Ensuring a consistent approach to prioritizing patients is important to support timely, appropriate and equitable access to surgical services.
In Nova Scotia, procedures added to scheduled procedure waitlists must include a priority level, excluding cases such as transplants and c-sections.
In Nova Scotia, priority levels should be assigned based on one of the following:
- Nova Scotia Coding Access Targets for Surgery (NSCATS) -- where applicable.
- Specialty-specific Guides (Recommended Priority Levels / Maximum Wait Times) -- for procedures not included in NSCATS.
- Paediatric Canadian Access Targets for Surgery (PCATS) -- for IWK Health pediatric cases only.
- Nova Scotia Coding Access Targets for Endoscopy (NSCATs-E) -- where applicable
A physician may, at any time, update the prioritization level assigned to a patient based on a change in clinical condition. This is strongly encouraged to maintain an accurate priority-based wait list.
Additional information and resources can be found below.
Nova Scotia Coding Access Targets for Surgery (NSCATS)
NSCATS identify the maximum acceptable surgical wait times for various procedures to help prioritize care and support appropriate and timely bookings.
Nova Scotia Health has worked to develop and implement these standardized prioritization codes, based on clinical modifiers (e.g. procedures / diagnosis), for high-volume procedures in some surgical sub-specialties.
Where an NSCATS code does not exist for a specific specialty or procedure, Nova Scotia Health surgeons should refer to the recommended priority levels guides found below.
About NSCATS
- Similar to the Paediatric Canadian Access Targets for Surgery (PCATS) used by IWK Health and Alberta's Coding Access Targets for Surgery (ACATS).
- For Eastern, Western and Northern Zones -- applicable NSCATS codes can be found in the Operating Room Management (ORM) System.
- For Central Zone - applicable codes can be found in the Novari system. The ability to add codes for other sub-specialties is being explored.
NSCATS booking codes and instructions:
- Eastern, Western and Northern Zones
- Central Zone
Specialty Specific Priority Levels
The following specialty specific guides provide information on the recommended priority levels to be assigned based on a patient's condition and diagnosis.
NOTE: These guides should not be used when an NSCATS code exists for a specific specialty or procedure in your zone.
- Cardiac
- Dental
- General Surgery - NSCATS available for some procedures
- Neurosurgery
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Oral and Maxillofacial
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopedics
- Otolaryngology - NSCATS available for some procedures outside Central zone
- Plastics
- Spinal
- Thoracics
- Urology - NSCATS code available for some procedures outside Central zone
- Vascular
Nova Scotia Coding Access Targets for Endoscopy (NSCATs-E)
NSCATs-E stands for Nova Scotia Coded Access Targets for Endoscopy. It’s a new, standardized set of booking codes for various non-urgent and scheduled endoscopy procedures. NSCATs-E was built collaboratively with endoscopists across the province representing all specialties and referenced similar approaches from other health systems in Canada. It was endorsed by the Endoscopy Service Operations Council which includes administration and endoscopists from all zones across Nova Scotia Health.
NSCATs-E FAQ:
NSCATs-E rollout (EZ, NZ, WZ) Frequently Asked Questions (updated August 2025)
NSCATs-E How to Guide:
NSCATs-E How to Guide (updated September 2025)
NSCATs-E booking codes:
Nova Scotia Coding Access Targets for Endoscopy (NSCATS-E) - PDF Version (updated September 2025)
Nova Scotia Coding Access Targets for Endoscopy (NSCATs-E) - Excel Version (updated September 2025)
NSCATs-E booking form:
NSCATs-E Endoscopy Procedure Booking Form (updated September 2025)
MEDITECH 1 NSCATs-E Reference Document:
MEDITECH 1 NSCATs-E Reference Document (updated August 2025)
How to Access NSCATs-E Booking Form:
Searching and Using NSCATs-E Booking Form in Telus Med Access (updated September 2025)
Searching and Using NSCATs-E Booking Form in QHR Accuro (updated September 2025)
