December 4, 2025

OPOR Goes Live at IWK

This Saturday, December 6 marks a major milestone for healthcare in Nova Scotia. In just a few days, IWK Health will be the first in the province to implement the One Person One Record (OPOR) Clinical Information System (CIS).

On behalf of physicians across Nova Scotia, I want to extend our best wishes to the IWK and OPOR teams as they head into this pivotal weekend.

To the physicians at the IWK, we are here to support you. You provide exceptional care to patients and families and this new CIS will only strengthen that care. While it is natural to feel nervous stepping into something new, there is support all around you both on your site and other NS Health sites that house the OPOR team and IT team. I encourage you to reach out to OPOR Go-Live Supports to navigate any questions as you go along.

Like any major change, there will be bumps along the way. I am confident we can navigate any challenge, as it is something that is exciting and transformational.

I would like to acknowledge our OPOR colleagues. Preparing for OPOR has required remarkable effort, patience and collaboration. The team’s commitment has brought us to this important moment. The sponsors of the project from NS Health are grateful for your dedication. 

We are building a stronger, more connected healthcare system for Nova Scotians.

One Person One Record (OPOR) Program Updates

In addition to this week's launch at IWK, please find beneath a few important updates on OPOR.

CIS access when and where you need it

With the implementation of a provincial electronic medical record comes new efficiencies, making your ability to provide collaborative care in real time easier. As sites are onboarded to the new CIS, there are many things to keep in mind about the functionality of the new CIS. 


Transitioning to computerized provider order entry (CPOE) means a significant reduction in verbal or phone orders. This means your access remotely, through virtual desktop or on your mobile device, needs to work seamlessly.


Providers will be able to log in remotely to their virtual desktop (VDI) from home or on the go. From there, they will be able to log into the CIS and have full functionality, similar to working on-site. Learn how using the AZURE Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI).


In addition, providers will be able to download several apps to their personal mobile device, giving them access to provide care on-the-go. Not all the PowerChart functions can be completed via the apps, such as co-signing a resident’s note in message centre, which needs to be done in the desktop version. 


You will be able to utilize your own device to access OPOR-CIS related applications.

1. PowerChart Touch (by Cerner Corporation) supports fast, easy and smart workflows, allowing a provider to complete both inpatient and ambulatory workflows.
2. Nuance PowerMic (by Dragon Medical One) allows the provider to use their personal mobile phone as a mic.
3. CareAware Connect Messenger (by Cerner Corporation) supports clinical mobility by providing secure communication, simplifying care team collaboration and supporting effective alert management.
   

Learn more about these mobile apps, including instructions for installation.

Will you be using Novari MIRM? The Clinical Support Model is here to help.

Learn more about the channels of Novari MIRM support that will be available to you at Go-Live, including Peer Mentors and At-the-Elbow (ATE) Support. Please visit the OPOR Hub's Go-Live Supports Page to learn more.

Health Beyond Hospital: Aberdeen Pilot Goes Live

The Health Beyond Hospital (HBH) initiative is one of Nova Scotia’s most ambitious health system transformations. HBH focuses on enabling coordinated, supported transitions from hospital-to-home and ensuring the supports needed for patients are met from the community. This greater collaboration between the health system and social/community supports enables this work through representation of both groups in a model of patient flow.

On November 17, the first Health Beyond Hospital pilot launched at Aberdeen Hospital on the 4-Med unit. As of Day 9 (November 25) of the pilot, eight patients were discharged on Pathway 1A – home with supports.

Working through HBH workflows with staff in real-time has been a beneficial learning opportunity. It has allowed the HBH team to validate what is working well, identify areas that need adjustment and make informed changes as HBH continues to roll out.

Read the full Health Beyond Hospital Progress Update.

CMARS Launch: A New Online NS Health Privilege Reappointment Tool for Physicians

Nova Scotia Health is implementing a new online reappointment tool, CMARS, as part of its ongoing efforts to streamline and modernize credentialing processes for the physicians.

