Horizon’s Report to Our Communities: Advancing strategic priorities amid ongoing system pressures

Primary care expansion and innovation drive improvements

(HORIZON) – Horizon Health Network’s (Horizon’s) latest Report to Our Communities highlights meaningful progress in transforming health care across the organization, while acknowledging systemic challenges and the collaboration needed to address them.

The update outlines key advancements in Horizon’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, Transforming Health Care Through Innovation, and reinforces a continued commitment to transparency.

Primary care goals exceeded

Horizon has surpassed its Year 1 commitments to expand access to primary care.

Since April 2025, 10 Family Health Teams have been established, exceeding the target of nine, and 10,785 patients have been connected to these multidisciplinary teams. More announcements are planned in the months ahead.

Addiction and mental health services have also been strengthened through a new mobile crisis response initiative in Greater Moncton and renovations at the Ridgewood Addiction and Mental Health campus in Saint John.

Critical capacity crisis

Horizon continues to face a multifaceted capacity crisis driven by high occupancy of medically discharged patients awaiting long-term care, population growth, and an aging demographic.

At times, medically discharged patients have occupied up to 40 per cent of Horizon’s acute care beds, straining emergency departments, operating rooms, and inpatient units.

“While it is important to speak about statistics and systems, it is imperative we keep people at the centre of this conversation,” said Susan Harley, Horizon’s Board Chair. “Each of these patients requires, and deserves, appropriate care tailored to their specific needs. At the same time, we recognize the very real challenges faced by our care teams working under sustained pressures.”

Alleviating the pressure

Horizon is taking steps to reduce avoidable hospital admissions and shorten stays for patients who no longer require acute care, including:

• Emergency department diversion teams, which have helped more than 230 medically stable patients return home since November
• Interim nursing home placements while patients await their preferred long-term care location
• Assuming responsibility for completing long-term care assessments for medically discharged patients at additional hospitals

Several additional initiatives requiring government support or funding have also been proposed, including a transitional health unit in Saint John (location to be determined) and creating internal nursing home beds to increase system capacity.

“We are taking every action within our control to manage these pressures; however, sustainable solutions will require coordinated efforts across the broader health care continuum,” said Margaret Melanson, Horizon’s President and CEO. “System-level changes are essential, not only for patients and families, but for the teams who provide support and care every day.”

Driving system transformation through innovation

Innovation remains central to transforming care delivery. Horizon has established a responsible artificial intelligence (AI) program focused on improving patient outcomes.

Six AI projects are now underway, including tools which transcribe dialogue between a health care provider and patient, and improve access to information and services. These initiatives are designed to enhance, not replace, clinical judgment, ensuring technology supports clinicians and strengthens decision-making.

Horizon’s new institute for research and innovation has also advanced with the appointment of Dr. Paul Atkinson as Chief Scientific Officer.

Building capacity through recruitment and retention

Horizon continues to make notable progress in workforce recruitment and retention this fiscal year.

A total of 155 physicians have been hired, representing about 80 per cent of the annual target. The registered nurse hiring target has been exceeded with 438 hires.

The voluntary turnover rate is now 7.1 per cent, below Horizon’s target of 7.5 per cent and significantly better than the national benchmark of 11.9 per cent.

Horizon is also engaging with students near and far to ensure the sustainability of our talent pipeline. More than 370 students have been offered employment through Horizon’s Student Nurse Advancement Pledge, which guarantees employment to all BScN/BN and Practical Nursing students and graduates from any recognized college or university across Canada.

These efforts are essential to building a stable workforce equipped to deliver high-quality care for years to come.

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