About Symbio
What is Symbio?
Symbio is a clinically driven, technology-enabled initiative that is modernizing health care in New Brunswick and laying the foundation for connected care. We are replacing the current fragmented system of paper patient charts and multiple unconnected, disparate electronic systems with a comprehensive, coordinated electronic health information system across hospitals in the province.

The key benefits of Symbio are as follows:
A modernized, integrated health system
Reviewing and improving clinical standards, documentation, and workflows will ensure consistent, high-quality care across hospitals in all of New Brunswick.
Real-time access for real-time impact
Accessing comprehensive patient information and clinical decision supports at the point of care will improve provider experience and patient outcomes.
Patient safety at the core of care
Enhancing patient safety and experience by improving workflows, data accuracy, security, and continuity of care, while reducing duplication and optimizing processes.
About Symbio
Why we need this transformation
Currently New Brunswick’s hospitals use 8 separate and unconnected electronic and paper-based systems for documenting and storing clinical information. This results in inconsistencies and delays in treating patients. Challenges such as navigating health care silos and fragmented patient journeys have led to inefficiencies and patient safety concerns.

In recent years, New Brunswick has recognized the need for a more streamlined and integrated health care experience for both patients and providers.

The current state is unsustainable:

• Information is stored on paper records in each hospital.

• Providers receive patient information through multiple systems, faxes, and calling other hospitals. Patients wait as their health information is retrieved.

• Patients are asked to repeat their story over and over again, and diagnostic tests may be repeated unnecessarily.

• Care and treatment protocols vary across the province.

Our priority is better, safer, coordinated patient care.
About Symbio
Our Guiding Principles

A strong set of guiding principles anchors decisions throughout our planning and implementation, ensuring alignment across partners. They help us maintain focus on patient-centred goals, reduce conflict, and support consistent, safe, and sustainable solution design as the program evolves.

Improve care and patient safety

Improving patient care and safety is the cornerstone of every decision, ensuring Symbio delivers meaningful, reliable benefits to patients and providers alike.


Respect the Official Languages Act

Respecting the Official Languages Act ensures equitable access to care and health information in both English and French, fostering inclusion and meeting the diverse needs of patients and providers.


Use proven practices

Relying on proven practices helps ensure the clinical information system is built on methods that are evidence-based, effective, and trusted to support higher quality care.


Focus on clinical standards

Keeping the focus on clinical standards ensures care is consistent and aligned across all providers and settings.


Adapt to broad system change

Being adaptive to broad system change ensures Symbio can support evolving models of care, organizational priorities, and health system transformation.


About Symbio
Advantages
of Symbio
Symbio
For New Brunswick patients
Symbio means better, safer patient care

• Improved patient safety
• Enhanced provider productivity
• Reduced duplicative testing, repetition of health history, and more efficient use of resources
• Promotion of one provincial clinical information system
• Recruitment and retention of prescribers and clinicians
For prescribers and clinicians
Symbio means improved collaboration and efficiency

• Shared health records across multiple providers and organizations support coordinated, team-based care
• Orders and instructions instantly added to the patient’s record mean faster delivery and greater accuracy
• Real-time access to test results, appointments, and health information improves efficiency
• Medications, allergies, and decision-making supports at your fingertips ensure safer, higher-quality care
For the health system
Symbio means improved safety, quality, and consistency of patient care across New Brunswick

• Real-time electronic records at the point of care for faster, safer decisions
• Standardized workflows, so patients know what to expect at every appointment
• Computerized provider order entry for medications, tests, and instructions
For the planet
Building a healthier future means caring not only for people—but also caring for the planet, too

• Fewer paper charts
• Less duplication
About Symbio
The Symbio brand explained
Symbio (SIM-bee-oh): The name Symbio is a creative and unique bilingual word stemming from symbiotic in English and symbiotique in French. Derived from “symbiosis”, Symbio represents a system where different elements work together in harmony to create something greater than the sum of its individual parts. This unique name reflects the uniqueness of New Brunswick’s health system.
Health Care
Creates immediate recognition and resonance with health care professionals and patients alike as well as bridges cultural and linguistic differences, making it a strong choice for bilingual brands.
Interconnection
This underscores the Clinical Information System (CIS) as the central nervous system of care — where everything meets, communicates, and supports decisions.
Linkage / Security
Linkage graphics — such as clasped loops, or secured nodes — convey dependability and strength of the system architecture and reinforced connections between people, systems and data.

Elevate every decision.
Advance every outcome.