May 21, 2026

Dear colleagues,


We are nearing the end of week two of the OPOR-CIS implementation in Central Zone and Mental Health and Addictions sites. At this stage, our top priorities are stabilization and patient care, and that’s where we’re putting our focus. Please continue to access available supports, log tickets and know that your efforts are seen, matter and are making a difference.

Sincerely,
Nicole

One Person One Record (OPOR) Program Updates

OPOR Updates This Week at a Glance:

• Log tickets early if something is not working properly
• Access supports: CIS Virtual Assistant, Provider Corner, Peer Mentors and more
• Quick tips video for documenting workflows - m-pages
• Reminder to Providers Referring to Medical Oncology or Radiation Oncology
• Change requests and system optimization
• Upcoming training sessions
• Information for Western, Eastern and Northern Zones

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.

Ticketing is critical
If you have exhausted efforts with your At-the-Elbow (ATE) and Peer Mentor supports, and feel there is a system issue, you must log a ticket. 


Ticketing is critical to help identify patterns and wide-spread issues. Always provide plenty of details when you log a ticket (e.g.: what issue is, what screen you are on, what you are attempting to do, etc.) MRN are critical so our OPOR colleagues can retrace steps in the CIS. Wherever possible, insert a screenshot with PHI removed or fully obscured of course. Please do not email OPOR team members instead of logging a ticket, as requests can be missed. Logging a ticket ensures proper tracking and follow-up.

• Log a ticket through CIS HELP, choosing the “something isn’t working – report and incident” tile.
• To view change notifications and updates, visit the OPOR Hub.

Physician Supports

There are a number of supports available to physicians for questions related to the CIS, including the CIS Virtual Assistant, accessing information through Provider Corner, connecting with a Peer Mentor or taking advantage of At-the-Elbow (ATE) supports.

Throughout this week, some support structures began transitioning to prepare units for steady state. This means user support options are evolving:


• At-the-Elbow (those wearing purple vests on-site and remotely) will continue to be available.
• Adoption Coaches (the support teams in grey vests) will begin transitioning out near the end of the week.
• Oracle Health colleagues are no longer on-site.
  

As always, please use the CIS Help site to log IT tickets when necessary, look for people in purple for on-site support, and call 902-473-3399 or 1-866-224-2555 for remote ATE support.


Tips and Tricks - Using m-page for dynamic documentation

Dr. Ashley Miller, CMIO, developed this tips and tricks video for anyone looking to enhance their knowledge and use of m-pages for dynamic documentation. Access the video here.

Reminder for providers referring to medical oncology or radiation oncology

Cancer Care Program leaders are reminding providers that medical and radiation oncology do not have inpatient consultation services. All referrals to medical oncology and radiation oncology must continue to be submitted using the Cancer Care Program Referral Form. If you need urgent advice, please contact the oncologist on-call.

Change Requests and System Optimization

The OPOR Program has a robust governance process in place to process change requests. While some changes will be made during implementation, many will be included as part of the optimization phase once the CIS is fully implemented across the province.

All system changes have provincial impact, including IWK Health, and require alignment across zones and organizations. Changes related to patient safety or regulatory requirements are prioritized while we are still implementing the system.

Change requests are categorized using the following prioritization framework:

1.     Patient Safety

2.     Regulatory

3.     Optimization aligned with system priorities with system-wide impact

4.     Optimization with care area impact (i.e. site or division)

5.     Optimization with individual impact

Care area and individual impact changes will not be considered until the system is fully implemented.

Change requests can be made through the CIS Help website. If they are not related to patient safety or regulatory requirements, they will be kept for optimization.

These priorities reflect system build changes. In the meantime, if you are looking to improve efficiency, we encourage you to explore personalizations. Please visit the OPOR Hub for more details.

Upcoming training sessions

A schedule of high-demand classes is available on the Training Registration Portal through May 30. Offerings for June and July will be posted soon, and planning has already begun for the resident cohort in July. Please view the guide for more information.

Western, Eastern and Northern Zones

Thank you to everyone who has supported the OPOR-CIS rollout in Central Zone. Your generosity will be returned when the CIS is implemented in your area.



If you haven’t already signed up for Provider Portal, now is a great time to do so. Provider Portal provides you with read-only access to patient records within the CIS, including those of patients from your zone receiving care in CZ. 


More information on the next implementation will be shared soon.

Virtual Hallway: Quick & Secure Access to Specialist Advice

Virtual Hallway is a secure platform that connects primary care providers with specialists for brief, structured phone consults. It’s a quick way to get timely input on patient care, clarify next steps and, in some cases, avoid a formal referral. Specialists across a wide range of clinical areas are actively available for consults, with the goal of supporting primary care providers across Nova Scotia.

You can learn more or get started here: Virtual Hallway

Upcoming Virtual Education Session: 
Frailty & Dignity of Risk

The Frailty and Elder Care Network invite you to join them for a free, virtual learning opportunity focused on supporting older adults living with frailty, while preserving their autonomy and dignity.

🗓 Date: June 18, 2026

🕚 Time: 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

💻 Location: Virtual

Register here

This poster can be posted in staff areas and shared with teams.

Nova Scotia Health Service Awards

People are the heart of what makes Nova Scotia Health truly exceptional. As ambassadors of healthcare in Nova Scotia, you carry this impact far beyond your workplace, representing Nova Scotia Health with pride where you live and work.

