One Person One Record (OPOR) program update | | |
OPOR training for wave one
Wave One of the One Person One Record (OPOR) implementation is just around the corner, launching at IWK Health on December 6. This includes the new provincial clinical information system (CIS) and Novari solutions.
If you’re a Nova Scotia Health physician with cross-credentials or privileges at IWK, you must complete wave one training.
Why it matters:
Between December 6 and January 31, if you’re on call or consult, you may need to support IWK patients. Without OPOR training, you won’t have login access to document, order, or review patient info.
What to do:
If you’re likely to provide care during this period, register now in LMS for the applicable course.(Central Zone training begins February 2026, tailored for Nova Scotia Health clinicians.)
Need help?
Email OPOREducation-GL1@nshealth.ca or book Office Hours via OPOR Classroom Registration Support
Training includes personalization time — you’ll log into the live domain and use Dragon Medical One (yes, everyone gets DMO!)
Don’t miss the latest OPOR monthly update!
Learn more about Data Migration and Archiving—and much more—in the latest OPOR Monthly Update on the OPOR Hub. It features a Program Leadership Update, a Spotlight on support models, and a CIS user journey on accessing support.
| | Lung Screening Program – Screening versus symptomatic pathways | | |
The Lung Screening Program is available in Central and Eastern zones with work underway to have it provincewide by early 2026. Because it is only available in two health zones, we have limited current promotion to word-of-mouth awareness and referrals by primary care providers. Thank you for your efforts in promoting the value of lung screening and for referring your patients who are at high risk for the disease.
In recent months, we have had a few people referred who were symptomatic. The Lung Screening Program (and all cancer screening) is for individuals who are asymptomatic. Learn more.
| | Do you call Yarmouth Regional or Roseway Hospitals regularly? | | |
Most telephone numbers at Yarmouth Regional (YRH) and Shelburne’s Roseway Hospital (RWH) will change October 21 to 22.
Both YRH and RWH are moving to 10-digit dialing. The old four-digit extension numbers are being eliminated. This means you can dial YRH or RWH departments or programs directly, and not have to call the switchboard first and enter an extension number.
All new YRH telephone numbers will start with: (902) 746-_ _ _ _
All new RWH telephone numbers will start with: (902) 875-_ _ _ _
Staff inside YRH or RWH will not have to dial 902 first when calling from within their hospital. If you are calling from outside, and you can currently dial a YRH or RWH department directly with a 10-digit number, this number will likely not change. The next time you call YRH or RWH be sure to ask: “What’s your new telephone number?”
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It’s time to roll up your sleeve:
Annual staff flu vaccine campaign
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The annual staff flu vaccine campaign begins the week of October 20th, running until November 28, 2025.
There are many ways to get your flu shot:
- Find your on-site clinic schedule in your zone
- Check out the partner and pop-up clinic schedule
- Head to your local pharmacy or health care provider
If you receive your vaccine out in the community, it’s important to report your flu shot to Occupational, Health, Safety and Wellness (OHSW). If you as a provider immunize any Nova Scotia Health staff out in the community, please remind them to report their flu shot to OHSW. You must report your flu shot to be entered to win one of four weekly prizes of $200, courtesy of belairdirect! You will be automatically added to the contest if you receive your flu shot from the OHSW team.
You can find resources, including printable promotional materials and clinic schedules on the Stop the Flu page on the ERIN Hub.
Let’s fight the flu together!
| | National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) Fall Education Days | | |
The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) Fall Education Days tour is underway, visiting 11 hospital sites across Nova Scotia. These sessions, aimed at improving surgical outcomes and patient safety through data-driven insights, are open to all healthcare providers in perioperative care. Each zone is represented by a Surgeon Champion and a Surgical Clinical Nurse Reviewer (SCRN). We encourage surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and other staff to attend.
Learn more about the Fall Education Days Tour: Fall 2025 NSQIP Education Days | Information and Wellness Portal
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Canadian Patient Safety Week is
just around the corner!
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Get ready to celebrate Canadian Patient Safety Week (CPSW) with a mix of learning and fun! Explore the activities below to test your knowledge, spot safety issues, and join national conversations on safer care. Be sure to check out the full calendar of activities and webinars.
🎃 Trick or treatment game – spot the safety issue!
Play our interactive Trick or Treatment game on your computer or mobile device (best viewed on a larger screen). You’ll be shown eight care-related scenes, each containing one safety issue—see if you can spot them all! Once complete, you’ll receive a link to enter our prize draw. Winners will be randomly selected, contacted directly, and announced in NSH News.
Click here to play the game.
🩺 Patient safety trivia – test your knowledge!
Think you’re a patient safety expert? Try our interactive Patient Safety Trivia game! Answer a series of quick questions designed to challenge your knowledge and highlight key safety practices. Once you finish, you’ll receive a link to enter our prize draw. Winners will be randomly selected, contacted directly, and announced in NSH News.
