The Executive Management Committee (EMC) provides leadership in
improving delivery of health-care services for all New Brunswick residents.
The Committee is made up of the Deputy Minister, the Associate Deputy
Minister responsible for Corporate Services and Francophone Affairs, the
Assistant Deputy Minister for Health Services and Programs, the Assistant
Deputy Minister for Public Health, the Chief Medical Health Officer, the
Executive Director of Planning, Performance and Alignment, the Director of
Communications, and all the directors and executive directors that report
directly to them.

The Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch supports creating a healthy, resilient and flourishing population in New Brunswick through monitoring the trends of diseases reportable un the Public Health Act and vaccination; supporting response to disease outbreaks; and providing subjet matter expertise and evidence to inform planning, development and evalution of public health programs and services.

The Corporate Services and Francophone Affairs Division oversees the following branches: Corporate Support and Infrastructure; Financial Services; Medicare and Physician Services; Planning, Performance and Alignment; Policy and Legislation; F/P/T Relations and Atlantic Collaboration; Corporate Privacy; Health Facility Planning; Health Analytics; and Emergency Preparedness and Response. The Division also ensures the delivery of quality health services in both official languages to all New Brunswickers.

Corporate Support and Infrastructure includes the Records and
Information Management Unit; the Emergency Preparedness and
Response Branch; the Health Facilities Planning Branch; and the
Departmental Services Unit.

The Health Facility Planning Branch oversees the planning and design of additions, expansions, and renovations to New Brunswick's health establishments.

The Departmental Services Unit is responsible for facilities management, strategic procurement, contract management, vehicle management, identification cards, security, parking and telephones.

The Corporate Privacy Office (CPO) is mandated to provide policy direction for the department’s management of personal information and personal health information as governed by the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (RTIPPA) and the Personal Health Information Privacy and Access Act (PHIPA).

The CPO works cooperatively with departmental business owners and health partners to support a consistent approach to the protection of privacy in New Brunswick. One key forum is the Chief Privacy Officers’ Working Group, which consists of the chief privacy officers from the department, the two regional health authorities, Service New Brunswick and Ambulance New Brunswick.

The CPO does not generally handle Personal Health Information directly. Requests for access to Personal Health Information should be directed to the program that collects those data. Any concerns with the department’s privacy practices may be directed to the specific program or to the CPO.

The Records and Information Management Unit is responsible for internal communications, records and information management, the departmental library, the mailroom, translation and interpretation services, parking, and for managing the Third Party Liability Unit, which recovers health-care costs associated with personal injury claims caused by negligent acts.

The Financial Services Branch reviews budget proposals and decisions; forecasts expenditures and revenues; prepares budget submissions and quarterly statements; ensures expenditures and revenues are properly recorded; and carries out other financial analysis and processes.

This unit is responsible for the budgeting, financial analysis and monitoring of the following branches: Public Health, Addiction and Mental Health, Primary Health Care, Home Care, as well as for Health Emergency Management Services, Pharmaceutical Services and Innovation and eHealth. It also performs the department’s overall accounting functions such as account reconciliation, revenue management, iExpense coordination, and budget amendment payment functions.

This unit is responsible for the budgeting, financial analysis and monitoring of Medicare and Out-of-Province Hospital payments. It is also responsible for paying invoices for salaried, sessional, and alternate funding plan physicians and it performs the final reconciliation and statement mail out for fee-for-service physician pay runs.

The unit is responsible for managing and coordinating the department’s overall budget process as well as for preparing monthly financial reports for the department’s Executive Management Committee. It is also responsible for coordinating activities related to the Public Accounts review committee and the Main Estimates process.

The unit is responsible for the budgeting, financial analysis and monitoring of the Acute Care and the NB Cancer Network. It also coordinates budgeting and financial monitoring activities related to the Regional Health Authorities and Service New Brunswick.

Innovation and eHealth is contained within a branch and includes the eHealthNB Unit as well as resources supporting business innovation, strategy, security and portfolio management.

