The Horizon Health Network has ceased utilizing a converted ambulance bay as a patient housing solution at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital. This controversial setup, referred to as the medical transition unit, has been employed since late 2024 to address capacity issues. Patients who were remaining in the ambulance bay have either been discharged or relocated within the hospital.
Originally intended as a temporary fix during a space crunch, the ambulance bay arrangement saw medically discharged patients occupying hospital beds while awaiting nursing home placements, causing delays for incoming patients needing regular beds. The continued use of the ambulance bay, lacking basic amenities like running water and bathrooms, drew criticism from the public and politicians.
In response to concerns, Horizon Health Network vowed to find more suitable spaces for patients by relocating certain services to a community facility. Despite missing the self-imposed March deadline to eliminate the ambulance bay setup, the network is progressing with relocating orthopedic, general surgery, and wound care services within the hospital to create 13 additional acute care spaces by spring’s end.
Interview requests with Horizon’s president and CEO, Margaret Melanson, went unanswered, according to spokesperson Kris McDavid. The network’s efforts aim to improve patient care and alleviate overcrowding challenges at the hospital, following public discontent over the prolonged use of the ambulance bay for patient accommodation.