One Person One Record (OPOR) program update | | |
Are you part of Wave One OPOR Training?
Wave One of the One Person One Record 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 who is cross-credentialled and has privileges at IWK Health, you must complete Wave One training.
Why it matters:
Between December 6 and January 31, if you’re on call or consult for your division, you could be asked to provide care for an IWK Health patient. Without OPOR training, you won’t receive login credentials and will be unable to document, place orders, or access patient information.
What to do:
- If you’re reasonably certain you’ll need access, register for the applicable course on LMS as soon as possible.
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Only register now if you’re likely to provide care during this period. (Central Zone training begins in February 2026 with a training environment tailored for Nova Scotia Health clinicians.)
- Need guidance? Contact OPOREducation-GL1@nshealth.ca or reach out to your division/department leadership to discuss your situation.
How to register:
- Find available classes on LMS. A step-by-step guide and Provider Guide (with course numbers) are available here.
- For help, email OPOREducation-GL1@nshealth.ca or book Office Hours through OPOR Classroom Registration Support.
- Classroom sessions include personalization time — you’ll log into the live domain and use Dragon Medical One (yes, everyone gets DMO!).
| | Health Beyond Hospital in the Health Neighbourhood | | |
The Health Beyond Hospital (HBH) initiative and the Health Neighbourhood model are two of Nova Scotia’s most ambitious health system transformations. HBH focuses on enabling smoother, safer transitions from hospital to home, while Health Neighbourhoods envision locally connected teams of care built around prevention, equity and community.
On August 27-29, 2025, more than 60 participants, including patients, caregivers, frontline providers, system leaders and community partners, engaged in an intensive co-design sprint. The purpose of the workshop was to create a shared vision for how HBH can be delivered within the Health Neighbourhood.
Learn more about Health Beyond Hospital and the Health Neighbourhood workshop.
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Naloxone: Administration, Training, and Take Home Kit Distribution – Policy – IWK 4.75 NSHA MM-MS-030 has been revised. Please share this memo with your teams.
Highlights for this newest version include:
- Direction for Team Members who:
- Have completed the required training to administer Naloxone, and/or
- Train others in the Nova Scotia Take Home Naloxone (THN) Program, and/or
- Distribute Take Home Naloxone Kits
- Competency requirements:
- Team Members must acquire and maintain competency as part of their role.
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Team Members wanting to have training to carry a Naloxone Kit (as part of their role) can do so by seeking support from their immediate supervisor/manager and reaching out to the Take Home Naloxone Program (nsnaloxone@nshealth.ca), Pharmacy (at IWK), or a trained Team Member.
- According to Nova Scotia law:
- Anyone is allowed to administer Naloxone.
- Naloxone from a Naloxone Kit may be administered without an order.
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Locum Coverage for your time off:
submit your request today!
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Thinking about taking some well-deserved time off this fall or winter?
If you already have vacation planned and need locum coverage, now’s the perfect time to submit your request.
Simply complete the online form, and our Locum Recruitment Consultant, Liz Fraser, will create and share a posting on your behalf with potential candidates; including graduating residents seeking locum opportunities before starting their own practices.
Locum coverage isn’t just for the summer, its available year-round, and many residents are interested in short-term placements this fall and winter. Submit your request early to help secure coverage.
Questions? Contact Liz Fraser, Physician Recruitment Consultant, at locumsupport@nshealth.ca
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Physician Champions Needed!
Are you passionate about promoting physical activity in primary care?
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The Primary Health Care & Chronic Disease Management Network is seeking two to four family physicians to serve as Physician Champions for the Physical Activity Counselling Practice Support Program.
As a Champion, you’ll help update and re-accredit the program by:
- Reviewing and refining learning materials
- Participating in curriculum planning meetings
- Supporting CME accreditation
- Promoting the program within your networks
Physicians are compensated for their time and expertise. Interested? Contact PHCPracticeSupport@NSHealth.ca
Learn more about this and other Physician Champion opportunities here: Physician Champions Needed for Physical Activity Counselling Program | Information and Wellness Portal
| | 2024-2025 Annual Report of the Dalhousie University Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine | | The 2024-2025 Annual Report of the Dalhousie University Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine highlights key achievements, ongoing initiatives, and the collective efforts that continue to advance our clinical and academic work. Please click here or on the image above to read the electronic report. | | |
D&T Decisions from the
Drugs and Therapeutics Committee
| | View the latest D&T Decisions newsletter announcing recently approved policies and changes to the NS Health Hospital Formulary. Read it here. | | Action for Health Key Messages - Sept. 2025 | | | | |
The Action for Health key message document for June and July 2025 is available to share with your teams. The deck includes updates, news and announcements related to health transformation initiatives.
We welcome your questions and input by emailing the Health Transformation Office: HTO@novascotia.ca.
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Streamlined Measles Resources for
Nova Scotia Providers
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To support timely access to measles-related guidance, Public Health has streamlined its resources to help healthcare providers quickly find the information they need. These updates include new and consolidated documents that replace previous zone-based memos and earlier communications.
General Measles Information for Nova Scotia Providers
This updated document offers comprehensive guidance on vaccination, screening, testing, IPAC, and occupational health. Providers can use this resource to understand when testing or vaccination is recommended and to access other essential clinical details.
Measles Testing Pathways in Nova Scotia – Information for Healthcare Workers
This document consolidates all testing-related guidance into a single, easy-to-navigate format. It replaces the four zone-specific testing pathway memos, ensuring consistency and clarity across the province.
Measles Testing Options in Nova Scotia – Downloadable Infographic
Designed for quick reference, this one-page infographic summarizes the testing pathways and can be printed and posted in clinical settings. It helps providers identify appropriate testing options based on location and patient needs.
Access All Measles Resources
All updated measles-related materials are available on the ERIN Hub:
https://library.nshealth.ca/ERIN-Hub/Measles
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Compassion and Dignity in Care:
Join Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov in Sydney
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The Hospice Palliative Care Society of Cape Breton County, in partnership with Cape Breton University and MD Financial Management, is honoured to welcome Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov to Sydney on Thursday, October 16, for a full day of thought-provoking talks about compassion and dignity in care.
Dr. Chochinov is a global leader in palliative care; his groundbreaking work has transformed care for the dying and support for families.
Free daytime sessions open to physicians, healthcare professionals and students:
- Dignity in Care: The Human Side of Medicine
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Cape Breton University, Yvonne LeVert Room
- Why Being a Patient is a Hard Pill to Swallow
3 – 4 p.m. | NSCC Sydney Waterfront Theatre
Evening dinner and presentation – tickets on sale now:
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Intensive Caring and the Importance of Showing Up
6 – 8:45 p.m. | Cape Breton University, Yvonne LeVert Room
Click here to learn more and purchase a ticket.
| | 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. | | |
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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