Horizon Health Network reports that nearly 30% of its hospital beds are being occupied by alternate level of care patients who would be better served in a non-medical setting. Horizon reported a slight increase in the number of inpatient beds now designated for ALC, from 27.8% in FY2016-17 to 28.5% in FY2017-18. These patients are often seniors whose care needs would be better met in a long-term care facility, such as a nursing home or a special care home. Horizon says an average of 470 patients are waiting in hospitals for in-home services or placement in a residential facility. The health network says findings ways of alleviating the strain on front-line services and ensuring patients can access the care they need in the proper setting will remain a top priority moving forward. It adds that 31% of ALC patients are waiting on processes from the Department of Social Development. Most of these patients are waiting to be assessed, while 62% are waiting for outside services. Among Horizon's three primary centres, the Moncton Hospital had the largest percentage of its beds designated ALC at 26.9%, followed by Saint John Regional Hospital at 24.6% and the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital at 20.4%. ALC rates are much higher in smaller hospitals, including the Sussex Health Centre (59.3%), St. Joseph's Hospital (58.1%), Upper River Valley Hospital (40%) and Miramichi Regional Hospital (30%), while Sackville Memorial Hospital had the lowest of any Horizon facility at 18.3%. Horizon says officials are looking to apply the province's integrated service delivery [ISD] model for children and youth, which sees different departments collaborating on what's in the best interest of the child and their families, to seniors to address ALC issues.
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