Horizon Health Network (HHN) has put a surge strategy plan in place to handle emergency room capacity over the holiday season.
Margaret Melason, HHN’s CEO, said emergency rooms are expected to see increased demand due to reduced hours at walk-in clinics and a rise in respiratory illness within communities.
“Right now, almost 40 per cent of our acute care beds across Horizon are occupied by patients who have been medically discharged, many who are waiting for placement in alternate care settings, such as nursing homes,” she said, speaking with reporters via Zoom on Wednesday. “At some of our hospitals, the situation is even more severe.”
Melanson said all regional facilities are overcapacity, which means patients are being seen in hallways, storage closets and non-traditional clinical spaces.
“This is not acceptable, not for our patients, and not for our staff,” she said.
She said people should contact their primary care provider, however, roughly 180,000 people in New Brunswick are without one, for prescription refills.
The health authority asks that people with non-urgent medical needs try to book a virtual appointment with eVisitNB, go to an open walk-in clinic, visit a local pharmacist, or call 811.
Melanson also emphasized respectful treatment toward health care workers during the holiday season.
“I know that when people are sick or worried about a loved one or frustrated about long wait times, emotions can run high, but a simple gesture of courtesy, a moment of patience, can make a meaningful difference to someone who’s working long hours under difficult circumstances to help you,” she said.
Melanson explained the ERs are seeing an influx of individuals with the flu and moderate levels of COVID-19. She said fortunately, there are lower levels of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) than Horizon typically sees this time of year.
She said the number of patients being treated in offices, storage closets, and non-clinical rooms hovers at 160, also known as “unfunded” beds. This is adding about $14 million to the province’s deficit.
“These are all unfunded, and so this is where, when we think about our deficit situation, it definitely contributes, because all of these patients obviously require care,” she said.
Melanson said she feels as confident as she can be in the health authorities ability to handle the influx of patients who may present in ERs.
“None of us can predict traumatic accidents or other sorts of situations that might actually create a surge of individuals coming on an emergency basis to our facilities,” she said. “I would really like to reassure everyone. We have highly trained and experienced staff and physicians across all of our areas, people that are very willing to be available and … support any unexpected circumstances as much as possible.”
She said the rollout of collaborative care clinics in New Brunswick has yet to make a significant impact on ER arrivals.
“We still continue to have presentations in our emergency departments of lower acuity patients up to potentially 30 per cent,” she said. “I would say in the coming months, I’m hopeful that those numbers will start to reduce. However, at this time, we have not seen measurable changes, to be honest, to reduce those numbers.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing a medical emergency, Melanson reminds New Brunswickers they should contact 9-1-1 or visit the local emergency department.
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