April 30, 2026

Dear physician colleagues,


Tomorrow (May 1) is Doctors Day is Canada. I want to take this opportunity to recognize, celebrate and thank you for the critical role you play in our province’s collective health and well-being. 


Being a physician isn’t easy. Improving the system is essential to reducing administrative burden, improving access and giving you more time to interact with your patients and their families. Nova Scotia Health is on the cusp of One Person One Record clinical information system (OPOR-CIS) implementation and, as with any project of this scale, we know there will be bumps in the road. But I also know we will overcome them and show up for Nova Scotians, and each other, as we always do. 


I want to acknowledge and thank everyone who is learning the system or will learn it later this year. Physicians are serving as provider peer mentors, participating in meetings and IMTs, or otherwise engaging to bring this transformation project to life. It’s been a busy time on top of already busy schedules. 


Keep an eye out tomorrow for some sparks of gratitude in your zones, as we partner with Doctors Nova Scotia on a series of activations across our provincial sites. We’ve also used Doctors Day as an opportunity to share some stories of physicians working across Nova Scotia Health. Check out our profile series lower down in this newsletter and on the Physician Portal. 


Finally, please take a moment to reflect on the meaningful difference you’re making and thank the exceptional colleagues we work alongside. Nova Scotians are better for the formidable physicians in our province. I feel very fortunate that each one of you are part of our medical staff.


Sincerely,


Nicole

One Person One Record (OPOR) Program Updates

OPOR Updates This Week at a Glance:

• Virtual Desktop, Dragon Medical One and Oracle Mobile applications
• Test your CIS login
• Support during Go-Live
• Provider Readiness Hubs
• Provider Portal and SHARE
• Last push for training and practice

Note: Active network credentials for Nova Scotia Health or IWK Health are required to access links above and below, unless otherwise indicated. More information beneath.

Virtual Desktop, Dragon Medical One and Oracle Mobile Applications

Nova Scotia Health providers will receive an email this week from noreply@ca.cernercentral.com. Do not ignore this email—it will contain a link to obtain your access code for Powerchart Touch. The code will expire within seven (7) days of the send—if you miss this window, you will need to re-submit an Assyst Ticket for a code and fulfilment time may vary. Information on how to download Powerchart Touch from the Apps Store can be found here.

Note: there is no specific training focused on Powerchart Touch or the Oracle Mobile applications, as they are offerings and not required to be used by providers.

An email from IT was sent to Nova Scotia Health providers on Tuesday, April 28 containing information on Virtual Desktop and Dragon Medical One. Please familiarize yourself with this information.

Test your CIS login

Save the headache at Go-Live! Physicians who have completed clinical information system (CIS) training have two ways to test their login details ahead of Go-Live on May 9:

• Login Fairs: OPOR team members will be visiting units across Central Zone to help you test your login and Tap and Go access, with an eye to identifying and resolving issues early. See times and locations for these planned visits on the OPOR Hub (NSH login required).
• Provider Readiness Hubs: Drop in (details below) to test your CIS login.

Support during Go-Live

There will be many ways to access support during Go-Live, including in-person and virtual options. 

A first step for questions is the new CIS Virtual Assistant; this functionality will be found inside the CIS for easy access. Ask your question and the tool will provide an answer based on resources and information collected from OPOR, Nova Scotia Health and Oracle Health. 

Provider Peer Mentors, At-the-Elbow Leads and Adoption Coaches, and other virtual support options will also be available. The CIS-Help desktop icon will also link to a website featuring all support options. 

Reminder: Stop by a Provider Readiness Hub

Drop in to a Provider Readiness Hub for self-led practice, an opportunity to log into the live domain and to ask questions of our on-site supports. 


A note on Provider Readiness Hub availability:


• Cancer Care Society: This location will no longer have dedicated on-site staffing, but devices will remain available for independent practice use through May 8. 
• Bethune Building (Room 831) & DGH (Room 1612): These locations will close at the end of the day on Wednesday, May 6, as the spaces transition to Command Hubs for Hyperphase support. Be stake advantage of these sites before then.
• Cobequid Community Health Centre (Room 3421) & HI Library: These locations will remain open and available for provider practice through end of day Friday, May 8.
  

