Incident Yesterday at the Halifax Infirmary
Dear Team,
I am deeply shaken and saddened by the incident that took place yesterday in the Emergency Department at the Halifax Infirmary (HI), where three of our colleagues were injured by a patient. Two have received treatment and been released, while the third remains in stable condition at the hospital. During the incident, a Code Silver was called, and Halifax Regional Police responded, taking the individual into custody.
I know I speak for everyone when I say that my heart is with our team members who were impacted by the incident.
A heartfelt thank you to the leadership teams at the QEII Halifax Infirmary and Central Zone, as well as to the staff who stayed, came in from home, or assisted from other floors for your efforts during this difficult and frightening situation. Despite everything you faced personally, you cared for the patients within the department and waiting room with the utmost respect and professionalism.
Healthcare is a rewarding profession, but these challenges which impact our feelings of safety and security, are incredibly difficult. I believe many people will relate to the fear experienced in the workplace. I want to acknowledge the emotional and physical toll this incident has taken on our teams throughout the system, especially those who continued working following the incident.
There will be many questions asked, debriefings, and reviews over the coming days, with immediate, short-term, and long-term actions.
Your well-being is a priority, and support is available to you. In addition to the onsite supports put in place at the HI, Doctors Nova Scotia (DNS) Pathways offers a variety of programs designed to assist physicians. One such resource is the Professional Support Program (PSP), a safe and confidential service providing physicians, medical residents, fellows, and their immediate family members with help, support, and resources for personal or professional challenges. If you have any questions, please reach out to Katelyn Junus, Wellness Advisor at DNS, at katelyn.junus@doctorsns.com. Additionally, I encourage you to explore our wellness resources, which are available to support you.
Please continue to take care of yourselves and support one another. Check in on your colleagues, especially those who seem like they don’t need it.
Saying “thank you” is never enough on any day, but I do believe it helps to hear that there are many more people out there who are grateful for what you do and recognize the difficulties you face.
Thank you for all that you do.
Nicole
~shared on behalf of Karen Oldfield, President and CEO (interim) at Nova Scotia Health
Dear Colleagues,
Yesterday was a challenging day, and the magnitude of the event continues to weigh heavy on the hearts and minds of team members across our organization. Many of you have reached out to me to share your support, thoughts, and well-wishes for our three injured colleagues. I have passed these messages on. I also encourage you to use our EAP resource by calling 1-800-461-5558.
The three individuals who were injured yesterday continue to recover. Two have been treated and released, and the third remains in stable condition in hospital. A Halifax man is now facing several criminal charges.
As an organization, we are committed to ensuring our care environments are as safe for our team members as they are for our patients.
We’ve taken immediate action to increase security at the QEII Emergency and Trauma Centre and we’re working very closely with our union partners to discuss ongoing efforts to ensure their membership feels safe at work. I hear and share your frustrations – progress can never be fast enough, Nova Scotia Health has a sustained commitment to continuous security improvements.
The following reviews are underway:
- Nova Scotia Health Security Team
- Nova Scotia Health Quality Improvement
- Paladin Security’s Internal Review
- Halifax Regional Police investigation
- Nova Scotia Health Occupational Health and Safety
Through this work, I expect a fulsome understanding of the facts, what worked well, what didn’t, and what we will put in place to ensure the safety of our team members, and patients and their loved ones.
The people of Nova Scotia Health are bold and courageous. I am exceptionally proud of the displays of unity demonstrated by teams at the QEII Halifax Infirmary and across the province yesterday. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Karen
Cutting The Unnecessary: 425,000 Hours Of Red Tape Removed For Doctors
Our healthcare system is not immune to long, complicated forms, outdated processes, rules that no longer make sense, or work that is being done by a doctor but could be done by another healthcare professional. These obstacles, or red tape, keep doctors from what they do best: providing exceptional care to patients.
For this reason, Nova Scotia’s Office of Service Efficiency has led a project with partners from across the healthcare system, including Nova Scotia Health and Doctors Nova Scotia, to reduce red tape for doctors and give you back valuable time.
