The New Brunswick Extra-Mural Program (known by many as the “hospital without walls”) provides comprehensive home health care services to New Brunswickers in their homes and in their communities.

The mission of the New Brunswick Extra-Mural Program is to provide a comprehensive range of coordinated health care services for individuals of all ages for the purpose of promoting, maintaining or restoring health within the context of their daily lives. The program also provides palliative services to support quality of life for individuals with progressive life-threatening illnesses.

The Extra-Mural Program is established within the Regional Health Authorities. It provides quality home health care services to eligible residents when their needs can be met safely in the community.

Eligibility Criteria

Services are available to all residents of New Brunswick who meet the following eligibility criteria. The individual:

• has a valid New Brunswick Medicare Card (or is in the process of receiving one);
• has an identifiable health care or functional need that can be addressed through the Program’s services;
• has a need that requires the provision of health care services in the individual’s natural environment;
• has a natural environment that is suitable for the care and service to be provided, both for the individual and the service provider;
• resides within the area serviced;
• is referred by an attending physician or designate who has admitting privileges in the Regional Health Authority. For rehabilitation services, the individual can be self-referred or referred by any professional or agency; and,
• the individual desires and accepts Extra-Mural Program services.
  

The Extra-Mural professionals provide health care services that include: assessment, interventions (including treatment, education and consultation), service planning and coordination.

Professional service providers include: nurses, licensed practical nurses, registered dietitians, respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech language pathologists, rehabilitation aides and social workers. Services offered include: acute care, palliative care, home oxygen program, long term care assessment and rehabilitation services.

As an integral part of the health care system, the Extra-Mural Program is involved in a variety of partnerships with other Government Departments and Divisions, health care institutions and agencies in order to provide comprehensive services to clients within their homes and communities.