Nova Scotia Health's long service awards were paused to allow for a review and alignment of service data across legacy organizations following the amalgamation of the District Health Authorities into Nova Scotia Health.

This year, we proudly celebrate more than twelve thousand employee and physician recipients reaching significant career milestones (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and beyond). We're bringing the celebration to you, with events taking place at multiple sites across the province – giving you time to drop in, connect with colleagues and collect your award. Recognition events will take place across Eastern Zone, Northern Zone and Western Zone in June, and across Central Zone in September. More information, including a schedule of events, can be found here.

Thank you to everyone who chooses a career with Nova Scotia Health. Your commitment to caring for patients and contributing to the health systems our patients and families across the province deserve is remarkable and deeply valued.

Two New Canadian Certified Physician Leadership Executives

Two Nova Scotia Health physician leaders recently earned the Canadian Certified Physician Executive (CCPE) designation through the Canadian Society of Physician Leaders (CSPL): Dr. Tim Mailman and Dr. Christine Short.


The Canadian Certified Physician Executive (CCPE) credential recognizes and advances physician leadership and excellence through a national, peer-generated, standards-based assessment process. Physicians who earn the designation have demonstrated that they have the leadership capabilities, knowledge and skills needed to succeed – and to direct, influence and orchestrate change in Canada’s complex healthcare system. The designations were conferred to Drs. Mailman and Short at last weekend’s Canadian Conference on Physician Leadership in Montreal.


Dr. Mailman serves as Senior Medical Director, Nova Scotia Health Provincial Diagnostic and Therapeutics Network; Interim Department Head, Eastern Zone Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; and Division Head, Medical Microbiology at IWK Health.


Dr. Short's leadership includes her role as Clinical and Academic Head of the Department of Medicine at Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Health, as well as Senior Medical Director, QEII Redevelopment Project, Nova Scotia Health.

“This designation represents a significant milestone, recognizing their advanced leadership expertise and dedication to excellence in healthcare management and system improvement,” said Constance LeBlanc, Incoming President of the Canadian Society of Physician Leaders (CSPL) and Professor and Director of Education, Department of Emergency Medicine, Dalhousie University.

Congratulations, Drs. Mailman and Short!

Physician leaders are encouraged to consider obtaining this designation. Nova Scotia Health medical leadership and other CCPEs are ready and willing to help you achieve your certification. More information about the program can be found here. If you have any questions about this program, please reply to this newsletter.

Nova Scotia Health Welcomes (Home!) New Medical Residents

The Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) is a rite of passage for medical students, matching students into postgraduate medical training programs across Canada.  


Regan Barry and Laura Pickett are two Canadian students studying abroad who are now returning home to the Maritimes, thanks to successful matches in rural family medicine through Dalhousie University. The newly minted physicians join their teams on July 1. Read more about their journey and what they're most excited about.


We’re excited to share this story as part of our Rural Week round-up. Rural Week takes place from May 25-29 – a time for first-year medical students spend time in rural communities across the Nova Scotia learning about rural healthcare, family medicine and community life. 

Dalhousie Preceptor Recognition Reception - June 8

Are you a preceptor to Dalhousie Faculty of Health students or interested in becoming a preceptor? If so, please join them for their Preceptor Recognition Reception.

🗓 Date: June 8, 2026

🕚 Time: 4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

💻 Location: Collaborative Health Education Building (CHEB), Room 170

Refreshments will be served.

The event will include remarks of gratitude from Dr. Brenda Merritt (Dean, Dalhousie University Faculty of Health), Dr. Krista Jangaard (President & CEO, IWK Health) and Dr. Ben Tait (Executive Director of the Dal Centre for Learning & Teaching).

Guest speakers will including students, who will share the importance of preceptor relationships for teaching and learning. If you or someone you know is curious about becoming a preceptor, this event is a great opportunity for you to learn more!

The Faculty of Health wants to say thank you to all our wonderful preceptors. We are so grateful for your time, attention and skills.

Physician Learning Opportunities

Leading Through Coaching: A full day, in-person program

Does it feel like your job has become fixing everyone else's problems? Do you carry the unspoken pressure to always have the answers?

Leading Through Coaching is a full-day, highly interactive, in-person session designed to help you make the shift from directing to coaching. You’ll learn practical coaching conversation techniques you can use immediately to strengthen communication, develop your people, and unlock your team’s potential—without adding more to your already full plate.

Sessions are facilitated by Nova Scotia Health Medical Affairs' Executive Coaches Lorie Campbell and Verna MacDonald and are available by request. A poster with more information can be found here.

For more information, please contact:

Tanya Lush, Director, Physician Learning, Development & Support

tanya.lush@nshealth.ca

This activity meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been certified by Dalhousie University Continuing Professional Development and Medical Education for up to 2.75 Mainpro+® Certified Activity and up to 3.25 Mainpro+ Certified Assessment Activity credits.

This activity is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) and an Accredited Self-Assessment Program (Section 3) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and approved by Dalhousie University Continuing Professional Development and Medical Education. You may claim a maximum of 2.75 Section 1 hours and 3.25 Section 3 hours (credits are automatically calculated). 

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.

If you have an item to submit, please reply to this newsletter.