Learn more about Provider Readiness Hubs (NSH login required)


Provider Portal and SHARE

As of May 9, patient data from Central Zone and the provincial Mental Health and Addictions Program (MHAP) services included in Wave Two will only be available in Provider Portal. The new data will not be routed to SHARE. 

Providers in other provincial zones are strongly encouraged to register for Provider Portal (no NSH login required) and begin using it to access patient information. A Provider Portal demo is available on the OPOR Hub (NSH login required). 

If you have did not receive an email from the Provider Portal Team indicating you have access, you have not been registered and must take the following steps to request access through IT Self Serve:

• Select “Access” then “User Access” then “Add Additional Application Access” and scroll down to select OPOR Provider Portal.
• Physicians are to input their Department Chief as Approver.
  

Community providers can learn more about requesting access on the OPOR website.


Last push for Training and Practice

Remember: CIS training = CIS access.

Additional practice following training can be done through Virtual Practice Labs daily from 6 a.m. to midnight until May 8. Group participation is now available! (NSH login required)

*Access to content on the OPOR Hub requires active Nova Scotia Health or IWK Health network credentials.

New SIMS Field to Support CIS Safety Monitoring

All clinical information system (CIS) related patient safety incidents and near misses must be reported in the Safety Improvement and Management System (SIMS). A new required field has been added to all SIMS risk forms (except Workplace Injury and Illness). 

What Do You Need To Do?  

When completing a SIMS report, select “Yes” in the CIS field if the CIS contributed to preventable harm to an actual patient. This can include software or hardware performance, workflow design, system functionality or training.

If unsure, use your best judgment. The Patient Safety team will review and follow up as needed. A one pager for staff and FAQs are available on the OPOR Hub (NSH login required).

Technical or functionality issues (e.g., bugs, access problems, features not working as expected, system errors, device concerns) must be reported through IT Client Self-Service or by contacting your local IT Service Desk. This is the only way to request technical support or system fixes.  

Reminder: OPOR-CIS Baseline Provider and Clinician Experience Survey

Nova Scotia Health's Implementation Science Team is gathering a quick snapshot of providers' and clinicians' experiences as we get ready for Go-Live on May 9: how work is done today and what you expect to change. 

Share your feedback through this short, voluntary survey (about 7 minutes). Responses are confidential and reported only in aggregate; nothing will be shared in a way that identifies individuals.

Please note: This survey is coordinated by the Nova Scotia Health Implementation Science Team and is not connected to the CIS Change Readiness survey.

Reminder: Complete Required ATC & MIRM Training by May 8 (Central Zone)

Required Novari ATC and MIRM training is underway to support CIS Wave Two go-live on May 9. There are just eight days remaining to complete training.

Novari ATC will support surgical and procedural waitlist management, while Novari MIRM introduces additional workflow steps for diagnostic imaging teams. The deadline to complete this training is May 8, 2026.

Who needs to complete training:

• ATC: Surgeons, gastroenterologists, and provider administration (Central Zone – Nova Scotia Health). A memo with more information is available here.
• MIRM: Radiologists and radiology residents (Central Zone – Nova Scotia Health). A memo with more information is available here.

Contact NovariSupport@nshealth.ca with any questions.

Reminder for Ocean Sending Providers: DI Appointment Migration Underway

All Diagnostic Imaging (DI) appointments scheduled for May 9 and beyond are being migrated to the new system as part of CIS Wave Two go-live in the Central Zone. This work is underway and will continue for several weeks. There is no expected impact to sending providers and no action is required. You should not receive email notifications for migrated appointments; however, if you do, please submit a ticket at www.referralsns.ca/ask

April eServices Bulletin Now Available

The latest eServices Bulletin is now available for primary health care providers, nurse practitioners, surgeons, gastroenterologists and radiologists. It includes key updates, reminders and practical tips to support your use of digital referral and waitlist management tools, including Ocean eReferral and Novari solutions. Read the bulletin here.

