Horizon’s 2022-23 Annual Report highlights improvements in critical action priority areas, balanced budget

(HORIZON) – Horizon Health Network (Horizon) has released its Annual Report for the 2022-23 fiscal year, with highlights including a balanced financial position on regular operations and key improvements across several areas of the organization.

The annual report provides an overview of Horizon’s accomplishments, challenges, and statistical and financial performance for the most recent fiscal year (April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023).

Program and Service Highlights

Some highlights from the 2022-23 fiscal year at Horizon include:

• 42,343 surgeries – increase of 3,268* 
• 621,688 visits to ambulatory clinics –increase of 5,023
• 279,372 Emergency Department (ED) visits – increase of 9,259
• 670,304 medical imaging procedures – increase of 26,796
• 590,251 inpatient days – increase of 20,542
• 52,422 hospital admissions – increase of 1,121
• 516,300 primary care visits – increase of 43,211
• 1,705,491 meals served – increase of 70,494

                                                           *all comparative data is from the previous fiscal year

In July 2022, Horizon introduced four key priority areas which have focused organizational efforts to improve the health care system in New Brunswick and deliver the best possible service to patients.

The report also features some of the significant advancements and process improvements to enhance the care and services we provide to our patients, clients, and their families, focusing on the following areas:

1. Improving ACCESS to health care, surgical services, emergency care, addiction and mental health, and primary care
2. RETENTION and recruitment of physicians, nurses and staff
3. Improving patient FLOW at our health care facilities
4. Patient EXPERIENCE and community engagement

Today, to provide a current overview of our latest progress, we are also sharing our second edition of our Report to Our Communities. This report includes many examples of how we are responding to the challenges we face: an aging population, a demand for more services for more people, and shortage of health care providers, which is putting severe pressure on the system.

Financial Update

The 2022-23 fiscal year was challenging from a financial perspective, with the organization’s ongoing response to COVID-19, along with increases to the number inpatient days, hospital occupancy rates and patient activity across a number of programs and departments, all resulting in financial and operational impacts. 

Despite these challenges, Horizon exited the fiscal year with a balanced budget and matching revenues and expenditures of approximately $1.4 billion.

Horizon’s financial statements have been prepared by management in accordance with the Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB) and were audited by representatives from KPMG Canada.

Horizon’s annual reports can be accessed and viewed online here.

About Horizon Health Network (Horizon)

Horizon is the largest regional health authority – and one of the largest employers – in New Brunswick, and the second-largest health authority in Atlantic Canada. Horizon has 14,435 employees, 1,142 physicians and 2,805 volunteers, as well as 17 foundations and 16 auxiliaries and alumnae organizations. Our leadership and health care providers are experts in diverse areas of health and community services and provide services to a half a million people.  Horizon is also responsible for eight unique provincial programs: the New Brunswick Heart Centre, New Brunswick Organ and Tissue Program, New Brunswick Perinatal Health Program, New Brunswick Stem Cell Transplantation Program, NB Trauma Program, Operational Stress Injury Clinic, Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit.

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