Click here to play the game.
📢 Sign up for CPSW webinars
Don’t miss the upcoming webinars hosted by Healthcare Excellence Canada. These webinars will explore how safety is shaped not only by systems and policies, but also by the voices of those delivering, receiving and supporting care.
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October 28, 2025 – English-first webinar with simultaneous French interpretation👉 Register here
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October 30, 2025 – French-first webinar with simultaneous English interpretation👉 Register here
⭐Nominate a Patient Safety Champion
Patient Safety Champions are individuals or teams who demonstrate a genuine interest in safety. They’re respected by their peers for modeling Nova Scotia Health’s core values of patient safety in their work. Nominate an individual or a team by October 20, 2025 – deadline now extended! Nominees will be announced during Patient Safety Week, October 27 to October 31, 2025.
| | 2025 RCCI M. Andrew Padmos International Collaboration Award recipient | | |
Congratulations to Dr. Michael Rivers-Bowerman, interventional and diagnostic radiologist, Diagnostic Imaging, QEII and Assistant Professor, Diagnostic Radiology, Dalhousie University, who was awarded the RCCI M. Andrew Padmos International Collaboration Award in recognition of his dedication, leadership and collaboration in developing and advancing postgraduate medical education (PGME) and residency training in Guyana.
This award is given to a medical educator or leader of a team, program or department who shows exceptional leadership and excellence in advancing postgraduate medical education (PGME) and residency training outside Canada.
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Upcoming virtual education session:
Frailty and dignity of risk
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Presented by the Frailty and Elder Care Network
Join us for a free, virtual learning opportunity focused on supporting older adults living with frailty — while preserving their autonomy and dignity.
When: October 23, 2025 | 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Register for this event
Please print the following poster and place it in staff areas and share it with your colleagues and teams.
For more information about Frailty, visit:
| Frailty and Elder Care Network / Care Coordination Centre (C3) webinar recording now available! | | |
Thank you to everyone who attended the Frailty and Elder Care Network and Care Coordination Centre’s (C3) October 9 webinar – Data to Decisions: Leveraging Frailty Identification to Improve Patient Care!
Together, we explored how identifying frailty across healthcare settings and leveraging technology can unlock more personalized care and lead to better outcomes for patients. Missed the session? No worries—the recording 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. For more information about Frailty or C3, visit:
| | 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: Leading the way in trauma informed care
with Dr. Aaron Smith, Rachel Askett, Luke MacMillan and Matthew Fillier
October 22, 2025 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Understanding empathic strain, secondary traumatic stress, grief and burnout, and associated symptoms, can be a game changer in terms of how physicians interact with their teams, patients and colleagues. This session offers practical tips and strategies on how to conduct formal and informal debriefs, including practical tools and techniques to promote wellness in the workplace. It also equips participants with an understanding of trauma-informed care and its application in health care. The ability to recognize signs of trauma in patients, colleagues and oneself, allow for the application of appropriate, non-triggering interactions and responses.
Dr. Aaron Smith is a medical executive committed to improving health systems through innovation and continuous learning. He is also deeply focused on understanding the social determinants of health to foster more effective and equitable models of care. As the provincial medical executive director and operational lead for Primary Care Clinics and Health Homes, Aaron blends strategic leadership with active clinical practice in Hospitalist Medicine.
Rachel Askett is the wellness and education lead within Occupational Health, Safety, and Wellness. She works alongside the OHSW team to advance psychological safety within healthcare setting guided by the National Standard. Her approach to education is strengths-based and focuses on facilitating connections for knowledge sharing.
Luke MacMillan is the provincial wellness manager within Occupational Health, Safety, and Wellness at Nova Scotia Health. He oversees wellness initiatives across the province, leading efforts to improve occupational health and psychological safety for Nova Scotia Health staff & team members.
Matt Fillier is the bereavement practice lead, Primary Health Care, Palliative Care Network, NS Health. In this role, Matt has developed a Grief Practice Support Program for physicians, health staff and volunteers
Link to virtual meeting
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Apply by Oct. 20: Physician Leadership Development Program
Calling physicians with 3–5 years of leadership experience!
Enhance your leadership impact with Nova Scotia Health’s customized program featuring the Leadership Circle Profile™ (LCP). Limited to 24 physician leaders across the province.
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Program runs Jan 2025 – Jun 2026, sessions are scheduled in evenings.
- Hybrid model: in-person gatherings in Truro (dinner included) + virtual sessions
- ~30 hours total commitment
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Includes 360° assessment, group coaching, and peer learning
Earn up to 19.5 Mainpro+® Certified Activity and up to 4.5 Mainpro+ Certified Assessment Activity credits
📅 Apply by Oct 20, 2025
🔗 Submit your Expression of Interest here. Promotional flyer with more details is available here.
Questions? Contact lorie.campbell@nshealth.ca or verna.macdonald@nshealth.ca.
💡 When leaders transform, organizations follow.
| | 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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