This platform is already used successfully by multiple health authorities and hospitals across Canada and offers a more efficient, user-friendly alternative to the current paper-based process. Physicians with upcoming reappointments between January 1 and April 30, 2026, will receive invitations during the week of December 15, 2025, to create their CMARS accounts and submit their reappointment applications.

Physicians included in this initial launch (Wave 1) will also receive a direct email from the Credentialing Office with further details about the transition and guidance on the new process.

Announcement – New NS Health Central Zone Department Head for Family Practice

We’re pleased to share that Dr. Yinka Akin-Deko has been appointed as the new Central Zone Division Head, Family Practice. She will serve as co-lead alongside Dr. Valerie Lewis starting December 1, 2025.

Dr. Akin-Deko is a family physician based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. She provides primary care in the community, medical care in long-term care homes, and contributes to physician assessment and integration through her work with the Physician Assessment Centre of Excellence (PACE).

Prior to relocating to Canada, Dr. Akin-Deko held a clinical leadership role in mental health in the United Kingdom. She is committed to supporting strong family medicine teams and advancing equitable, sustainable healthcare across Nova Scotia. Welcome, Dr. Akin-Deko!


Dr. Vicki Munro Achieves Atlantic Canada First With New Thyroid Procedure

Patients with thyroid nodules now have access to a new, minimally invasive treatment at the Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Centre.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure performed under ultrasound guidance to reduce the size of thyroid nodules.  

In March 2025, Dr. Vicki Munro from the Division of Endocrinology became the first physician in Atlantic Canada to perform this innovative procedure. Since then, additional patients have been scheduled, marking a major milestone in thyroid care for Nova Scotians. Read more.

Meeting Medical Learners Where They Are

Sometimes when you want someone to come to you, you have to go to them first. That’s exactly what recruiter Andrew Steele Moore did this fall – traveling across Eastern Canada on a coordinated, strategic ‘road show’ to meet medical learners and show them why working in Nova Scotia is more than medicine.

Read more about his journey and the important role physicians play in Nova Scotia Health's recruitment success.

Seeing Clearly Again

Before cataract surgery, artist and musician Jim McKnight struggled with blurred vision, forcing him to change his lifestyle.

Nova Scotia Health’s partnership with Halifax Vision Surgical Centre enabled nearly 1,000 additional cataract surgeries, helping reduce the provincial waitlist by 28 per cent.

“I’m back to painting, back to my music and I can drive at night without worry,” Jim said. “It really gave me my life back.” Read Jim's story.

Frailty and Elder Care Network Learning Opportunities

(Reminder) Upcoming Virtual Education Session: Frailty & Dignity of Risk

Join the Frailty and Elder Care Network for a free, virtual learning opportunity focused on supporting older adults living with frailty — while preserving their autonomy and dignity.

🗓 Date: December 18, 2025

🕚 Time: 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

💻 Location: Virtual




Register for this event here or by using the QR code at right.

Connecting the Dots with Fall Prevention Webinar – Recording Now Available

Thank you to everyone who attended the Frailty and Elder Care Network’s recent webinar (November 24) – Connecting the Dots with Falls Prevention. Together, we explored the difference between fall precautions and fall prevention and how modifiable risk factors can inform clinical judgment to optimize care planning.

A recording of this session is now available so you can catch up on this valuable learning opportunity at your convenience. We encourage you to share this recording with your colleagues and teams. 

Physician Learning Opportunities

Why Healthcare Leaders Need to Care About Planetary Health – Recording Now Available

Planetary health is public health and looking after our planet supports a sustainable way forward for us all.

A recording of Dr. Nabha Shetty’s November 3 webinar, Why Healthcare Leaders Need to Care About Planetary Health, is now available online. This webinar is part of the Medical Affairs Webinar series: Inspired Leadership for Physicians – Leading with Presence, Empathy and Purpose. Watch here.

Understanding Moral Injury in Physicians – December 9

Join us for our final webinar of 2025, Understanding Moral Injury in Physicians with Dr. Muna Chowdhury.

🗓 Date: December 9, 2025

🕚 Time: 5:00 pm.–6:30 p.m.

💻 Location: Online (Zoom)

Register here.

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