Creating greater access to transitional health in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotians will have greater access to the province’s first stand-alone transitional health centre with the opening of a new wing, adding 110 new beds to West Bedford Transitional Health.

The expansion of the facility, operated by Shannex, was purposefully designed to help more patients transition from hospital to home. It will increase health system capacity and deliver innovative features to broaden the range of patients for this new model of care.

“We’ve created and rapidly expanded a new model of care to better support the transition of patients from hospital to home,” said Premier Tim Houston. “West Bedford Transitional Health Centre is a first-of-its-kind facility in Atlantic Canada that has already helped hundreds of patients and saved our healthcare system thousands of acute care bed days.”

Key features of West Bedford Transitional Health include:  

• 178 suites, each with private bathrooms, including four bariatric suites and 18 suites on a specialized behavioural unit.
• Two large rehabilitation gyms, with smaller rehabilitation spaces on floors two through five.
• Four transition-to-home apartments allowing patients to test their independence in a home-like setting before discharge.
• Shared dining and common spaces on every floor to encourage movement and social interaction, and prepare patients to return to community
• An enclosed wellness garden for patients to participate in outdoor programming or spend free time.
• Outdoor rehabilitation garden and walking track where patients can practise walking on different terrains (grass, pavement, gravel).
• Dedicated space for classroom and community programming, including one-on-one consultations and outpatient group programming.

Patients admitted to West Bedford Transitional Health no longer require acute care services in a hospital but still need support as they recover and prepare to return to the place they call home.

“By expanding transitional care, we’re helping reduce emergency wait times and capacity pressures across our healthcare system by freeing up hospital beds,” said Dr. Nicole Boutilier, acting president and CEO, Nova Scotia Health. “West Bedford Transitional Health will ensure patients receive the right level of care in a setting designed for their needs, improving their recovery and helping them safely return home sooner.”

Patients receive one-on-one support from physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, dietitians and nursing teams to work toward achieving their personal goals.

“At West Bedford Transitional Health, our teams are driven by a very focused mission to deliver patient-centric care and programming, which builds strength, mobility and confidence, so patients can return home safely following illness or injury,” said Jason Shannon, president, Shannex.

“To optimize patient outcomes, we are incorporating many new innovations in health service delivery and digital health solutions. As a fully integrated partner of Nova Scotia Health, we are very excited about the impact this new model of care will have on our community.”

Throughout their stay, patients are supported to regain their independence through eating in shared dining spaces, participating in strength training classes, and engaging in wellness programming.

Prior to discharge, patients work closely with the Nova Scotia Health Community Outreach team to ensure the appropriate supports and services are in place for success at the place they call home.

Upon discharge, patients may receive follow-up services from this team based on assessed needs.

Referrals to West Bedford Transitional Health are co-ordinated by Nova Scotia Health based on clinical criteria, which have been expanded with the addition of specialized bariatric and behavioural units.

To date, West Bedford Transitional Health patients have been referred from a wide range of acute services, such as cardiology, hematology, neurology, neurosurgery, oncology, orthopedics, urology and more, demonstrating broad system impact.

Patients aged 18 and older, and meet clinical criteria, are eligible to receive care at West Bedford Transitional Health.

Quick Facts:

• Since opening in December 2024, West Bedford Transitional Health has saved more than 27,000 acute care bed days. Over the life of the contract, we anticipate a savings to the system of approximately $1.3-billion dollars compared to providing care in traditional hospital settings.
• West Bedford Transitional Health helps bridge the gap between hospital and home, with a focus on active recovery through the Home First philosophy and practice.
• West Bedford Transitional Health provides support for adults aged 18 and older from across Nova Scotia who no longer need acute care but require assistance transitioning to the place they call home, or other community care options.
• The additions to West Bedford Transitional Health create capacity within the healthcare system and deliver new and innovative features to further expand the patient profile for this new model of care. 

Photo source: Province of Nova Scotia.