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.
| | November Is Diabetes Awareness Month | |
November is Diabetes Awareness Month, a time to highlight the importance of prevention, early detection and person-centred care for those living with diabetes.
This year’s World Diabetes Day theme, “Know more and do more for diabetes at work,” encourages all of us to raise awareness, support colleagues living with diabetes, and champion whole-person, integrated care across our workplaces and communities.
As we marked Diabetes Educator Day on November 5 and look ahead to World Diabetes Day on November 14, we recognize the essential role diabetes educators play across Nova Scotia Health. Diabetes educators provide support to individuals living with diabetes by delivering education, clinical expertise and individualized guidance. Their work is foundational to person-centred care and chronic disease management. Thank you to all diabetes educators for your continued dedication, knowledge and impact. Your contributions are valued and appreciated!
At Nova Scotia Health, Diabetes Centres across the province provide education, skill-building and follow-up support to help patients set and achieve their health goals. These centres are supported by the Diabetes Care Program of Nova Scotia (DCPNS), part of the Primary Health Care and Chronic Disease Management Network, which works to integrate diabetes prevention and management across NSH and IWK Health.
Learn more: Diabetes Centres and support for your patients
Share your story
In recognition of Diabetes Awareness Month, we’re looking for stories to feature in November across Nova Scotia Health News and the Compass.
We invite educators, teams and staff to share:
- Experiences living with diabetes in the workplace
- Ways your team is supporting individuals navigating diabetes at work
- Events or activities you’re hosting for Diabetes Month or World Diabetes Day
- Patient stories or healthcare experiences that highlight collaboration and impact
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Or any other diabetes-related stories you’d like to showcase
Do you have a story idea or a team you’d like to see featured? We’d love to hear from you! Please contact PrimaryHealthCare@nshealth.ca with your suggestions.
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The Diabetes Care Program of Nova Scotia, part of Nova Scotia Health’s Primary Health Care and Chronic Disease Management Network, has just released their first bi-annual diabetes care e-update. Created to share important information, resources and updates related to diabetes care, this e-update highlights the incredible work underway to strengthen diabetes care across Nova Scotia.
To view the full e-update, visit: https://conta.cc/48J95Hr
| | PACE Receives Innovation Award | | |
Congratulations to Nova Scotia’s Physician Assessment Centre of Excellence (PACE), this year’s recipient of the Innovation in Physician Assessment and Remediation Award from the Coalition for Physician Enhancement.
Read more about this honour on the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia website here.
| | Final Reminder: Nova Scotia Health Quality & Patient Safety Rounds: Earn 1.5 CME Credits | |
Nova Scotia Health Emergency Department Sepsis Improvement Package
Thursday, November 13
6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom
By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:
- Access and employ the Nova Scotia Health Emergency Department (ED) Sepsis Improvement Package (Scholar).
- Identify key changes ideas including ED sepsis care directive, order set, patient discharge summary, nurse/paramedic sepsis champions, sepsis kits, cognitive aids and more (Leader; Collaborator).
- Describe how Nova Scotia Health will monitor, track and react to performance data using a customized provincial audit plan and scorecard (Leader; Scholar)
- Recognize how Nova Scotia Health is leading on a complex system problem through co-design and improvement methods (Leader; Health Advocate; Collaborator).
Presenters:
- Dr. Vanessa Sweet, Anesthesiologist and Provincial Sepsis Co-lead
- Dr. Valerie Ross, Department Head, Emergency Medicine at Cobequid Community Health Centre
- Erin Leith, Director, Quality Improvement & Safety for Central Zone and Provincial Sepsis Co-lead
Register here. Full event details can be found here.
| | One Person One Record (OPOR) Program Updates | | |
Provider Portal: Your hub for all things OPOR
The Provider Portal is your one-stop shop for all things related to the One Person One Record (OPOR) implementation. It’s designed specifically to help physicians and nurse practitioners stay informed, connected and ready for what’s ahead.
Explore FutureFlow
FutureFlow is a series of provider-centric virtual demonstrations of key workflows and functionality in the OPOR-CIS. Using real patient scenarios, these demos give a practical preview to help you prepare for the CIS.
Please note: there are just four FutureFlows and one ‘Open Office Hour’ between now and Go-Live at IWK Health.
Meeting details:
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Sessions are Tuesdays 6:00–7:30 p.m. and Thursdays 12:00–1:30 p.m. until Dec. 4
- Join virtually via Microsoft Teams
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Invites were shared through IWK and Zonal Medical Leadership; contact CMIO@nshealth.ca if you don’t have one
Miss a session?
All FutureFlow demos are recorded. Catch up on any sessions you missed and explore topics that align with your clinical area. Check the full schedule and access recordings here.
Important OPOR Update for Radiologists and Radiology Residents!
Novari MIRM training for Radiologists and Radiology Residents will now be offered virtually!
These sessions will remain live, instructor-led and fully interactive, so participants can join in real time from home (via virtual desktop) or from their on-site workstation.
The Education and Learning Team will update the LMS postings to reflect this change and will reach out directly to those already registered.
| | Staffing Update: Appointment of Director of Physician Extenders | | |
Medical Affairs is pleased to announce the establishment of a new leadership role within their portfolio: Director of Physician Extenders. This strategic position has been created to develop a standardized, province-wide approach and structure to support physician extender roles and work collaboratively to optimize team-based care across our health system.
We are equally pleased to share that Lisa Bedford has been appointed as the successful candidate for this role, effective October 27.