The eHealthNB Unit is responsible for the ongoing business operations and evolution of the Electronic Health Record, the Drug Information System, the NB Prescription Monitoring Program, the Diagnostic Imaging Repository, Rhapsody Integration and Registries components including the Client Registry. The unit works collaboratively with health stakeholders to provide leading edge service delivery in health care.

The Innovation and eHealth Branch provides strategic direction and oversees corporate and system wide technology solutions for the health system including the Electronic Health Record. It also provides liaison services between the Department of Health and Service New Brunswick, as well as support services to programs in the areas of information services and security.

The Federal/Provincial Relations and Atlantic Collaboration Branch is the department's lead for intergovernmental relations with the federal government and other provinces and territories. The branch supports the Minister and Deputy Minister in advancing New Brunswick's priorities at health ministers' meetings and counicl of deputy ministers' meetings. The branch also collaborates with Atlantic colleagues to identify potential opportunities for the advancement of Atlantic priorities as identified by miniters and deputy ministers. The branch is also responsible for providing New Brunswick's input to the federal governement's Canada Health Act annual report.

The Policy and Legislation Branch serves as a support for the department in developing the policies that underpin programs and operations. The coordination and development of public legislation related to health is also the responsibility of the branch. In addition, it is tasked with coordinating responses to requests under the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, as well as the coordination of appointments to the various agencies, boards and commissions within the responsibility of the department. The branch also supports the Minister in respect of his/her legislative oversight of private health profession legislation.

The Continuous Improvement Branch supports strategic planning and alignment within the department and across the health system. It also leads the implementation and management of the department’s formal management system, including continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Six Sigma processes.

The mission of Public Health New Brunswick (PHNB) is to improve, promote and protect the health of the people of New Brunswick. It is responsible for the overall direction of public health programs in the province and works collaboratively with the regional health authorities (RHAs) and other government and non-government health services providers. Its core functions are: health protection, disease and injury prevention, surveillance and monitoring, health promotion, public health emergency preparedness and response, and population health assessment.

PHNB has the mandate and legislative responsibilities of the division while some of its daily operations fall under the purview of other provincial departments and the RHAs. These departments and agencies support PHNB operations through memorandums of understanding, service level agreements and work plan agreements as relevant. The division delivers its services through three branches: Prevention and Control; Epidemiology and Surveillance; and Well-being, Legislation and Standards.

The Prevention and Control Branch supports creating a healthy, resilient and flourishing population in New Brunswick through policy, standards and collaboration within the department, across GNB and with external partners to prevent communicable disease, non-communicable disease, injury problematic substance use and related harm, and provide incident command for provincial outbreaks.

The branch is also the business owner of the Public Health Information Solution and oversees the publicly funded vaccine supply and distribution.

The Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch supports creating a healthy, resilient and flourishing population in New Brunswick through monitoring the trends of diseases reportable un the Public Health Act and vaccination; supporting response to disease outbreaks; and providing subjet matter expertise and evidence to inform planning, development and evalution of public health programs and services.

The Well-being, Legislation and Standards Branch supports creating a healthy, resilient and flourishing population in New Brunswick through legislation, policy and collaboration with partners to protect health, promote well-being and support one health and actions on climate change.

The Well-being, Legislation and Standards Branch supports creating a healthy, resilient and flourishing population in New Brunswick through legislation, policy and collaboration with partners to protect health, promote well-being and support one health and actions on climate change.

The Prevention and Control Branch supports creating a healthy, resilient and flourishing population in New Brunswick through policy, standards and collaboration within the department, across GNB and with external partners to prevent communicable disease, non-communicable disease, injury problematic substance use and related harm, and provide incident command for provincial outbreaks.

The branch is also the business owner of the Public Health Information Solution and oversees the publicly funded vaccine supply and distribution.

