Diagnostic Imaging central intake

Nova Scotia is on a path to modernize and transform referrals for the services Nova Scotians need.

The Central Intake team has begun receiving new non-urgent (P3 & P4) referrals for Ultrasound, Bone Mineral Density (BMD), and MRI through the provincial Ocean eReferral queue before they reach site-level booking teams.

The Central Intake team is also doing referral quality checks on Ocean eReferrals.

Referral processes that are staying the same:
• Patients marked Urgent (P1 & P2) will continue to be referred directly to the site via fax.
• All faxed referrals will be routed and booked through current processes.

Latest Support Resources:

• Diagnostic Imaging Managers and Booking Staff FAQ (July 2025)
• 201 Session Recording (June 2025)
• 201 Session 'What We Heard Report' (June 2025)
• General FAQs (updated June, 2025)

A Streamlined Approach:
Have you ever picked a grocery line and experienced the frustration of watching another line move faster?

With our Diagnostic Imaging provincial intake office, patients and referrers will no longer have to pick!

This intake approach will work like checkouts where everyone joins one line and goes to the next open teller when it's their turn.

Image

^{Source: Novari} 

At a glance: 

• This patient-centered approach will build on our move to electronic referrals - www.referralsns.ca.
• Patients will no longer need to be referred to one Diagnostic Imaging location.
• They will instead join one provincial queue (waitlist) where teams will help connect them with timely and appropriate options.
• Site-based booking staff will continue to be responsible for scheduling patients that have been routed to their site.
• The intake office will support Diagnostic Imaging teams across Nova Scotia to work as one coordinated system to improve communication, balance waitlists, increase standardization and support quality and stewardship.

Why is this new approach needed?

• In the current system, communication and coordination between Diagnostic Imaging sites is fragmented and complex.
• Referrals are commonly faxed to multiple sites which causes duplicate appointments and imaging.
• Support for referrers around appropriate imaging and best practice guidelines is limited. 

What progress has been made so far and what are the next steps?

• The Central Intake team has begun receiving new non-urgent (P3 & P4) referrals for Ultrasound, Bone Mineral Density (BMD), and MRI through the provincial Ocean eReferral queue before they reach site-level booking teams.
• The Central Intake team has also begun doing referral quality checks on Ocean eReferrals. 
• Diagnostic Imaging leaders and managers are supporting providers and staff through the training phase of One Person One Record's Novari - Medical Imaging Requisition Management (MIRM) system. 
• An advisory group has been formed to help guide the planning. It includes Diagnostic Imaging leaders, staff and physicians from across the province.

Learn more:

We are committed to keeping leaders and teams engaged and informed as we advance this planning.

• Diagnostic Imaging Central Intake 101 information sessions (took place week of March 3rd) Watch the full recording here (Vimeo)
  • ' What we Heard' Report - Diagnostic Imaging Central Intake 101 Sessions
• Questions about Central Intake can also be sent to: DIIntake@nshealth.ca