February 1, 2024

The Emerging and Re-Emerging Infections Network, recognizing the need to optimize early treatment for influenza in high-risk Nova Scotians, have mobilized an Influenza Treatment Team as a pilot project focused on increasing access to influenza assessment and early treatment with oseltamivir.

Building on the success of a virtual collaborative team model for COVID treatment, the Influenza Treatment Team contacts ambulatory patients (1 year of age or older) testing influenza positive on PCR who do not have a primary care provider or patients tested in an Emergency Department for early influenza assessment and oseltamivir treatment. For more information, please review the attached memo. If you have questions you may email: InfluenzaTreatment@nshealth.ca.  The network can be reached at erinnetwork@nshealth.ca.

Download Detailed Memo

On Tuesday, government announced an update to YourHealthNS and a new pilot that will grant 12,000 patients across four clinics access to their patient records. The records will be available on the YourHealthNS app, where almost 200,000 Nova Scotians are already finding new ways to interact with the health system using their preferred technology.

The pilot is for patients over age 16 in the following clinics: New Waterford Collaborative Practice, Westville Medical Clinic, Greenwood Family Health, and Queen’s Family Health. Thanks to these clinics for their participation in the pilot.

The medical information included in this pilot include:

• Visits with primary care providers and virtual care appointments including date, time, and reason.
• Records from hospital stays or emergency visits including length of stay and discharge information.
• Details of medications they have been prescribed including name, dosage, and how long they should take the medicine.
• Results for diagnostic imaging and lab results seven days after the ordering provider receives them. These results include Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) scans with limited information such as date, body part, referring physician and treatment method, and blood, urine, and general lab tests.

Read full announcement here.

The policy reinforces the government’s support of publicly funded virtual health services as a complement to in-person care.

Notable updates

• Physicians may now use their best judgment to determine when an in-person and/or virtual appointment is most appropriate. The requirement that a majority of services must be delivered in-person has been removed from the policy.
• Note: Family physicians practising under the Longitudinal Family Medicine (LFM) model continue to be obliged to provide a majority of services in person as contracted under that model.
• Physicians may deliver care to their patients when the patient is out of the province. The requirement that the patient must be in Nova Scotia at the time of receiving a virtual service has been removed.
• Physicians may provide virtual services when they are out of Nova Scotia; however, they must be able to provide follow-up in-person care as required within a reasonable time. The requirement that the provider must be in Nova Scotia has been removed.
• Physicians may now bill a virtual visit and an in-person visit on the same issue. 

Maple provisions

• Private user–paid services: Services provided to Nova Scotians by a Maple provider as a private service fall outside of this policy.
• Public paid services: Maple providers offering services to Nova Scotians must have a contractual arrangement with Nova Scotia Health and must provide in-person follow-up visits.

Unchanged provisions

• The rate of pay for virtual services delivered by physicians remains at parity with in-person services.
• Walk-in clinics continue to be permitted to use virtual care.

More information

For more information, read the full policy online: Provision of Publicly Funded Virtual Health Services. 

As always, Doctors Nova Scotia’s E-health Advisors are available to answer questions and provide guidance:

Jyllian Cress

E-health policy advisor

902-830-2474

jyllian.cress@doctorsns.com

Brent Andrews

E-health advisor

902-225-8577

brent.andrews@doctorsns.com

Frailty and safety: need routine hospital care be so hazardous to our largest most vulnerable constituency?

NEW DATE: Wednesday, February 21

7:00 to 8:30pm via Zoom

By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

• Define frailty and explain the current discussions around it.
• Analyze why routine hospital care frequently poses safety risks to older individuals living with frailty.
• Discuss the ongoing and planned actions aimed at improving safety and care.

About the Presenter

Kenneth Rockwood, MD, FRCPC, FRCP, is Professor of Medicine (Geriatric Medicine & Neurology) and the Kathryn Allen Weldon Professor of Alzheimer Research at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. A member of the Senior Leadership team at Nova Scotia Health, he is the inaugural lead of the Frailty & Elder Care Network. Ken has key roles on numerous studies in Canada and elsewhere. In 1985 he received his MD from Memorial University in St. John’s, NL, completed training in Internal Medicine at the University of Alberta (1989), and in Geriatric Medicine from Dalhousie University (1991). He is a leading international authority on frailty.

