Saint john Regional Hospital

New diversion teams in Horizon Health Network’s emergency departments have been helping prevent unnecessary hospital stays and reducing the high number of medically discharged patients awaiting placement in care facilities.

These multidisciplinary teams have been working at the Moncton Hospital, the Saint John Regional Hospital, and Fredericton’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital since late last year. The newest team began working at the Miramichi Regional Hospital at the start of March.

Their work involves identifying which patients can be supported in a community setting rather than in a hospital bed through rapid assessments.

According to Horizon, as of March 8, the diversion teams have helped more than 230 patients avoid hospital admission and have saved an estimated $3.3 million and more than 3,600 hospital days. Horizon estimates that at least 20 percent of these patients would have been medically discharged patients awaiting placement in care facilities.

These teams are made up of nurse patient flow navigators, physiotherapists, social workers, and occupational therapists who work with partners, including the Department of Social Development and the New Brunswick Extra-Mural Program, to create individualized care plans better serving those diverted from hospital admission into community or alternate care.

Clinical Executive Director for Horizon’s Operations, Patient Flow, and Ambulatory Care program, David Arbeau,says the new diversion teams provide specialized assessments and connections to services that emergency department teams may not be able to arrange due to trauma and emergency cases.

“Many emergency department visits reflect issues that can be safely managed in the community, such as changing physical abilities, social challenges, or caregiver burnout,” said Arbeau in a Horizon release.

Horizon expects the initiative to divert 600 patients yearly and save an estimated $8.6 million annually. The team’s effectiveness is monitored quarterly by tracking emergency department return visits and readmissions.

“Horizon is investing in dedicated diversion teams so patients can get the focused assessment, support, and planning they need earlier in their care journey, before they end up admitted to a hospital,” said Greg Doiron, Horizon’s Vice President of Clinical Operations. “Helping seniors and vulnerable patients remain in their homes connected to the right supports can improve their quality of life and reduce unnecessary disruptions to care.”

The Moncton Hospital also has a geriatric diversion team in a pilot program, providing immediate access to a geriatrician when a patient arrives in the emergency department with a crisis. This would make a safe transition to home with the right intervention much easier.