For Health Care Professionals

EMP is the provincial home healthcare program that provides inclusive healthcare services to NB residents in their homes (personal residence, special care home and nursing home) for the purpose of promoting, maintaining and restoring health and supporting quality of life for individuals with progressive life-threatening illnesses.

Options to submit a Referral / Request for Service Form:

• PDF Referral Form
• Printable Form

For all NEW urgent requests (less than 48 hours), the referring physician must call the EMP Care Coordination Centre at 1-844-982-7367 (1-844-982-PEMP).

For patients already admitted to EMP, please call directly the EMP unity (the coordinates of each EMP unity are available below).

If you have questions about EMP services or would like to request a referral, please contact the Care Coordination Centre at 1-844-982-7367.

• Completing the EMP Referral / Request for Services Form

  The following are some key areas to complete/include in the EMP Referral Request Form to assist with continuity of care, timely access to services and reduce unnecessary calls to referring physicians/NP.
  

  • Specify problem or diagnosis prompting referral to EMP: Identifying the specific problem/diagnosis helps EMP understand the focus of care and requirements to begin services.
  • Patient is aware of diagnosis and/or problem: It is important for the Liaison/and the EMP healthcare professionals to know what has been communicated to the patient and family by their physician/NP. We are there to support.
  • Providing specific orders in the Medical Orders section and further detail in Specify interventions required for patient section will assist EMP with focusing on patient care needs in a timely way. More than one may be indicated as applicable.
  • Estimated Hospital Discharge Date and/or Projected starting date with EMP. This allows the Liaison to schedule and prioritize the appropriate patients to support timely discharge from hospital and / or beginning of EMP services.
  • Referring and EMP Attending Physician or Nurse Practitioner information: This is very important for continuity of care.

  Note: If the referring physician/NP is not the attending physician, he or she must supply the information to the attending physician/NP and ensure that the latter agrees to the service request being submitted in his or her name.

  Important Note: Please do not assume all referrals are accepted. All referrals are reviewed for eligibility.

  For current EMP Patients, please call the EMP unit directly. Enter new medical orders, medication rec. and/or medication profile on Teams Communication and send to the EMP Unit.

• Eligibility and Admission Criteria
  • The patient resides in NB and holds a valid NB Medicare Card or is in the process of obtaining one (a patient who does not reside in New Brunswick must assume responsibility for the full cost of the services provided).
  • The patient has an identified health care need / functional disorder that can be addressed by the EMP services within the patient’s home environment.
  • The patient’s home environment is suitable for the care and services to be provided, both for the patient and the service provider.
  • The patient is referred by an attending physician/Nurse Practitioner (NP) holding Regional Health Authorities (RHA) admitting privileges or by a NP who is an employee of an RHA.
  • A patient or family may self-refer for general assessment or rehabilitation services, however if medical orders are required a referral from a Physician or NP is required.
  • The patient agrees to receive EMP services.
  • The EMP Unit has the necessary resources (financial, human and material) to provide safe and efficient services.

  Note: For patients who require admission to the EMP who do not have a primary care provider, EMP service providers, with the patient’s consent, will collaborate to facilitate access to a Physician/NP and/or with NB Health link (if already established in the health zone where the patient lives) to act as the attending Physician/NP for the EMP admission.

• Physician/ Nurse Practitioner Responsibilities
  • The attending physician/NP must be available at all times to provide the patient with service.
  • When the attending physician is unavailable, he or she must ensure that another physician provides coverage.
  • The attending physician/NP writes and signs orders without delay for the care required.
  • The attending physician/NP completes and signs without delay the discharge form when the patient is medically ready for discharge.
  • The physician/NP is an active participant in the patient’s Best Possible Medication History and Medication Reconciliation.
  • Adhere to the appropriate EMP policies and procedures
  • Work with the EMP interdisciplinary team in the delivery of patient care which may include one or more of the following:
    • Regular communication with the EMP by phone and/or written communication
    • Arranging for timely office visits and/or home visits as indicated
    • Meeting with EMP team members in the Physician/Nurse Practitioner’s office and/or in the patient’s home as required

  The referring Physician/NP is responsible to:

  • Provide the pertinent information, either by telephone or in writing
  • Sign telephone/verbal orders within 14 days
  • Ensure an attending Physician/NP is identified at the time of referral
  • Remain responsible for the medical care until the attending Physician/NP has accepted responsibility for the care
  • Adhere to the appropriate EMP policies and procedures

  Note: Physician services are remunerated under the Medical Services Payment Act. There are specific Medicare codes for services provided to EMP patients.

• Contacting EMP During Hours of Operation

  The EMP nursing services are provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Other EMP professional services are available seven days a week as required to meet the patient’s home healthcare needs.
  

  Regular Hours (Monday to Friday, 08:00 - 16:00)

  Complete the EMP Online Referral Request Form.

  For all new urgent requests (less than 48 hours), the referring physician must call the EMP Coordination Centre at 1-844-982-7367 (1-844-982-PEMP).

  Send the following completed documents:

  • EMP Referral Request Form
  • Medication and oxygen prescriptions
  • Medical orders
  • Medication profile on discharge

  For all current EMP patients, enter the new medical orders, medication rec. and/or medication profile via Teams communications.
  

  After Hours (Monday to Friday, 16:00 - 08:00)

  Call an EMP RN at 1-844-982-7367, and provide your name, phone number and region for service. The on-call EMP RN in your area will call you back. (Please note: It is important to speak with the EMP on-call RN before processing to the next step).

  Once the referral has been discussed ewith the local EMP unity on-call RN, complete and fax the following documents to the local EMP unit:

  • EMP Referral Request Form
  • Medication and oxygen prescriptions
  • Medical orders
  • Medication profile on discharge

  Important Information

  • When contacting EMP, ensure all documents associated with patient. care are sent with the EMP Referral Request - medication prescriptions, orders, medication reconciliation and/or medication profile on discharge.
  • Advise patient/family that EMP will contact them
  • Upon discharge, provide the patient with the local EMP unit phone number and advise the patient family to call the EMP if any change in condition occurs.
• Services provided by EMP

  We provide comprehensive and coordinated health care throughout New Brunswick. Visit the following page to learn more about our services.