Horizon Health Network and EM/ANB Inc. partner to increase access for unattached patients to primary health care in Zone 3 (Fredericton area) August 8, 2024 (FREDERICTON) – A pilot project between Horizon Health Network (Horizon) and EM/ANB Inc., will improve access to primary care for unattached patients in the Fredericton area using a collaborative integrated service delivery model and leveraging each partner’s mandate and area of expertise. NB Health Link is a network that provides access to primary care for patients without a family physician or nurse practitioner. Horizon will identify opportunities where physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and other allied health care providers may support the NB Health Link network in improving access for unattached patients. “We are thrilled to be part of this innovative pilot project,” said Margaret Melanson, President and CEO of Horizon Health Network. “This exciting initiative aligns perfectly with Horizon’s critical action priority of improving access to primary care services and shows, by working together, we can help ensure that patients in the Fredericton area have the best possible access to the care they need.” Program oversight and administrative management will remain with NB Health Link, but the program will benefit from increased collaboration with Horizon, as it works to identify opportunities to improve access to care for patients who are waitlisted for NB Health Link in the Fredericton area, where the provincial wait list is currently longest. The patient benefits of this partnership will include: Increased access to primary care appointments with a health care provider More unattached patients moved off the NB Health Link waitlist Patient information stored within an electronic medical record (EMR) shared between NB Health Link and Horizon providers “We are excited to team up with our partners in health care at Horizon and leverage our resources together to help unattached patients in Zone 3,” says Craig Dalton, CEO of EM/ANB Inc., the Part III entity which manages NB Health Link. “We know this partnership will make great strides in improving access to primary care for New Brunswickers.” “We are pleased to see two key health care partners collaborating in order to provide health care to New Brunswickers,” says Health Minister Bruce Fitch. “This pilot project is another concrete example of the kinds of innovative solutions being implemented to improve access to primary health care in the province.” Patients on the NB Health Link wait list will be contacted as capacity increases. -30- Media Contacts: Eric RobichaudMedia Relations – NB Health Link / EM/ANB inc. 1-506-872-5014 Eric.Robichaud@medavienb.ca Kris McDavidMedia Relations – Horizon Health Network1-877-499-1899Media@HorizonNB.ca