~Memo from the President & CEO~
To all staff,
We are writing to provide an important update on travel to the United States. Nova Scotia Health is closely monitoring the implications and impacts of recent tariff announcements. As a result, we have decided to suspend all non-essential, Nova Scotia Health-related travel to the United States effective immediately.
In cases where travel to the United States is deemed essential for patient care—such as medical equipment training and scientific meetings or presentations that cannot be conducted virtually—or essential for research, requests will be reviewed carefully on a case-by-case basis. Prior approval will be required from your director/senior director and Vice-President. Please use our travel form for such requests.
Due to heightened border inspections, which now include checks on electronic devices, all Nova Scotia Health-issued electronic devices such as laptops, iPads and mobile phones are prohibited from being taken on trips to the United States at this time, except for approved essential travel.
Staff and physicians entering the US for approved essential travel must familiarize themselves with United States Customs and Border Protection information regarding search of electronic devices at ports of entry. Customs and Border Protection agents have the right to search electronic devices at the border including data stored on the device that requires a password to access. This includes non-Nova Scotia Health email, text messages, and photos, as well as all information contained within Microsoft 365 applications such as Outlook, Teams, Onedrive, etc.
It is the responsibility of employees and physicians to ensure no personal information, personal health information or confidential business information is saved on a device prior to travel.
Storing confidential Nova Scotia Health information, including any business information, briefing notes, project overviews, personal information or personal health information, on personal electronic devices is prohibited. Physicians who have the ability to access Nova Scotia Health systems on personal devices must take particular caution in advance of any travel to the US.
Our colleagues at IWK Health have adopted similar guidance for travel to the United States.
We appreciate your flexibility and understanding as we navigate these evolving circumstances. Thank you for your continued commitment and cooperation.
Kind regards,
Karen
