A Moment of Reflection: Five Years Since the Mass Casualty
~shared on behalf Karen Oldfield, Interim President and CEO at Nova Scotia Health
This week marks five years since the mass casualty that forever changed lives, families, and communities across Nova Scotia. On April 18 and 19 at noon, I invite you to pause for a moment of silence.
The impact of those events continues to be felt deeply across our organization and province. For some, this week may bring grief or heaviness. For others, it may be a quiet moment of remembrance. I encourage you to watch a brief video message from Bethany McCormick, offering words of support on behalf of our leadership team.
If you or someone you know needs support, now or in the days ahead — a list of resources is available below this message, including crisis and counselling support, grief education, and wellness tools.
Nova Scotia Health’s commitment to creating safe, supportive workplaces and communities remains unwavering.
Resources for Physicians:
The Professional Support Program (PSP) is a safe and confidential way for physicians, medical residents and fellows, and their immediate family members to get help, support and resources for personal or professional problems. Learn more here or contact professionalsupport@doctorsns.com.
New Clinical Frailty Scale Flag in C3 Technology
A new Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) flag is now visible on the Patient Manager tile on Care Coordination Centre (C3) technology! This new flag will help healthcare providers quickly view patients’ CFS score to integrate foundational care practices with care and discharge planning.
This new flag should prompt staff to see patients’ CFS score and use the Care Plan Pathway for Acute Care document to assist with tailoring care pathways to the unique needs of patients living with frailty and aligning care with their values and preferences to improve outcomes.
Need help setting up the new flag? Contact your zone’s training lead:
Western Zone – C3Training.WZ@nshealth.ca
Eastern Zone – C3Training.EZ@nshealth.ca
Northern Zone – C3Training.NZ@nshealth.ca
Central Zone – C3Training.CZ@nshealth.ca
Cancer Care Program (CCP) Breast Cancer Diagnostic Pathway
The Nova Scotia Cancer Care Program (CCP) Breast Cancer diagnostic pathway is ready for review. The pathway covers from presentation of symptoms through to decision to treat. This pathway also includes the Neo-Adjuvant Treatment pathway. The CCP is inviting stakeholders including primary care and ED providers, surgeons, radiologists and others with an interest to review the draft pathway and provide feedback on the content as well as any issues related to implementation.
The pathway is accessed here. The feedback survey is available here. Deadline is April 25, 2025.
The approved CCP diagnostic pathways can be accessed through the Cancer care libguide.
Any questions about the overall diagnostic pathway development process or the specific pathways may be sent to Jill Petrella (jill.petrella@nshealth.ca)
Province Funds Power of Attorney App
The Province of Nova Scotia has recently announced that Nova Scotians now have a free tool that provides a step-by-step process for creating a power of attorney. The app was developed in partnership with the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia and enables individuals to create a legally valid power of attorney, allowing them to designate a trusted person to manage their finances and property if they become unable to do so themselves.
The free power of attorney app, called the POA-E app, is available at: https://www.legalinfo.org/poa
Continuing Care ‘Clinic-first’ Approach for More Community Nursing Care
Nova Scotia Health Continuing Care supports a ‘clinic-first’ approach for community nursing services. As the need for home care increases, healthcare providers are encouraged to use ‘clinic-first’ messaging when speaking with patients who require nursing care in the community. This facilitates the delivery of community nursing to more people in the right place at the right time. Learn more: Clinic-First Approach for VON Nursing Service Referrals.
IV Manual and Smart Pump Update Effective April 29, 2025
Attached are update memos for the IV Manual and Agilia smart pumps that take effect April 29, 2025.
IV Manual issues: Theresa.Hurley@nshealth.ca
Contact for Pump issues: smartpumps@nshealth.ca
Dr. Steven Soroka Receives King’s Coronation Medal
Congratulations to Dr. Steven Soroka on receiving the King’s Coronation Medal!
As the long-serving Senior Medical Director of the Renal Program and Pharmacy Services at Nova Scotia Health, Dr. Soroka has demonstrated unwavering commitment to quality improvement, person-centred care, and equitable access to services. He works tirelessly to create positive change for health care providers, patients and families, and the broader health care system.
The King Charles III Coronation Medal is a Canadian commemorative medal awarded to 30,000 individuals in recognition of their significant contributions to Canada. It marks the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III on May 6, 2023, and is the first Canadian commemorative medal issued for a coronation.
If you are a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal, please reply to this email so we can celebrate your accomplishment and share the news with your colleagues in the next newsletter!
Catch Up on Episodes of Our Medical Affairs Podcast
Coaching Physicians: A Prescription for Leadership is a podcast presented by Medical Affairs at Nova Scotia Health.
Hosted by Physician Executive Leadership Coaches Lorie Campbell and Verna MacDonald, this series dives into the powerful intersection of leadership and healthcare. Together, they bring 25 years of combined experience in coaching and professional development support.
Whether you're a physician navigating challenges, looking to grow professionally, or striving to lead with greater impact — this podcast is your guide.
Tune in for:
✅ Leadership strategies
✅ Inspiring physician stories about leadership journeys
✅ Practical tools to address challenges in today’s healthcare landscape
Empower your leadership journey. Your prescription starts here. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or SoundCloud.
Listen to episode here: Spotify, SoundCloud, and Apple Podcasts.
Read the full newsletter here.
