N.B. moves extra-mural program, Ambulance New Brunswick to private management

Three major New Brunswick health programs will now be operating under the management of Medavie Health Services, the province announced on Friday.

The move will see Ambulance New Brunswick, Tele-Care 811 Service and the province’s extra-mural program — which provides home health-care services — be moved to Medavie in an attempt to provide better co-ordination among health-care providers in the province.

The 10-year performance-based contract will not result in any job losses with government employees remaining the same, and senior managers being transferred to the new company.

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New Brunswick Health Minister Victor Boudreau told media on Friday that Medavie’s IT abilities will help the programs.

“For example, the extra-mural program today, you know is very much a handwritten, you know, based system. It’s not very IT compatible if I can put it that way,” he said.

Some of the specific areas targeted for improvement include a reduction in emergency room visits and an increase in the number of extra-mural visits.

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Bernard Lord, former New Brunswick CEO and former New Brunswick premier, dismissed talk of privatizing health care.

“Those that want to use the word privatization is really used to scare people when this is a form of ensuring there is greater collaboration of what is publicly funded,” he said.

“I can tell you from experience, both in the private sector and in government, that it’s often more, it’s easier for the government to enforce standards when it’s [an] outside contractor than when it’s someone inside.”

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Opinion within the health-care sector was divided with representatives of the Horizon and Vitalite health networks appearing to be on different pages.

“Better care services in people’s homes will keep people out of hospitals, hopefully. That’s our ultimate desire,” said Karen McGrath, president and CEO of Horizon Health Network, seeming to welcome the change.

Gilles Lanteigne, president and CEO of Vitalitie Health Network, had a much different reaction.

“Well, we think it’s a very sad day for health care in New Brunswick because in essence, what’s happening is that we’re taking apart a regional health authority,” said Lanteigne.

Medavie Health Services is set to make up to $44 million over the decade-long contract.

The new deal is set to begin on Jan. 1.