Shifting from “Teach & Tell” to “Collaborate and Empower”: Creating a culture of self-management across the healthcare system through the Behaviour Change Counselling Development Program

Wednesday, February 7

7:00 to 8:30pm via Zoom

By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

• Identify key components of the 2024 Patient and Family Choice Quality Award Project
• Acquire an understanding of the Behaviour Change Counselling Development Program impact on Physician and NP improved competency and practice change.
• Comprehend the Primary Health Care Strategic culture shift to promoting Behaviour Change & Self-Management Support and how this may impact their practice settings.

About the Presenters

Jacklynn Humphrey is a registered dietitian at Nova Scotia Health (NSH) where she has most recently been working with the Primary Health Care and Chronic Disease Management Network to support the development and implementation of the Behaviour Change Counselling Development Program (BCCDP).

Jacklynn has worked as a registered dietitian for more than 25 years in a variety of settings including private practice, research, inpatient and outpatient clinical nutrition, cardiac rehab, and with the Community Health Teams. Jacklynn has a special interest in supporting behaviour change and worked closely with the Behaviour Change Institute at NSH as a peer leader. She has been recognized as a skillful clinician in supporting self-management and behaviour change. She works with primary health care providers to incorporate these skills into their daily work.  

Dr. Darya Kryzskaya is a family physician practicing in Upper Tantallon. She obtained her MSc and MDCM degrees from McGill University. In addition to her practice, she runs a small procedures clinic and holds a faculty appointment at Dalhousie University. She is also part of the Medical Council of Canada content development workgroup where she focuses on creating and editing content for qualifying examinations for Canadian and international medical graduates.

Heather Beaton has more than 20 years of experience working in Mental Health & Addictions and Primary Health Care Chronic Disease Management and Wellness teams at both IWK and Nova Scotia Health. As an OT she has filled the roles of Case Manager, Team Lead, Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator, Manager Primary Health, and Operations Consultant. She is a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor with the Mental Health Commission of Canada and Change Management Practitioner with ProSci. Heather is passionate about working with health care staff to create system change and supporting health behaviour change with Nova Scotians. She is the coordinator of the Behaviour Change Counseling Development Program which is the 2024 Patient and Family Choice Quality award winner. 

Pam Talbot has a Masters in Science (Community Health and Epidemiology) from Dalhousie University and recently used her skills to support the evaluation of the Behaviour Change Counselling Development Program (BCCDP).

Pam has worked as an epidemiologist with the Diabetes Care Program of Nova Scotia for the last 17 years and with the Primary Health Care and Chronic Disease Management Network for the last 2 years. Pam has a deep passion for turning data into information that can be used to tell stories. She works with colleagues across the health system to make information about health and the health system more accessible to a wide variety of audiences.

~ A message from Dr. Kenneth Rockwood, QEII Health Sciences Centre internist-geriatrician and clinician scientist, Frailty and Elder Care Network Co-Lead ~

In January, the Frailty and Elder Care Network was pleased to welcome the following guests:

• Dr. Amy Armstrong - EM Consultant with special interest in frailty, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and
• Dr. Elinor Burn - Geriatric Medicine Registrar, Leicester Royal Infirmary & BGS Frailty Fellow

They shared the results of a recent British Geriatric Society survey on front door frailty practices within the UK and outlined a recent BGS publication on the approaches to setting up front door frailty services - watch the presentation. This presentation is timely as the Frailty and Elder Care Network recognizes that implementing senior-focused best care practices in emergency departments will enhance hospital-wide and community-based standards of care for older adults, especially those living with frailty.

The Network is reviewing how this approach to older adult care can positively affect clinical care and the broader healthcare system and we look forward to learning from our UK colleagues that are leaders in this work.

For Catherine-Anne Murray and Kathryn Hominick, changing how people view risk is key to enhancing the quality of life of older adults.

