November 13, 2025

New Diagnostic Imaging Modalities and Clinical Decision Support Coming to Ocean

Four additional Diagnostic Imaging (DI) modalities will be available in the Ocean electronic referral (eReferral) tool starting Monday, December 8, including:

• Computed Tomography (CT): Click here for tip sheet
• Interventional Radiology (IR): Click here for tip sheet
• Nuclear Medicine: Click here for tip sheet
• Fluoroscopy: Click here for tip sheet

Read the announcement for primary health care here.

Read the announcement for Nova Scotia Health specialists here.

These modalities build on the existing DI eReferral options for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound (US), and bone mineral density (BMD). This expansion supports more integrated digital referral pathways across Nova Scotia, improving access, transparency and coordination for patients and care teams.  

Starting November 18, referring providers who are using Ocean for DI eReferrals will have access to the Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR) Guidelines for Clinical Decision Support. This resource gives providers instant access to evidence-based guidance through a simple dropdown search. It will appear directly within the DI forms of the eReferral tool and supports appropriate test selection and improved patient care.  

Not using Ocean yet? Submit your onboarding request here for primary care and specialists.


For more information visit www.referralsns.ca. 

Provincial Home First Launches Videos & Campaign

The Nova Scotia Health Home First provincial initiative recently launched a 12-week public social media campaign, featuring three new videos. In the coming weeks, you may notice Home First messaging on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Google Search and Google Display. The goal of the campaign is to communicate to the public that research has shown that home or community is the best place to heal when the patient is medically able.

Teams are encouraged to include the videos in education and training opportunities, including orientation, onboarding of new hires and workshops. The videos can be found on the Home First healthcare providers site, as well as the patients and the public site. Direct links to Home First videos:

For patients, families and public

For healthcare provider education and training

The discharge tools on the provider site are there to help patients with a smoother, more thorough transition from hospital to the place they call home. The Home First Standard Work one-pager has been developed to assist clinical staff in understanding how to use the tools. Both the tools and the Standard Work document are currently being piloted at eight different sites. If you have any questions about the Home First tools or piloting, contact Phuong Nguyen at phuong.nguyen@nshealth.ca.

Town Hall: Nova Scotia Health Accreditation Update

Join the Accreditation Readiness Team for an important update on Nova Scotia Health’s accreditation process. Learn about key changes leading up to the next site visit, what to expect during the visit itself, and what these changes mean for our teams across the organization.

🗓 Date: Thursday, November 20

🕚 Time: 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

💻 Location: MS Teams (Recording will be available)

Topics include:


• Onsite Survey Visit Dates
• Program Updates Impacting Nova Scotia Health
• Global Workforce Survey Results

Join the MS Teams meeting here.

Click here to submit your question for the town hall. Form open until Friday, November 14 at 4:00 p.m.

Connecting the Dots with Falls Prevention Webinar

November is Fall Prevention Awareness Month. The Frailty and Elder Care Network invites you to join them for a webinar to explore the difference between fall precautions and fall prevention.

🗓 Date: Monday, November 24

🕚 Time: 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.

💻 Location: Online


During this session, participants will learn about modifiable risk factors and how we use clinical judgement to optimize care planning.

Register here.

One Person One Record (OPOR) Program Updates

Reminder: Are you part of Wave One?

If you work in Diagnostic Imaging or at IWK Health, you’re included in Wave One for the OPOR implementation — which includes the Novari Medical Imaging Requisition Management (MIRM) solution. Complete your mandatory training before the Dec. 6 Go-Live date. Visit the OPOR Education & Learning Hub for details and registration.

Need help? Email OPOREducation-GL1@nshealth.ca or book Office Hours through OPOR Classroom Registration Support.

Provider Corner: Your go-to hub for OPOR

Stay connected, informed, and ready with the Provider Corner—your hub for everything OPOR.


FutureFlow brings you live, provider-focused demos of OPOR-CIS workflows using real patient scenarios. Get a hands-on preview and see exactly what to expect before Go-Live at IWK Health. There are just four sessions left!


• Tuesdays from 6:00–7:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 12:00–1:30 p.m.
• Invites were sent via IWK and Zonal Medical Leadership. Didn’t get one? Email CMIO@nshealth.ca
  

All sessions are recorded. Watch what you missed or review topics that matter most to your role.

OPOR Roadshow planning underway for Central Zone  

Ahead of the May implementation of the OPOR-CIS across Central Zone, we’re gearing up for our next roadshows—and we couldn’t be more excited! 

A big thank you to our colleagues at IWK for the incredible engagement so far—it’s been inspiring to see everyone get involved. Expect plenty of OPOR swag, fun opportunities to take selfies after training, and a chance to see the system in action firsthand. 

Stay tuned for dates and locations. We can’t wait to see you there.

One Person One Record (OPOR) is a clinical transformation that will improve the delivery of healthcare for patients in our province. Regardless of where a patient accesses care, if they are adults or children, they will benefit from their care teams using consistent, standardized, best care practices, and having real time access to their health information. To learn more about OPOR, please visit the OPOR Hub for the latest information and resources.  

Doctors Nova Scotia Accepting Nominations: 
2026 Achievement Award

Nominate a deserving colleague for a 2026 Achievement Award through Doctors Nova Scotia. These awards are open to dedicated Nova Scotia physicians and medical learners at every stage of their career. Nominations are open until December 1. More information can be found here.

GNS Seeking Input:

Supported Decision-Making Model

The Nova Scotia Government is exploring options for recognizing a supported decision-making model that allows adults to make important decisions while also getting help from someone they trust. The help could include finding and understanding information, thinking through options, and sharing decisions with others.

You can provide your input two ways:

1. At an in-person or virtual session between November 4 and December 12, 2025. To find a date and time that works for you, please register here.
2. By sending us your thoughts in writing, video or audio by completing this form and uploading a file with your feedback.

We are hoping to hear from as many Nova Scotians as possible. Please share this opportunity widely with your contacts including colleagues, partners, clients, participants, and patients. If you know an adult and their representative with a representation plan under the Adult Capacity and Decision-making Act, please encourage them to share their ideas and perspectives.

In-person and virtual sessions are being led an external consultant, Research Power Inc., and are available to:

• Adults who use or may use supported decision-making
• Families, caregivers, and appointed representatives
• Government representatives and service providers for government programs (e.g., Disability Support Program, Continuing Care)
• Healthcare professionals, associations, and organizations
• Lawyers and legal experts
• Other organizations that work with people who may benefit from supported decision-making (e.g., community-based service providers, advocacy organizations)

For more information on this opportunity to have your say please visit: https://novascotia.ca/supported-decision-making-engagement/

For additional support to participate or questions, please reach out to: 1-800-961-1779 or engagement@researchpowerinc.com.

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.