The occupancy of Horizon hospital beds by individuals awaiting long-term care has hit a historical peak, leading to critical levels of capacity utilization, officials cautioned on Thursday. The situation is anticipated to deteriorate further with an upcoming surge in emergency room visits and hospital admissions during the respiratory season, as stated by Greg Doiron, vice-president of clinical operations, during the quarterly board meeting in Fredericton.
Horizon has long grappled with the issue of alternate level of care (ALC) patients occupying hospital beds while awaiting placement in nursing homes, special care homes, or in-home services. In response to escalating capacity challenges ahead of the peak respiratory season, the board tasked the executive leadership team with devising solutions.
Illustrating the impact of ALC patients, Doiron highlighted the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton, where only 10 out of 30 emergency beds were available, emphasizing the strain on resources. Approximately 42% of beds at the Chalmers Hospital, and 40% Horizon-wide, are currently taken up by ALC patients.
The organization has opened 190 “unfunded” beds in an effort to ease the strain, with existing healthcare staff taking on additional responsibilities. Despite these measures, the number of ALC patients is projected to rise to 711 by Christmas, constituting 41% of acute care beds.
To address the crisis, Horizon is implementing various strategies, including enabling medically stable patients to safely return home while awaiting long-term care assessments. An emergency department diversion program is set to be launched to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and provide early intervention and rehabilitation.
Additionally, plans involve expanding a long-term care assessment pilot and identifying crisis patient spaces in various locations. The CEO of Horizon, Margaret Melanson, called for urgent intervention to bolster capacity in nursing homes and home care services, emphasizing the need to address the issue promptly.
The Department of Health and Social Development did not provide an immediate response to requests for comments on the matter.