Horizon named one of Atlantic Canada’s Top Employers

(HORIZON) – Horizon Health Network (Horizon) has been named one of Atlantic Canada’s Top Employers thanks to the dedication, leadership and innovation of its staff and physicians to promote a positive work environment focused on advancing health care in New Brunswick.

“We are both humbled and proud to be among the list of employers recognized today as one of the best places to work in Atlantic Canada,” said Margaret Melanson, Horizon’s interim president and CEO. “This accomplishment could only be achieved because of the terrific leaders, staff and physicians that work at Horizon. Their compassion and commitment to deliver quality care is the reason we are a great place to work, and they deserve this acknowledgement. They spoke up with ideas and concerns, we listened and acted, and this award acknowledges our collective work over the past several months, and we will continue with our engagement and improvements.”

Horizon is taking action to improve health care for all New Brunswickers. Our action plan is driven by four priorities: access to services, a positive patient experience, patient flow and recruitment and retention. Improvement projects within these four key pillars are being led by staff, physicians, and leadership across the network every day.

Horizon was recognized for its programs and policies that support the wellbeing, inclusion, and growth of its staff and physicians.

These includes:

• Our Promise, our retention and engagement strategy
• Employee self-scheduling and flexible schedule pilot projects
• Wellness programs, including wellness hubs, Recharjme cabins and pet therapy
• Employee appreciation events
• Enhancements to the physical work environment
• Learning and development opportunities
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) program

“We recognize the challenges our health care workers are facing and how important it is for employees and physicians to be heard and supported,” said Gail Lebel, Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer. “We are doing everything we can to ensure our people have the resources and engaging workplace they need to provide quality health care for all New Brunswickers, and we are striving to be an employer of choice. We recognize there is still work to be done, however we are committed to delivering a workplace culture where continuous improvement is at the heart of what we do.”

About Horizon Health Network

With an annual budget of $1.4 billion, 14,000 staff, 1,242 physicians, many volunteers, 17 foundations and 16 auxiliary and alumnae organizations, Horizon Health Network (Horizon) is the largest regional health authority in New Brunswick and the second largest in Atlantic Canada. Committed to delivering quality and safe care in English and French to patients, clients and their families, Horizon operates 12 hospitals and more than 100 medical facilities, clinics, and offices throughout New Brunswick. With a collaborative team approach to offering services, Horizon delivers health care services to residents of New Brunswick, as well as northern Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Horizon is dedicated to educating the health care leaders of tomorrow by training physicians, nurses and other health care professionals and is home to the Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick and Memorial University’s clerkship programs. Other collaborative education programs include the Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board-accredited Horizon Pharmacy Residency Program, the Clinical Psychology Residency Program, The Moncton Hospital Post Graduate Dietetic Internship Program, and the Horizon School of Radiologic Technology (Saint John and Moncton).

Quick Facts

• 8,208 full-time staff
• 20,906 external applications received last year
• 49 years of service for our longest-serving employee
• 83.5% of managers are women

About Atlantic Canada’s Top Employers Competition

Atlantic Canada’s Top Employers is an editorial competition that recognizes employers that offer exceptional places to work. Organizations are selected based on eight criteria: physical workplace; work atmosphere and social opportunities; health, financial and family benefits; vacation and time off; employee communications; performance management; training and skills development; and community involvement. The editors publish detailed reasons for selection for these criteria, providing transparency in the selection of winners and a catalogue of best practices for employers and jobseekers. Organizations of any size and in both public and private sectors with a head office in one of the four Atlantic provinces can be considered.