The Medicare and Physician Services Branch is responsible for policy development, project management, provision of expert guidance on corporate and health policy issues and appeals regarding Medicare coverage. The branch is responsible for physician remuneration: this includes the negotiation and interpretation of the Fee-for-Service Master Agreement and any subsidiary agreements with the New Brunswick Medical Society.

The branch is also accountable for the formal consultative process for discussion of compensation and human resources issues affecting salaried physicians in Parts I and III of the Public Service. The objective is to reach consensus on required changes to the Medical Pay Plan. The parties included in this process are the New Brunswick Medical Society, the Department of Health and the Office of Human Resources.

As well, the branch is responsible for the eligibility and registration of New Brunswick residents for Medicare coverage; registering of physicians; liaising with physicians, as well as processing, and, when applicable, the payment of in and out-of-country claims. The branch also audits physicians' billings to ensure these are billed according to legislation and the Fee-for-Service agreement. Furthermore, the branch manages an advocacy service informing New Brunswick residents of their rights when dealing with Medicare.

The Medicare Eligibility and Claims Branch is responsible for the eligibility and registration of New Brunswick residents for Medicare coverage; registering of physicians; liaising with physicians, as well as processing, and, when applicable, the payment of in and out-of-country claims. The branch also audits physicians' billings to ensure these are billed according to legislation and the Fee-for-Service agreement. Furthermore, the branch manages an advocacy service informing New Brunswick residents of their rights when dealing with Medicare.

The Pharmaceutical Services Branch is responsible for the development and delivery of pharmaceutical policies, programs and services for the New Brunswick Department of Health.

The branch works closely with multiple internal and external stakeholders to set strategic direction and policies for publicly-funded drug programs and initiatives, and managing and monitoring drug program related agreements.

More specifically, the Pharmaceutical Services Branch is responsible for:
•The development and administration of programs that provide cost-effective, subsidized prescription drug coverage to New Brunswick residents. These programs include the New Brunswick Prescription Drug Program, the New Brunswick Drug Plan, and the New Brunswick Drugs for Rare Disease Plan, as well as other condition-specific plans.
•The promotion of appropriate use of narcotics and controlled drugs through the Prescription Monitoring Program.
•Providing expert advice and guidance in the development of pharmaceutical policy, services and programs in the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) as well as serving as the Department of Health contact point for ensuring consistency in policy approaches between RHAs, including in the management of drug formularies.

The Health Services and Programs Division has oversight of health-care programs and services that touch patients across the continuum of care within the two regional health authorities. It also oversees activities related to pharmaceutical services, health human resources and eHealth. There are seven branches within this division: Addictions and Mental Health Services; Acute Care; Primary Health Care, Psychiatric Patient Advocate Services; Pharmaceutical Services; Health Workforce Planning; and Innovation and eHealth.

The Acute Care Branch is responsible for activities related to hospital services and operations, as well as for the New Brunswick Cancer Network. It provides support and collaborative work efforts with the regional health authorities and Service New Brunswick to meet health renewal objectives and achieve Government of New Brunswick goals.

The Psychiatric Patient Advocate Services Branch ensures consistent approaches regarding the right to admit patients for psychiatric treatment under an involuntary status. The focus of the program is to address individual issues of concern while keeping in mind the best interests of the vulnerable person.

Psychiatric Patient Advocates meet with patients in order to clarify their status and their rights. These advocates also help patients and families in understanding processes and procedures relating to applications of the Mental Health Act, which allows psychiatrists to request that patients who risk harm to self or others be kept for treatment on an involuntary basis. Awareness and educational sessions are offered to service providers and community agencies to provide a better understanding of the role of the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Services Branch and the Mental Health Act.

The department is responsible to plan, fund, monitor, set standards and provide medical direction for ambulance services. These responsibilities fall within the mandate of the Emergency Health Services unit. The unit is responsible for managing the contract with a single company to operate ambulance services.

