Horizon’s Report to Our Communities showcases progress and commitment to innovation, transformation, and people-centred care

(HORIZON) – Horizon’s latest edition of Report to Our Communities highlights a commitment to innovations in health care delivery and a focus on excellence in patient care. Horizon is making meaningful progress in improving access to care and patient experience, from medical imaging equipment enhancements to the addition of five new family physicians providing primary care through the Practice Ready Assessment New Brunswick program.

Since our last update in January, 10 new projects are underway and 59 current projects are active across each of our regional hospitals, 9 community sites, and 24 departments programs, reflecting progress in each of Horizon’s four strategic priority areas – access to services, patient experience, patient flow, and recruitment and retention.

“On behalf of Horizon’s Board of Directors, I’d like to recognize the dedication of Horizon’s staff and physicians to providing people-centred care, and for their investment and engagement in identifying and implementing innovative solutions to improve health care delivery,” said Susan Harley, Board Chair. “Horizon’s Board will continue to work with partners and advocate for resources to improve access to health care for New Brunswickers and to support those who deliver it.”

These improvements to access and patient experience are made possible by a commitment to transformation by Horizon’s staff and physicians. Horizon’s robust recruitment strategy and comprehensive retention program, Our Promise, supports those delivering health care services to New Brunswickers.

“While transformation is the focus of our shared work at Horizon, people – patients and families, and our staff and physicians – will always be our reason for it,” said Margaret Melanson, Horizon’s President and CEO. “Horizon is a special place, and I’m proud to be part of an exceptional team that values one another and the communities we serve.”

Highlights from the latest report include:

• For the second consecutive year in a row, Horizon has been recognized as one of Atlantic Canada’s Top Employers, an accomplishment made possible because of the dedicated team of staff and physicians who choose to work at Horizon.
• Horizon’s Talent Acquisition team continues to actively engage with top talent provincially, nationally, and internationally, making significant strides in meeting recruitment targets and contributing to the stabilization of overall staffing levels.
• Horizon is transforming primary care by working closely with providers and communities to improve access to health services across New Brunswick. While the shift to a best-practice Family Health Team model is underway, immediate improvements are already being made at existing community health centres to enhance access to care close to home.
• A team of 12 Indigenous Patient Navigators (IPN) provide culturally safe, client-centred care throughout Horizon with the addition of 10 new IPNs in the coming months.
• Waitlists for elective surgeries have decreased by 22% since the beginning of the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
• Horizon’s Nursing Mentorship Program provides support, advocacy, and education to new nursing team members and to those who mentor them, making more than 1,000 in-person visits, and 400 nursing staff members completed the Mentorship Development program in 2024.

Horizon’s Report to Our Communities includes many more examples of innovative, patient-centred initiatives and solutions that will improve access to services, provide a better experience for patients and clients, and prioritize the retention and recruitment of health care workers

We invite you to read more about the work of the staff, physicians and volunteers enhancing services and experiences of New Brunswickers.

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