To date, 425,000 hours of red tape have been eliminated for doctors by reducing paperwork, using technology and improving by-laws and processes that stand in the way of efficiency. This exceeds the province’s target – a Canadian first – of removing 400,000 hours of red tape annually. More importantly, this work improves physician well-being and Nova Scotian’s access to care.
Reducing paperwork
Doctors aren't trained in paperwork, so reducing complex forms was a top priority. Several commonly completed forms have been simplified, while the province has limited employers' ability to request sick notes and is working to improve the governance and functionality of our electronic medical records systems.
Embracing and adopting new and existing technology
Tap cards and one-time logins have doctors spending 30,000 fewer hours repetitively typing in passwords and door codes. Other actions, including mobile clinics, virtual care, and C3 care coordination improving patient access and flow across the province total over 100,000 hours saved every year.
Health professionals working to their full potential
Improving doctors' time involves enabling other healthcare professionals to take on tasks within their expertise and training. More physician assistants are joining teams, pharmacist-led clinics are providing primary care in specific areas, and registered nurses can now perform more tasks within their scope.
This work highlights the importance of listening to doctors, understanding the challenges they face, and working together to find solutions that make a real difference. With continued progress, not only will the burden on doctors be lessened, but the healthcare system will be strengthened for generations to come.
For a full list of actions taken to reduce red tape for doctors, read the Office of Service Efficiency’s 2024 Annual Report.
Congratulations to the 2025 Quality Award Winners!
President and CEO (interim), Karen Oldfield shares congratulations to the 2025 Quality Award Winners. Watch her message and learn more about the transformational projects!
Nova Scotia Health Home First Initiative
The Provincial Home First initiative is in the development and planning stages, forming part of the broader transformational work. Nova Scotia Health staff are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Home First external key messages and begin using them from admission, especially when engaging with patients and families. These messages equip staff to support smoother transitions and enhance the patient journey, demonstrating Home First principles in action as the initiative continues to evolve.
The Home First provincial working groups are developing a consistent way to provide resources across zones. This initiative is not just about returning home, it’s about staying home with the right supports in place.
Health Beyond Hospital: Integrated Discharge Hub
During November and December, sites built, tried, and tested eight prototypes of Health Beyond Hospital: Integrated Discharge Hub. Some of these prototypes are continuing into 2025 and several of the prototypes are already showing early successes. In the Complex Case Resolution process prototype, cases are brought forward for escalation if they meet the criteria for complexity or length of stay. The Care NS Hub explores the benefits of physical co-location through encouraging integration of key roles from Nova Scotia Health and the Department of Opportunities and Social Development. Learn more in the full progress update.
Blasting Resuming at the QEII Halifax Infirmary
Blasting at the QEII Halifax Infirmary construction site (at Bell Rd. between Robie St. and Summer St.) will now begin on Monday, February 10 to remove bedrock.
Blasting will take place each weekday at 3:30 p.m. and is expected to continue until the end of May.
Immediately before each blast, there will be three long air horn bursts. After the blast, one long air horn burst will signal all clear.
These are precision blasts, meaning disruption is expected to be minimal. Some areas of the hospital may experience vibrations and increased noise levels for about 3.5 seconds during a blast.
Teams are asked to print and post the attached poster, so it is visible to staff, patients, and caregivers in your area, particularly at the HI, Abbie J. Lane, and VMB sites.
Any departments or services directly impacted will be engaged in advance by the project team.
A series of small noise and vibration monitors have been placed throughout the site to ensure staff and patient safety. These units measure sound decibel and vibration activity and alert quickly if levels exceed safe thresholds.
If you suspect or witness any damage due to blasting activity, please contact Anthony Lord at (902) 719-2323.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Recipients of the King Charles III Coronation Medal
Congratulations to Dr. Gus Grant, Registrar & CEO of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia, on being awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
“This award recognizes Dr. Grant’s continued leadership on healthcare issues important to Nova Scotians and to all Canadians,” said Dr. Mary-Lynn Watson, President of the College. “He has led the way launching first-of-kind approaches to improve access to care by pioneering new approaches to physician licensure, recruitment and retention.”