The single-operator, integrated, high performance, province-wide ambulance services system focuses on the following:

• management of a performance based contract between Ambulance New Brunswick (ANB) and New Brunswick Emergency Medical Services (NB EMS) to operate the provincial ambulance system;

• engagement of regional medical oversight physicians to support the provincial medical director in overseeing the clinical and patient care aspects of the ambulance system;

• enhancement of paramedic training and quality monitoring;

• detailed review of the evidence-based clinical protocols, policies and procedures;
• addition of on site hours; and

• integration of the technologically upgraded air and land dispatch systems.

The Home Care Unit is responsible for the Extra-Mural Program. The New Brunswick Extra-Mural Program (EMP) is a provincial home health-care program. Its mission 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, and to provide palliative services to support quality end of life care for individuals with progressive life threatening illnesses.’’

The Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch leads and coordinates efforts to ensure the province's health-care system maintains a level of readiness to enable it to respond quickly and effectively to all health and medical emergencies.

The Addiction and Mental Health Services Branch oversees the delivery of the following services through the two regional health authorities: Addiction Services (short- and long-term rehabilitation services, outpatient services and methadone clinics); Community Mental Health Centres (prevention, intervention and post-vention services); Adult Community Mental Health Services (short- and long-term interventions to adults); and In-patient Psychiatric Care (in-patient and day hospital services through the psychiatric units of regional hospitals and the province’s two psychiatric hospitals). It is also responsible for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and the Youth Treatment Program.

The Primary Health Care Branch is responsible for the following units: Chronic Disease and Prevention Management, Emergency Health Services and Home Care.

The department recognizes the importance of a strong foundation in primary health care in the development of a self-sufficient and sustainable health-care system for New Brunswickers. The Primary Health Care Branch provides on-going support for the provincial development and implementation of community health centres (CHCs), health service centres, and a collaborative practice site.

The branch is also responsible for developing and providing training models for primary health care providers, as well as developing patient engagement opportunities. Furthermore it manages the provincial Tele-Care 811 Service, and is responsible for the New Brunswick Extra Mural Program and Emergency Health Services.

The Chronic Disease Prevention and Management (CDPM) Unit is responsible for the planning, funding and monitoring of programs related to chronic disease prevention and management, and also leads the province’s Chronic Disease Prevention and Management Strategy,

The unit focuses its activities on those chronic conditions associated with high burden of care within the health-care system and where it has been shown that improved care management is associated with significant cost reduction and improved health status.

The unit is also responsible for the following:

• Comprehensive Diabetes Strategy

This four year strategy released in 2011 provides a roadmap of key actions to be implemented to deal with prevention, detection and management and targets the optimal management of blood pressure, blood sugar, lipids and early management of foot-related problems. The strategy will also ensure improvement to affordable access to medication supplies and devices such as test strips and insulin pumps. The strategy supports diabetes research and innovation centres of excellence building on the excellent research already being done in the province.

The strategy also oversees the activities of the Pediatric Insulin Pump Program. Under this publicly funded program families are responsible for a portion of the costs associated with equipment and supplies, based on family income.

Finally, key action areas under the strategy include developing decision support tools such as physician practice profiles, introducing case managers in primary care practices and building a diabetes registry to support informed investments and strategic planning.

• Chronic Disease Self Management Portal

This bilingual portal is designed to help New Brunswickers learn to live well with their chronic disease. The portal currently provides: information on living with diabetes; tools to record blood sugar, blood pressure, weight, activities and other health factors; mechanisms to set goals and track success; and access to other websites. Other chronic disease conditions are currently being reviewed for development.

The Health Workforce Planning Branch is responsible for the planning of
an integrated human resources workforce that is responsive to the
health system’s needs and designs. This includes monitoring the supply
and demand of the health workforce and identifying trends; ensuring the
utilization of full scope of practice and the right skill mix for all
professions; the development and implementation of recruitment and
retention strategies for health care professionals; and ensuring training
requirements and needs are met, including continuing professional
development.