Update on YourHealthNS and Text Message Based Appointment Reminders
~shared on behalf of Scott McKenna, Chief Information Officer, Nova Scotia Health & IWK Health
As shared through other channels and forums yesterday, issues with appointment reminders impacted some clinics.
The largest impact is a problem with the appointment time for some text reminders. Yesterday morning, we paused all texting, so no text reminders went out today and these messages will not restart until we are sure the issue has been resolved.
Some other concerns were identified related to when and how some appointments are recorded in EMRs (such as tentative appointments and cancellations), location information and sensitivities around when some appointment information is shared with citizens.
In addition to pausing texting, last night we made some changes in YourHealthNS to only show appointments in the next 28 days and to ensure information is clearer for citizens.
We apologize for impacts on patients and clinics. We have a team that is tracking, logging, and responding to all issues and we are working with clinical teams to make adjustments as needed.
If you/your clinic is experiencing specific issues related to these appointment reminders, please reach out directly to appointment.reminder@nshealth.ca.
I will keep you updated as progress is made.
Thank you for patience and support.
Scott McKenna
Chief Information Officer
Nova Scotia Health & IWK Health
Expansion of 14-Day Proxy Signoff for Dictated Reports: Editing and Finalizing Reports
To ensure reports are accurate and complete, any document with blanks is automatically sent to the Staff Review queue in eScription. Team Leads in the transcription team work to complete missing content before the report is forwarded for signature. Staff can edit documents during this review process to resolve blanks or address incomplete content.
The 14-day sign-off process begins only once a report is finalized. If a report contains blanks or is marked as “pending,” it is not ready for provider or proxy signatures. Instead, the system notifies HIM team members to redirect the report back to Staff Review. Once completed, the report is returned to the signature queue, restarting the 14-day timeline.
Reports must be complete in content to progress through the sign-off process. Providers have 14 days to review and sign electronically before proxy sign-off occurs. These measures ensure all reports meet quality standards prior to finalization.
As of January 6, 2025, Nova Scotia Health has extended the 14-day sign-off process for clinical documentation, currently in use in the Central Zone (eSOne/eScription), to the Northern, Eastern, and Western Zones through the NEWZ platform.
If you have any questions in relation to 14-day sign-off, please contact incompleterecords@nshealth.ca. If you have questions in relation to eScription, please contact MTSupport@nshealth.ca.
New Emergency Department, Dialysis Unit for Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre
On Friday, Jan. 10, Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton, MLA for Cumberland South, and Bethany McCormick, Vice-President of Operations for Nova Scotia Health’s Northern Zone, joined staff, physicians and patients at Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre to announce plans for a new emergency department and a permanent 12-station dialysis unit.
The expanded emergency department will be nearly twice the size of the current space, with its own entrance to enhance patient flow, reduce wait times, and create a modern workplace for care teams. The new dialysis unit will replace the temporary five-station unit, significantly increasing capacity and eliminating the need for patients to travel long distances for treatment.
Site preparation begins this winter, with construction starting in spring 2025 and completion expected by 2027. These investments will enhance care for patients in Cumberland County and provide a state-of-the-art environment for healthcare professionals.
Join Our New Facebook Group to Discover
Nova Scotia Provincial Locum Opportunities with Nova Scotia Health!
The locum program helps ensure patients continue to receive essential medical services when their regular physicians are away due to illness, vacation, or continuing education.
In the Facebook group, the Nova Scotia Health Physician Recruitment Team and the Nova Scotia Office of Healthcare Professional Recruitment will share locum opportunities across the province in various specialties including family medicine, psychiatry, emergency medicine and more. Whether you’re looking to expand your career or enjoy a change of pace, Nova Scotia offers a unique blend of professional fulfillment and stunning natural beauty.
Join the group here and help spread the word within your network! Questions about locum opportunities can be directed to locumsupport@nshealth.ca.
Memorandum of Agreement with the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre
Last week, Matthew White, Mental Health and Addictions Program (MHAP) Director in the Central Zone, and Dr. Vincent Agyapong, Chief of Psychiatry, Central Zone with MHAP and the Head of the Department of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University, and Monica MacKinnon, MHAP Health Services Manager responsible for the Transcultrural Program, attended a ceremony celebrating a historic signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre.
Under terms of the agreement, Dalhousie will provide a psychiatrist at the Wije’winen Health Centre and MHAP will provide a manager and administrative resources to help support that work.
Nova Scotia Health’s MHAP is proud to be part of this partnership as it fits with its commitment to providing services, resources, and supports that are accessible, flexible, based on the needs of communities and client population, and is culturally appropriate.
Are You Interested in Enhancing the Care and Quality of Life for Older Adults in Nova Scotia?
As we age, frailty can increase, posing significant risks to health and independence and leading to complications during hospital stays, such as mortality, falls, delirium and prolonged hospitalization. However, frailty is preventable!
The Nova Scotia Health Frailty and Elder Care Network is a dynamic, multidisciplinary group dedicated to developing and recommending impactful strategies for improving the health of older adults (65+) across all healthcare settings. Our initiatives, like the Early Mobility and Dignity of Risk Programs, empower patients to return home sooner from the hospital and support their journey to live independently for longer.
If you’re inspired to learn more about how you can contribute to this vital mission, please contact Karen Nicholls, Director, Frailty and Elder Care Network. More information about the Frailty and Elder Care Network.