Congratulations to Dr. Sultan Darvesh, medicinal chemist, neuroscientist, and behavioral neurologist, on receiving the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Last week, Dr. Darvesh was awarded the medal during a ceremony at Government House.
The King Charles III Coronation Medal is awarded to those who have made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.
Nurse-Family Partnership Program Expands to Northern and Western Zones
Close to a year after launching the Nurse-Family Partnership Program (NFP) in Eastern Zone, Nova Scotia Health Public Health has started accepting referrals for clients in Northern and Western Zones. This provides greater access to enhanced prenatal and postnatal support for more Nova Scotian families.
Nurse-Family Partnership is an evidence-based, family-centered, responsive home visiting program that improves the health, well-being and self-sufficiency of first-time parents and their children. The program pairs a specially trained Public Health Nurse with a person who is pregnant and would benefit from additional support, due to overlapping challenges they are facing. The partnership starts as early as possible in pregnancy, no later than 28 weeks, and lasts until the child’s second birthday. During this time, the nurse visits regularly and provides support, guidance and education to prepare the family for success after the partnership ends.
Studies show that NFP reduces hospitalizations, emergency department visits, exposure to intimate partner violence, language delays, cultural barriers to access and inequities in care, behavioural and intellectual challenges, among other benefits for the child and parents.
Detailed information about this program for healthcare providers, including eligibility criteria and referral processes, can be found at on the Physician Information and Wellness Portal. If you have questions about Nurse-Family Partnership, please contact your local Early Years program:
Eastern Zone
Cape Breton, Guysborough, Antigonish
902-867-2056/1-833-889-0114 (Toll Free)
Northern Zone
Colchester-East Hants, Cumberland, Pictou
902-667-3319
Western Zone
Annapolis Valley, South Shore, South West Nova Scotia
1-833-601-0949 (Toll Free)
Addressing and Reaching Timely Care Goals in Psychiatric Emergency Services Through Teamwork and Collaboration
Central Zone’s Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) team embarked on an ambitious quality initiative to reduce the median lengths of stay (LOS) in February 2024. After reviewing data from 2021-2023, it was noted that PES was facing a growing volume of patients presenting with acute psychiatric needs. That data also showed that the median LOS for PES was more than 16 hours. Extended LOS not only strained resources but also hindered the ability of the Halifax Infirmary’s Emergency Department (ED) to deliver timely, high-quality care.
A multidisciplinary Advisory Committee was assembled with representation from PES and ED to address the issue. An ambitious goal was set to reduce median LOS to meet the target of six hours by Dec. 31, 2024. To achieve their goal, several change ideas were implemented. These change ideas included: standardizing their triage process, completing assessments from other EDs virtually, room cycling as much as possible, developing a standard operating procedure for use of therapeutic holds, transitioning to a crisis model pathway, hiring licensed practical nurses for bedside care which allows more time for registered nurses to complete assessments, and strengthening the relationship between PES and ED staff.
Late last year, in November, PES reached their objective of a monthly median LOS that was within the target of six hours. The success of this quality initiative underscores the importance of innovation, collaboration, and adaptability in healthcare. By addressing systemic inefficiencies and fostering a culture of excellence, the PES team demonstrated that meaningful change is possible—even in the most challenging environments.
Nova Scotia Health’s Dignity of Risk Program Leading Change in Caring for Older Adults Living with Frailty and Dementia
Nova Scotia Health’s new Dignity of Risk Program, the first of its kind in Canada, will help older adults living with frailty and dementia maintain their independence.
It aims to educate healthcare teams, patients, caregivers, families and other essential care partners about balancing a person’s right to take reasonable risks, such as walking, even if unsteady, that align with their preferences, dignity and values with support and strategies to manage those risks.
Learn more or visit https://www.nshealth.ca/frailty/dignity-risk.
