience within our hospitals,” said Trish Murray, interim Director of Patient Care, DECRH. “By improving patient flow, we can ensure patients are receiving timely access to the critical care they need critical care they need while reducing delays in other parts of the health care system.”

• The Patient Flow Command Centre is supporting inpatient units and the emergency department (ED), helping hundreds of patients daily by ensuring they’re receiving the right level of care at the right time. Operated by a dedicated team of discharge planners, patient flow coordinators, care coordinators, and partner liaisons, the Command Centre monitors inpatient capacity and bed occupancy, coordinates discharge plans, and facilitates patients’ transitions back to the community.
• Roughly 229 bed hours have been saved thanks to the Discharge Lounge. The space provides patients waiting to be discharged with a comfortable area to sit while freeing up bed space for those who need care immediately. With the addition of a licensed practical nurse, the lounge is now able to support a select group of inpatients who are transferring between ED and/or other inpatient units. Since opening in the spring, 122 patients have been cared for in the lounge.
• A pilot project to help ED patients access occupational therapy (OT) and physiotherapy is helping an average of almost 200 patients a month. During the triage process, if a patient is identified as requiring physiotherapy or OT services, they are quickly connected to professionals on-site, helping reduce wait times and free up space in the ED.
• Patients arriving in the ED via ambulance who are suspected of having a stroke receive a CT scan within 15 minutes thanks to a joint project with Ambulance New Brunswick. This is on par with the national standard.

“Success like this wouldn’t be possible without collaboration among our departments and with our partners,” said Greg Doiron, VP Clinical Operations. “I want to thank our staff who continue to work together to help ensure patients are receiving the right care in the right areas of our hospitals. I also want to thank our government and community partners for their help in ensuring patients who don’t need to stay in the hospital are transitioning back into the community safely and smoothly.”

Read Horizon’s latest Report to our Communities for more information on the 69 initiatives in-progress right now.

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