February 26, 2026

The theme of this year's African Heritage Month is "Strength in Unity – Moving Forward with Purpose, Prosperity, Power and Progress." It speaks to the power of collective action to create enduring change – something we know very well in medicine and healthcare.

This theme runs through the latest edition of Nova Scotia Health's "Chats on Change" podcast, which features Candace Thomas, Vice President Legal, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary and the Honourable Twila Grosse, Minister of African Affairs and Minister of the Public Service Commission for Nova Scotia. Their honest conversation around identity and representation is poignant, timely and well-worth the listen.

The podcast is available on Spotify.

Patient Safety Alert - IV Tubing Line Leaks

A recent review of the SIMS patient safety incident reporting identified a significant increase in IV-line tubing leak incidents, particularly involving the Fresenius Kabi (FK) IV-line tubing, which is used throughout Nova Scotia Health.

IV line leaks are patient safety incidents that may interrupt or delay required therapy, cause medication loss or pose occupational risks to staff. Depending on the medication, they may also result in hazardous drug exposure. All such incidents should be reported in SIMS to support learning and system improvements for patient safety.


Please review this document which lays out instructions for setting up IV tubing in preparation for medication delivery, as well as what to do when tubing leaks occur.

One Person One Record (OPOR) Program Updates

OPOR Updates This Week at a Glance:


• Register for Wave Two Training
• Virtual Practice Labs Now Available
• Learn more about Provider Peer Mentors on the OPOR Hub
• Provider Corner is your one-stop-shop for OPOR information

Note: Active network credentials for Nova Scotia Health or IWK Health are required to access links above and below.  More information on all beneath.

Wave Two Training

Classroom learning for Wave Two is underway for providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, residents, fellows), clinicians and staff in Central Zone, as well as select provincial MHAP services. Register for training, including classroom courses and scenario labs, through the OPOR Hub’s Training Registration Portal. Training is required to access the CIS.


Note: Primary Health Care services are not part of the CIS implementation. Primary Health Care providers should not register for CIS training but will continue to have view-only access through the Provider Portal. 

Virtual Practice Labs

Virtual Practice Lab sessions are available daily from 8:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. until May 8, 2026. These online, self-paced sessions allow you to practice workflows and build confidence. 

Register here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with learning guides, followed by login details. 

Provider Peer Mentors

Provider Peer Mentors are colleagues who offer real-time support during Go-Live by answering questions, guiding workflows and sharing tips. Watch for local communications identifying the Peer Mentors in your area ahead of Go-Live. 


If you are a Provider Peer Mentor: 

• Check the Provider Peer Mentor section in the OPOR Hub’s Provider Corner for updates and guidance. 
• Stay connected with local implementation and Provider Liaison contacts. 
  

Access to the OPOR Hub, including all links above, requires active Nova Scotia Health or IWK Health network credentials. This communication is intended for Nova Scotia Health providers, clinicians and staff in relation to OPOR.

New EMR Referral Option: Public Health Early Years

Public Health’s Early Years program works closely with physicians, nurse practitioners, midwives, family practice nurses, social workers and others to support people during pregnancy and the early years of parenting. 


This program now offers a new electronic referral option for providers. The Early Years referral is available in Med Access and Accuro, reducing administrative burden and helping clients connect with Early Years services at the right time.


Providers who do not have access to the EMR referral can continue to use the Early Years Client Referral Form. Families may also self-refer by calling Public Health directly. Referrals are supported by Public Health Nurses, who assess and work with clients to determine the best service for their needs.

Learn more about this program here.

World Delirium Awareness Day - March 11

Delirium remains under‑recognized, yet it significantly increases mortality, hospital length of stay and risk of long‑term cognitive impairment. It is a medical emergency; early identification and treatment are critical.

In March, participating Nova Scotia Health hospitals will engage in a one‑day census to assess the prevalence of delirium among inpatients. Since 2021, zones and volunteers—working with the Geriatric Medicine Research Group and the Frailty & Elder Care Network—have conducted assessments using the validated 4AT tool. This work will continue again this year at participating sites.

By taking part in this global initiative, the team aims to improve early detection and management of delirium, support research that advances understanding and treatment, and reduce the impact of delirium on patients, families and the healthcare system

A World Delirium Day Awareness Day Poster is available to download and print for sharing with colleagues and teams.

Contact Erin.Catoul@nshealth.ca with any questions. Learn more about delirium.

Delirium Webinar

Presented by Nova Scotia Health Frailty and Elder Care Network, this free virtual session will cover:


• Understanding: What is Delirium?
• Recognizing: Tools for screening and assessment 
• Preventing: Interventions for acute care inpatient units
• Treating: Medical, social and environmental considerations
• Care planning: Document and communicate the plan 

🗓 Date: Mar. 10, 2026

🕚 Time: 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.

💻 Location: Virtual

Register here.

Call for Submissions: 2026 Quality Summits

Nova Scotia Health Quality Summits bring together employees, physicians, and patient and family advisors to celebrate and learn from quality improvement and patient safety initiatives from across the province.

The organizing team is now accepting submissions.

• To present at a Quality Summit, submit your storyboard through the QI Hub: Present at a Quality Summit. 

• To host a booth, please complete this form.

The deadline to submit for both is Friday, March 13.  

Dates and locations for this year’s summits will be announced soon, and registration to attend will open this spring. Please stay tuned for more information.

Dartmouth General Orthopedic Care Team Breaks Their Own Record

Two months after setting an Atlantic Canada record for joint replacements, a Dartmouth General (DGH) orthopedic surgery team broke their own record last Friday.

During the team’s third high-volume orthopedic surgery day since December, eight joint replacements were completed in a single operating room within the Fred Smithers Centre for Orthopedic Care. Read more.

New Medical Affairs Podcast: Civility in the Workplace

Michael Leiter, PhD is an internationally renowned expert on the psychology of work. He sits down with hosts Lorie Campbell and Verna MacDonald to discuss the importance of civility in the workplace and shares some basic, straightforward approaches physician leaders can employ to foster engagement, reduce burnout and promote respect among their teams.

Listen now on Spotify or Apple.


Learn more about Dr. Leiter's work 'Strengthening Civility in Healthcare Teams' by registering for his April 22 webinar, as part of Medical Affairs' Inspired Leadership for Physicians webinar series.

Physician Learning Opportunities

Webinar: Building High-Trust Cultures in Medical Practice with Dr. Kristen Woods

This session, featuring executive coach and family physician Dr. Kristen Woods, equips physician leaders with actionable strategies to foster trust within their teams. Grounded in the Trust Edge model, the webinar explores how trust directly impacts clinical outcomes, team collaboration and organizational performance.

🗓 Date: Mar. 4, 2026

🕚 Time: 5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.

💻 Location: Virtual (Zoom)

Register here.

Learn more about the session and Dr. Woods.

1-833-876-1724

If you're a physician seeking support for your practice or wishing to provide feedback, please reach out to our hotline. Our dedicated team is ready to assist you.

In the event we're engaged in another call, rest assured your voice message will be promptly addressed within one business day. Your concerns will be directed to the Medical Affairs team and our health system partners for resolution.

Our task force is committed to returning calls and scheduling meetings with practices at mutually convenient times.

Wellness resources for physicians have been migrated to an actively monitored page on the Physician Information Portal. You can access it here.

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