New Horizon Initiative Focuses To Complete Up To 96 Surgeries On Saturdays

The Horizon Health Network has introduced a new initiative.

The High-intensity interval theatre (HIIT) initiative is set to complete up to 96 additional orthopedic surgeries over the next several months.

Surgical teams in Fredericton, Miramichi, Moncton, and Saint John will complete the additional surgeries on Saturdays.

“It will start in the Moncton Hospital this Saturday, November 26th, and other hospitals will join in the coming Saturdays, all hospitals will continue on select Saturdays in December, January, and February,” said Margaret Melanson, Horizon’s interim president, and CEO.

One of the initiative’s goals is to complete three to four arthroplasties in each of the four locations on a Saturday.

Meaning, when the program is fully implemented, between 12 and 16 hip and knee replacements will be completed each Saturday and between 72 and 96 surgeries will be completed over the next several months.

“All New Brunswickers deserve accessible health care, and we are committed to providing that every day,” mentioned Melanson.

“This initiative is an innovative and efficient way to continue to address our systemic challenges and barriers to providing access to surgery,” continued Melanson.

Melanson added the initiative will also improve access to surgical services and decrease the overall wait time for in-demand surgeries.

It comes as Horizon Health Network is focused on reaching the 182-day national benchmark for wait times for both hip and knee replacements.

On average, Horizon completes five out of 10 hip replacements in roughly 313 days and nine out of 10 are completed within 524 days.

While five out of 10 knee replacements are completed in 391 days, and nine out of 10 are completed within 590 days.

There are currently more than 2,000 people waiting for a hip or knee replacement within Horizon.

It is projected that the initiative will cost approximately $500,000 when factoring in the cost of the joint replacement, as well as the required staffing resources.

Funding has also been secured through the government of New Brunswick.