Amid a concerning development, officials raised the alarm on Thursday as the number of patients occupying Horizon hospital beds while awaiting long-term care hit a new high, leading to critical occupancy levels. Greg Doiron, the vice-president of clinical operations, highlighted the impending surge in ER visits and hospital admissions anticipated during the respiratory season at the quarterly board meeting in Fredericton. The ongoing challenge faced by Horizon revolves around ALC patients, who remain in hospital beds awaiting placement in a nursing home, special care home, or in-home services.
With the aim of addressing capacity challenges before the peak respiratory season, the board had tasked the executive leadership team with devising solutions. Illustrating the impact of ALC patients, Doiron pointed out that at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton, only 10 out of 30 emergency beds were available, with the remaining 20 beds occupied by patients awaiting placement due to full occupancy.
A significant portion of beds at the Chalmers Hospital, representing about 42%, and Horizon-wide, approximately 40%, are currently occupied by ALC patients. Doiron expressed concern about the conditions some patients faced, being placed in suboptimal spaces lacking basic amenities and privacy, hindering their healing process both physically and emotionally.
The organization is grappling with nearly 650 patients across the system occupying beds as medically discharged patients, hampering the system’s functionality. To mitigate the strain, Horizon has introduced 190 “unfunded” beds, resulting in additional responsibilities for existing staff and contributing over $14 million to the deficit.
Projections indicate that the number of ALC patients is expected to rise to 711 by Christmas, constituting 41% of acute care beds, with further challenges anticipated due to potential flu, COVID-19, and respiratory virus cases. Board chair Susan Harley emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting the need for collective action to address the crisis in hospital occupancy.
To alleviate the pressure, Horizon is implementing various strategies, including enabling medically stable patients to return home for care while awaiting long-term care assessments. Additionally, an emergency department diversion program is set to reduce admissions, and an expansion of the long-term care assessment pilot is in progress.
The final aspect of the plan involves a bed crisis strategy, necessitating the reorganization of hospital services and the creation of additional beds in the community. Horizon’s CEO, Margaret Melanson, emphasized the pressing need for increased capacity in nursing homes and home care to alleviate the strain on acute-care facilities. The Department of Health and Social Development is yet to respond to inquiries regarding the matter.