Thousands of patients now receiving quality care outside of emergency department setting thanks to Fredericton Urgent Treatment Centre

The facility has significantly improved access to urgent care needs in the Fredericton area since opening in November 2023

(FREDERICTON) – Six months after opening its doors to patients in the capital region, Horizon’s Fredericton Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) has already made a significant impact in improving access to health care services.

Since the UTC first began seeing patients from its Brookside Mall location last November, more than 3,700 people suffering from a wide variety of medical conditions have been cared for.

On average, the UTC sees anywhere from 50 to 70 patients per day and provides an appropriate care option for people experiencing urgent but non-emergency medical needs.

This has ultimately helped divert a significant number of patients who would have otherwise presented to the Emergency Department (ED) at Horizon’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, where wait times for less urgent issues are often lengthy.

“I am very proud of the positive impact the addition of our Urgent Treatment Centre has had in terms of enhancing access to safe, quality health care services to so many in our community,” said Dr. Krishna Pulchan, Horizon’s Head of Emergency Medicine in the Fredericton area.

“The UTC is helping to fill a clear need in the Fredericton area and will continue to evolve and better serve our patients over time – this is only the beginning. I’d like to sincerely thank all who had a role in bringing this vision to life.”

The UTC is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Horizon is committed to extending the UTC’s days of service beyond the current three days as increases to staffing and space allow and looks forward to keeping the community updated on these efforts as we move forward.

Horizon has also been gathering feedback and input from patients on their experiences at the UTC, and we will be reviewing this information to determine where operational improvements can be made to further enhance the patient experience. 

So far, a majority of patients who provided feedback reported the care they received, and the professionalism and attentiveness of UTC physicians and staff, was excellent.

The centre provides care to patients experiencing a variety of urgent to moderate medical needs – such as nausea, vomiting, flu-like symptoms, minor cuts and abrasions requiring stitches, sprains, strains and sports injuries, ear, nose and eye problems, allergic reactions, skin conditions and a variety of other acute medical conditions – while also providing) on-site X-ray services.

Upon arrival, patients are triaged by a nurse to determine the severity of their medical needs in accordance with the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) and are seen by a physician on a ‘worst comes first’ basis, similar to the process that exists in an Emergency Department.

Horizon has a plan to improve health care in New Brunswick. Our plan is focused on retention and recruitment efforts and improving the overall patient experience by addressing patient flow and access to services. Further details about Horizon’s four priority areas are available at HorizonNB.ca. This initiative also supports the Government of New Brunswick’s provincial health plan, Stabilizing Health Care: An Urgent Call to Action

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