Hospitals Assume Long-Term Care Assessments Despite Pilot Results

The New Brunswick government has announced that the **Horizon** and **Vitalité Health Networks** will take over long-term care assessments for senior patients, despite findings from a recent pilot project that did not meet its key objectives. This transition will apply to several hospitals across the region, including **Fredericton**, **Oromocto**, **Saint John**, and **Moncton**.

In January 2025, Horizon reported initial successes from a pilot program aimed at streamlining the long-term care placement process for patients waiting for beds in nursing or special-care homes. Hospital staff were tasked with conducting long-term care assessments, a responsibility typically handled by the **Department of Social Development**. The pilot led to a reported **57 percent improvement** in the percentage of alternate level of care patients awaiting assessments and an **11-day reduction** in average patient stays.

Despite these positive indicators, the pilot ultimately failed to significantly reduce wait times, prompting the provincial government to transfer assessment responsibilities to the regional health authorities. Government spokesperson **Ariel Mackenzie** noted that while the pilot’s goals were not fully achieved, it provided valuable insights into assessment processes and highlighted the need for improved service coordination.

When asked why the government is proceeding with this transition given the pilot’s shortcomings, Mackenzie emphasized the initiative’s benefits, including enhanced collaboration among healthcare partners and better alignment between hospital services and community-based support systems.

Currently, over **200 Horizon patients** are awaiting long-term care assessments outside of the provincial nursing home waitlist. **Margaret Melanson**, president and CEO of Horizon Health Network, remarked that the Saint John Regional Hospital alone has more than **80 patients** waiting for assessments. Melanson stated, “For us to be able to undertake those assessments ourselves as opposed to waiting for Social Development to come in and undertake that is a step in the right direction.”

While the transition may not directly create more hospital beds, Melanson believes it will expedite understanding patient needs and preferences regarding care options.

As of late January, nearly **1,000 individuals** were on New Brunswick’s nursing home waitlist, according to data from the **Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents’ Rights**. Advocate **Cecile Cassista** has expressed concerns regarding the involvement of the regional health authorities in the assessment process, suggesting that an independent organization, such as **Extra-Mural**, should handle these evaluations to ensure impartiality.

According to Horizon, about **40 percent** of its acute care beds are currently occupied by alternate level of care patients, totaling over **660 individuals**. Amid ongoing discussions about long-term care strategies, Melanson has called for better utilization of existing special-care homes and advocated for increased funding for home-based care, which could facilitate quicker discharges.

In December 2024, the New Brunswick government allocated **$10 million** to enhance home care support for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Mackenzie highlighted that hospitals now have the authority to implement interim home support when necessary for timely discharges, allowing assessments to occur at home when feasible.

The government remains committed to collaborating across departments and with community partners to ensure seniors receive appropriate care as staffing placements become available. As the healthcare landscape evolves, the effectiveness of these new assessment protocols will be closely monitored.