Lisa brings more than two decades of experience in health services leadership, policy development and strategic planning. Most recently, she served as a key member of the Medical Affairs leadership team, where she led province-wide initiatives including the Provincial Physician Onboarding Team. In this role, she led the initiation and implementation of a fulsome onboarding experience for all new physicians recruited to the province. Her experience, to date, has spanned areas such as quality improvement, physician onboarding, collaborative practice development and health system transformation.
Lisa’s career includes leadership roles in Primary Health Care, the Department of Health & Wellness and the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia. She holds a Master of Public Administration from Dalhousie University, a Certificate in Human Resource Management from Saint Mary’s University, and is an EXTRA Fellow with a focus on frailty.
Please join us in congratulating Lisa on her new role and in supporting her efforts to advance physician extender integration and impact across our system.
| | Staffing Update: Medical Affairs | | |
Medical Affairs is pleased to welcome Chandrika Sanghi to the team as a Physician Onboarding Consultant. In this role, she will focus on ensuring a smooth and supportive transition for both international and domestic physicians as they begin their practice and settle into their new communities across Nova Scotia.
Before joining Nova Scotia Health, Chandrika worked at Mount Saint Vincent University as Manager, Alumni Engagement, where she supported a vibrant network of more than 40,000 alumni. During this time, she strengthened alumni connections through mentorship programs, professional development initiatives and community engagement opportunities.
Originally from New Delhi, India, one of the world’s most bustling cities, Chandrika moved to Halifax three years ago and earned her MBA from Saint Mary’s University. She loves the warmth, community spirit and easy pace of life that Nova Scotia offers.
Outside of work, Chandrika enjoys traveling, stargazing and exploring new cuisines (she’s a proud foodie at heart!). She’s currently a little obsessed with K-dramas, and her friends describe her as light-hearted, funny and deeply empathetic.
Chandrika is excited to contribute to Nova Scotia Health’s mission of enriching healthcare in the province—one successful physician onboarding at a time.
| | Nova Scotia Sisterhood Launch Party | | |
Join Nova Scotia Sisterhood for their official launch party! After more than two years since this program began, the Nova Scotia Sisterhood is simultaneously celebrating its inception and new clinic space at the new Dr. Maria Angwin Memorial – Wyse Road Health Clinic.
🗓 Date: Wednesday, November 12
🕚 Time: 2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
💻 Location: 230 Wyse Road, Dartmouth, NS
The Nova Scotia Sisterhood is a free program that welcomes women and gender-diverse individuals from the African Nova Scotian and Black community, aged 19 and older, to access culturally competent healthcare to improve their health and wellbeing.
The event will be a celebration with music, food and community members to recognize the important work taking place.
Attendees are asked register in advance here.
| | Physician Learning Opportunities | | The Medical Affairs Physician Learning, Development and Support Team is pleased to share upcoming opportunities designed to support all physicians and physician leaders in their growth and practice. To learn more and register for sessions, click here. | | |
Medical Affairs Webinar Series: Inspired Leadership for Physicians: Leading with Presence, Empathy and Purpose
December 9, 2025 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. (Zoom)
Understanding Moral Injury in Physicians with Dr. Muna Chowdhury
Moral injury refers to the psychological, emotional and spiritual distress that arises when individuals are forced to act—or are unable to act—in ways that conflict with their deeply held moral beliefs.
These ethically challenging decisions result in many physicians and healthcare providers, who are at the forefront of resource management, to experience moral distress. Repeated moral distress can result in moral injury. Moral injury is also closely associated with empathic stress and secondary trauma stress, which can exacerbate the psychological burden experienced by physicians and other healthcare providers.
Register for the webinar here.
| | Frailty & Dignity of Risk: Virtual Education Session | | Dr. Gerald Burns Memorial Lecture Series | | |
The Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation presents the 23rd Annual Dr. Gerald Burns Memorial Lecture Series, titled "Pressure Injury Prevention and Management: Interdisciplinary Innovations and Dartmouth General Hospital".
🗓 Date: Saturday, November 29, 2025
🕚 Time: 8:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
💻 Location: Brightwood Golf & Country Club, 227 School Street, Dartmouth, NS
Attendees will gain insight into:
- The latest initiatives and protocols developed to reduce the incidence and severity of pressure injuries
- Real-world outcomes and lessons from Dartmouth General Hospital's Interdisciplinary Pressure Injury Team
- Case-based discussions illustrating the impact of team-based approaches on patient care and recovery.
Disclaimer: This session will include the presentation of real patient cases, shared with full patient consent. As such, medical-grade images will be shown for educational purposes. Participant discretion is advised.
This session is part of the annual Dr. Gerald Burns Education Series, dedicated to advancing clinical excellence and interdisciplinary learning.
Register for this free session here.
This program is made possible through the generosity of the Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation and its donors.
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Dalhousie Global Mental Health
Guest Lecture Series
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Dalhousie University is pleased to present "Rural and Remote Psychiatry: How Canadian and Rwandan Psychiatry may have Global Reach and Relevance," as part of their Global Mental Health Guest Lecture Series.
Dr. Jack Haggarty
Psychiatrist; Professor and Former Chair of Psychiatry, Northern Ontario Medical School; Certified Physician Executive
🗓 Date: Friday, November 28, 2025
🕚 Time: 3:00 p.m..–4:30 p.m.
💻 Location: Online (Zoom)
Learn more and register here.
Registration closes at 5:00 p.m. on November 26, 2025.
| | Physician Wellness Resources | | | | |
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.
| | Physician Wellness Resources | | |
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.
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