Celebrating Doctors' Day 2025
May 1 is Doctors' Day! Today, we celebrate exceptional physicians and medical learners who go above and beyond every day to ensure Nova Scotia has healthy communities for generations. The unwavering dedication, expertise and advocacy shape a stronger, healthier future for us all.
Nova Scotia Health is proud to honour remarkable physicians who make a difference in our communities. Read more about some of the extraordinary impacts across Nova Scotia here.
Healthcare leaders have shared messages to express their gratitude on Doctors' Day.
View the video to hear their heartfelt words of thanks and appreciation for the dedication and care you provide every day.
Celebrating Doctors' Day the Innovation Hub
As part of our Doctors’ Day 2025 celebration, we were honored to welcome Dr. Tina Atkinson, Sport and Exercise Medicine physician, as our keynote speaker at the Innovation Hub in Halifax. Dr. Atkinson spoke about leadership, resilience, and the importance of postive team dynamics.
Dr. Atkinson is a sport and exercise medicine physician based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. She has 24 years of experience serving as a lead physician or Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for more than 20 national and international events.
She is currently the Chief Medical Officer of the Canadian Sports Institute Atlantic and Canoe Kayak Canada, recently supporting them at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Dr. Atkinson was also the primary care sports medicine team physician for the Halifax Mooseheads for 13 seasons.
Since 2016, she has been a team physician for Hockey Canada’s Women’s Teams, including serving as the Olympic team doctor in Beijing 2022, where the team won gold (seen below!). In 2023, she was named the first Chief Medical Officer of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), overseeing medical protocols and healthcare providers for all six teams.
Thank you to physicians that attended our event and joined the live stream.
Electronic Referrals (eReferrals) Expanding to Gastroenterology
On May 1, 2025 Nova Scotia healthcare providers using the eReferral tool (Ocean) will begin sending electronic referrals (eReferrals) for both adult and pediatric gastroenterology specialists. As well, gastroenterologists will now have the option to refer to the surgical and diagnostic imaging services currently available within the eReferral tool (surgery, MRI, ultrasound and bone mineral density). Additional diagnostic imaging services will be added later this year.
The new Gastroenterology eForm, designed with input from gastroenterologists and primary care providers, is designed specifically for symptomatic patients requiring gastroenterology consultation.
The new Colon Cancer Screening eForm, developed in collaboration with the Colon Cancer Prevention Program, streamlines the referral process for asymptomatic patients. Surgical and Gastroenterology Central intake will efficiently manage the routing of these referrals alongside gastroenterology and general surgery referrals.
This represents a key step forward in improving access to care and the quality and consistency of endoscopy care in support of the priorities of the Endoscopy Services Operations Council, and the continuation of Nova Scotia Health’s commitment to expand the use of eReferrals. Your cooperation continues to make this work a success!
Learn more here: eReferral options expanding to include Gastroenterology
Direct in-person or virtual support: www.referralsns.ca/ask.
For training resources and ongoing enhancement updates visit www.referralsns.ca
Learn more about the eServices Program here.
Repatriation and Transfers Lean Kaizen Workshop: A C3 Collaborative Success
In March, representatives from the provincial Care Coordination Centre (C3), EHS, OPOR, IMIT, and C3 zonal flow teams came together for a productive two-day Lean Kaizen workshop focused on repatriation and transfers. The goal was to discover ways to streamline and enhance the hospital repatriation process, reducing delays and improving communication between sending and receiving facilities.
Learn more about the two-day session here.
Introducing the Nova Scotia Grief Alliance: Connecting Communities
~shared on behalf of Tim Guest, RN, BScN, MBA, FFNMRCSI (He/Him), Executive Director, Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Association, and Lindsay Sutherland, MN, RN (She/Her), Director, Policy & Planning (Grief & Bereavement), Palliative Care Network, Nova Scotia Health.
We are pleased to share the launch of the Nova Scotia Grief Alliance, a province-wide initiative dedicated to strengthening grief support through education, resource sharing, and community collaboration.
The Nova Scotia Grief Alliance is a partnership between Nova Scotia Health and the Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Association (NSHPCA). It serves as a connector for individuals, health professionals and community organizations either working in grief support or interested in grief education. Our aim is to build
capacity and foster relationships where participants can learn, share, and access the best practices in grief support.
To learn more about the alliance and opportunities to participate in virtual and in-person events, visit www.nsgriefalliance.com or contact griefalliance@nshpca.ca
Please be sure to bookmark the events page as new events (in-person and virtual) will be added over the next few weeks providing more participation and learning opportunities.
Please share the news of the Nova Scotia Grief Alliance with your networks, colleagues, and community partners who may be interested in participating in any upcoming events.
New Recruitment Materials: Help Spread the Word About Opportunities!
The Nova Scotia Health Recruitment Team is excited to share new materials designed to showcase Nova Scotia Health as a global leader in healthcare excellence. These resources include a dedicated website landing page, a printable postcard, and a QR code. They're perfect for health leaders representing the organization at international events, conferences, or while traveling abroad.
The goal of these materials is to highlight Nova Scotia Health’s commitment to excellence and invite healthcare leaders to connect with our Recruitment Team to explore the opportunity to live and work in Nova Scotia.
Here are a few ways you can use these materials:
- Presenting? Drag the attached QR code into a slide deck at the end of your presentation
- Need something in hand? Print the attached postcard by connecting with Jessica.Lebouthillier@nshealth.ca
- Sending a follow-up message? Include a link to the landing page directly: https://nsh.morethanmedicine.ca/healthcare-excellence-nova-scotia-canada
Thank you for helping us spread the word about the exciting opportunities available in Nova Scotia!
Parking Fees Removed at Nova Scotia Health Facilities Starting Thursday, May 1
Parking at Nova Scotia Health sites will be free for patients, visitors, and staff starting today, Thursday, May 1. Our aim is to make it as easy as possible for people to access care at our facilities. We appreciate everyone’s assistance.
Please note that there are not enough spaces on site at some locations for all staff and physicians during peak times. Staff and physicians need to continue to park only in areas already designated for them and not in spaces meant for patients. As is currently the practice at the QEII, staff will not be able to park on-site during busy hours from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.
To make sure that parking is used properly, a validation system will be set up at some sites. Others who are not patients, visitors, or staff will need to pay to exit the parking area.
We know there will be many questions about how this will work at each site, and we will provide more updates soon. We ask for your patience as we implement this change and learn more about how this impacts parking demand. Please allow extra time to get to work or your appointments.
Questions? Visit the FAQs here.
New eBooks Available Thanks to Trust Fund Support
Thanks to the generosity of the Dr. Chauhan Memorial Trust Fund (Cape Breton, Guysborough, Antigonish Strait region), Library Services has added the titles you can find here to Nova Scotia Health’s collection in support of physicians, nurses and allied health providers.
After selecting any of the links within the larger message, select View full text at the top of your screen to access the eBook.
Bookmark these handy resource links to help you navigate Library Services’ Discover Search, to find and obtain books and articles:
- Library Services Website and Discover Search [Tip sheet]
- Our top three tips for a better Discover Search experience [Blog post]
As always, reach out to AskLibrary@nshealth.ca for assistance in finding the information you need.