Award-Winning Rural Care

Four Nova Scotia physicians (including two residents) recently received SRPC Awards through The Society of Rural Physicians of Canada. These awards are given to physicians who demonstrate outstanding leadership, dedication and innovation in advancing rural and remote health care across Canada.

• Dr. Tania Sullivan received a Rural Service award
• Dr. David Opper received a Lifetime Member award
• Drs. Dennis Brown and Maya Venkataraman received the Resident Research Poster Award
  

Congratulations Drs. Sullivan, Opper, Brown and Venkataraman on this well-deserved recognition! A full list of award winners can be found here.

Doctors Day: Dr. Muhammad (Ali) Khalid

Doctors Day is an important reminder that healthcare is truly a team effort, says internal medicine specialist and gastroenterologist, Dr. Muhammad (Ali) Khalid.

“The care we provide is only possible because of the collaboration and dedication of so many behind the scenes,” says the St. Martha’s Regional Hospital physician.


Read more about Dr. Khalid’s journey to Nova Scotia, his passion for his work, and why he says the move to Antigonish has been among the most meaningful decisions of his life.

Doctors Day: Dr. Kathleen MacEachen

South Shore cardiologist, Dr. Kathleen MacEachen, is passionate about preventing illness before it becomes a crisis. “Keeping people from getting sick in the first place, that’s really rewarding."

The Halifax-born physician is doing that and more – delivering public talks, enhancing cardiac rehabilitation and expanding heart-failure services in Nova Scotia Health’s Western zone.


Learn about Dr. MacEachen’s path to medicine, her work to improve heart health, and the colleagues who have shaped her journey. 

Doctors Day: Dr. Mashallah Masoumi-Ravandi

“When you practice family medicine in a rural setting, you’re not just part of the patient’s family – they become a part of your family, too.”


Dr. Mashallah Mamousi-Ravandi’s career in medicine has taken him across continents and communities. And while he didn’t originally plan on becoming a family physician, the Truro doctor now believes it’s his calling. 


Read about Dr. Masoumi-Ravandi’s path to Nova Scotia and family medicine, his esteem for his colleagues and patients, and his passion for uplifting medical learners and international medical graduates in our province.

Dr. Kate MacInnes' Inspirational Run

Hematologist Dr. Kate MacInnes realized a dream earlier this month, finishing the Boston Marathon in just under three hours – the first woman from Cape Breton to achieve this milestone.

But for Dr. MacInnes – or “Dr. Kate” as she’s fondly known at Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital’s (ICMH) cancer clinic – the race was so much bigger than medals and time stamps. It was also a way to honour her patients. Read more.

Spine Assessment Clinic Increases Access to the Right Care for Nova Scotians

Nova Scotians living with neck and back pain are getting faster access to the right care through the Spine Assessment Clinic (SAC). Launched in 2023, the clinic provides timely assessments and connects patients to the most appropriate care pathway, helping reduce unnecessary waits for surgery and MRIs while easing pressure on emergency departments and primary care. Read more.

Physician Learning Opportunities

Physician Supervisor Learning Module - NEW!

The Role of the Physician Supervisor – Assessing and Supporting physicians trained outside of Canada (PTOC)


The Physician Supervisor Program, offered through the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia (CPSNS) and supported by Nova Scotia Health, helps determine if a physician trained outside of Canada is prepared for licensure in our province.

Physician supervisors work with selected physicians, who are granted a Defined Licence (DL) for a period of at least six months. During this time, DL doctors can practice as the physician of record under their physician supervisor, who monitors their practice and reports to the CPSNS on their performance. From there, CPSNS determines whether to grant a Restricted Licence or if the candidate requires further observation.


Learn more about this program and role by taking the Role of the Supervisor Learning Module.

Physicians interested in potentially taking on a supervisor role should contact physicianrecruit@nshealth.ca.

Dalhousie Surgery Research Day - May 11

Dalhousie University invites you to join them for the Department of Surgery Research Day. This research presentation day showcases the work of residents, interns, medical students, graduate and undergraduate students, with surgeons serving as judges. 


🗓 Date: May 11, 2026

🕚 Time: 7:30 a.m.-early evening

💻 Location: Halifax Convention Centre

Learn more about this full day event here.

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