N.B. health network’s recruitment, retention numbers up

New Brunswick’s Horizon Health says it’s getting closer to its recruitment goals.

The Horizon Health Network announced some positive news during board meeting in Moncton Wednesday afternoon.

Details of progress, including successes in recruitment and retention, were highlighted in Horizon’s Report to Our Communities from Oct. 1 to Dec. 3, 2024.

The health network’s talent acquisition teams have reached more than 70 per cent of its recruitment targets for doctors, nurses and other health-care professionals for the fiscal year.

Horizon Health President and CEO Margaret Melanson said they’re really happy with that number.

“We really hope by the end of March we will have achieved 100 per cent or very close to 100 per cent of that goal. We are very pleased that the new and aggressive marketing strategies that have been implemented by our talent acquisition team are resonating,” said Melanson.

Melanson said retention numbers are also up.

“We’re losing fewer nurses as well,” said Melanson.

Horizon is hopeful the new recruits will help sustain staffing levels that can deliver high-quality care without having to rely on travel nurses.

Horizon board chair Susan Harley is hopeful the success in recruiting will decrease wait times at the province’s emergency departments.

“It’s a challenge in an area where we have a growing population and we have times when people use the ER more. For example, respiratory diseases and things are spiking, but we’re concentrating every day on reducing those wait times,” said Harley.

Melanson said roughly 60 per cent of the new hires are domestic graduates while the rest are international professionals, most from Africa.

Finding people to come to rural hospitals and health-care centres remains a challenge.

“An area where we still have some gaps in recruitment is for example in Miramichi,” said Melanson. “However, we feel that by having a very robust resettlement program, support for individuals, that we can request to come to work there, that we’ve been successful and further support is going to be advantageous. So, we’re hopeful and we feel as though we’re on the right track.”

Access to surgical services also improved, according to the report.

Horizon had a 77 per cent increase in the number of knee and hip surgeries compared to the previous year.

The report also stated Horizon is making progress on its approach to accessing services, patient flow and patient experience.

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