From November 20–22, our Network team hosted an in-person Core Practice Facilitator (PF) Training session in Central Zone with approximately 35 participants, including new and experienced PFs, Operational Leaders, and system partners. Over 2.5 days, attendees explored the role of PFs in supporting Primary Health Care providers and advancing health home maturity.

This fourth cohort brings the total number of trained participants to nearly 90, strengthening PFs’ ability to collaborate with providers and drive primary care improvements.

To learn more or connect with a PF in your area, email PHCpracticesupport@nshealth.ca.

Above is a group photo of attendees and a word cloud reflecting their feelings post-training, showcasing the event’s energy and collaboration!

Did you know our Primary Health Care Coordinators working as Practice Facilitators now offer tailored in-practice support to primary healthcare teams? To highlight their incredible work, we continue our profile series that will introduce you to our Practice Facilitators across the province. This week, we are shining a light on Charlotte Green, a Practice Facilitator in the Northern Zone, and Vanessa Smith, a Practice Facilitator in the Western Zone.

Charlotte Green is a Practice Facilitator in Nova Scotia Health’s Northern Zone, dedicated to helping clinics streamline processes and improve patient care through practical, collaborative solutions.

Curious about the impact Practice Facilitators can have? Discover how Vanessa Smith, working in Western Zone, implemented a simple change that left one clinic with their 'jaws on the floor'!

Physician co-facilitators Dr. Darya Kryzskaya (left) and Dr. Jamie Johnstone (right) 

The Behaviour Change Counselling Development Program is an evidence-based initiative empowering healthcare providers to support patients in achieving meaningful health changes. Designed to align with the chronic disease management and wellness strategy for primary healthcare, this program offers three streams tailored for different healthcare providers and staff.



Participants gain practical skills through self-directed modules, live practice workshops, and action periods, building confidence to promote self-management and healthier behaviours among Nova Scotians.

As a testament to this program's impact, it was the recipient of the Patient and Family Choice Award winner for the 2024 Nova Scotia Health Quality Awards!

Click the button below to meet the physician co-facilitators, read more about the program’s impact, and learn how to register.

Practice support aims to assist primary care providers and teams to deliver the best possible care to Nova Scotians.

One of the primary ways we support this is through program offerings with topics such as Behaviour Change Counselling Development, Mental Health First Aid, and Adult Mental Health.

Click the button below to view a PDF of our upcoming program offerings for Winter 2025 and learn how these programs can support you.

This Winter, the Primary Health Care and Chronic Disease Management Network will host the next session of the Adult Mental Health Practice Support Program. Designed to build skills and confidence among primary care providers and teams, this program focuses on caring for patients with mild to moderate mental health concerns. Participants will benefit from peer-to-peer learning, coaching, and connections to community resources, all delivered virtually via Zoom.

Certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for 37.5 Mainpro+ credits, the program includes a pre-module meeting on January 8, followed by learning sessions on January 15, February 26, April 9, and May 21. One scheduled coaching call will also be offered during the 20-week program.

We’ve heard from team members that keeping up with all the resources needed to support accurate physician billing can be a challenge. To help bridge that gap, we’ve curated the Billing Practice Support Toolkit—a convenient collection of tools, resources, and on-demand learning materials designed to make accurate billing easier.

Know of other resources to add to our list? Please email us at PHCPracticeSupport@nshealth.ca

The Fostering Self-Management through YourHealthNS guide equips you with practical strategies to incorporate YourHealthNS into your practice, empowering patients to take a more active role in their health. By fostering self-management, the guide helps enhance patient-provider communication and supports better health outcomes.

Inside, you’ll find tips on encouraging app usage, reviewing health records during consultations, and helping patients understand their health information. It also provides resources for primary health care teams, including practice facilitators and technical support, to ensure seamless implementation and meaningful patient engagement.

New Resource: HealthyNS Promotional Materials

Check out the new HealthyNS tab featuring the new posters and materials for the Winter session in one convenient spot. Share them with your patients or print and display on walls to promote HealthyNS offerings. Explore the resource and feel free to contact HealthyNS with any questions HealthyNS@nshealth.ca

The Primary Healthcare team created the video “What is self-management?” to encourage conversations about self-management and the resources available to Nova Scotians. We encourage you to share it within your practice, groups, or patient materials. If you’d like to use it or need the original file, please contact primaryhealthcare@nshealth.ca.

To find out more information about what supports are available to you, reach out to your local Primary Healthcare leader or contact our team at PHCPracticeSupport@nshealth.ca.