Through their work in Geriatric Ambulatory Care at Nova Scotia Health’s QEII Health Sciences Centre Camp Hill Veterans Memorial Building in Halifax, Murray, an occupational therapist, and Hominick, a clinical social worker have witnessed a growing health concern among older adults living with frailty and dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Society of Nova Scotia, in 2020, there were an estimated 15,300 people living with dementia in Nova Scotia. The province is also expected to see an 87% increase in this number by 2050, which means 28,649 more Nova Scotians living with dementia.

In addition to their regular roles, Murray and Hominick have worked for many years to shift ‘risk culture’ and raise awareness about the concept of “dignity of risk” within healthcare and in the community. Their goal is to enable older adults to return home more often, return home sooner and remain at home longer by influencing attitudes and understanding among healthcare providers, caregivers and families about how to care for individuals with frailty and dementia.

Read more….

In Pictou County, a dedicated effort is underway to enhance understanding, inclusion and support for the Muslim community. Recognizing the significant number of doctors in Pictou County who follow the Muslim faith, the community organized Islam 101, a gathering to share valuable insights into Islam beliefs and practices.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tahmir (Tim) El-Tahan played a pivotal role in hosting the most recent Islam 101 presentation at the local mosque.

The focus was on the fundamental principles of the Muslim faith, covering aspects such as prayer, fasting during Ramadan and creating an inclusive space within healthcare settings. The event drew more than 30 attendees, including community council members, town councilors and representatives from various organizations. The gathering began with a meal featuring Middle Eastern cuisines, followed by a presentation and an engaging Q&A session.

To learn more about Dr. El-Tahan's journey to Pictou County and the Islam 101 initiative, click here.

The Halifax Sexual Health Centre recently announced the completion of a new mural in their waiting room. The mural is entitled "Connection" and was completed by Shannon Long with assistance from David Hamp-Consalves.

The mural was created as a celebration of more than 50 years as an organization. HSHC was officially founded in 1971 as the Metro Family Planning Association, and 2021 marked their 50-year anniversary. The pandemic made it difficult to host a deserving celebration back in 2021.

The mural is dedicated to Dr. Pam Brown, a founding physician of HSHC. In 1973, the Family Planning Association of Nova Scotia opened a small clinic on Gottingen Street, in an old bank vault with two physicians - Pam was one of them. Dr. Brown passed away in 2020 at the age of 87. Her passion for delivering inclusive and compassionate sexual health care and education despite political and social adversity lives on in the way we practice medicine at HSHC to this day.

The mural was funded by a generous donation from the physician team at HSHC.

To read the full press release and learn more the mural and Dr. Brown, click here.

As we continuously strive to enhance our work environment and well-being of our employees, we are excited to announce the launch of the 2024 Nova Scotia Health Pulse Survey.

How to participate

On January 30, 2024, you will receive an email from our internal Performance and Analytics team containing a unique link to the survey. The survey will be open from January 30, 2024 – February 20, 2024.

Why your input matters

We want to hear about your experience as physician – the positives and the challenges you face every day. This survey is not just about gaining insights into your experience, it is a chance for you to contribute to positive changes within our workplace.

In addition, by completing the survey, you will automatically be entered to win a $100 gift card or our grand prize of $2024. Your valuable input not only contributes to the improvement of our workplace but also gives you a chance to be rewarded for your feedback. Please note that the winners of the prize draws will not be announced publicly, but the confirmation of the draw completion will be provided.

Confidentiality and anonymity

Please be assured that any responses you provide will be kept completely confidential and will not be viewed by anyone. The survey responses will be sorted using employee identification numbers, which will allow us to sort the data by zone, site, and occupation. We want to assure you that all the survey data will be shared in a manner that protects everyone's privacy, ensuring that no one's answers are identifiable.

Once the survey is complete, aggregate/group responses will be reviewed by People Services senior leadership for discussion and action planning within the senior and executive leadership teams.

For more information

For more information about the survey, click here for FAQs. Real-time results of the response rate once the survey is launched will be available on SharePoint (only accessible to those with a NSH login).

The 2024 Nova Scotia Health Pulse Survey is an important part of our ongoing conversation, not a conclusion. Your feedback will provide front line insight, and we are committed to keeping you informed about the actions we take in response to your concerns. Transparency is paramount, and we will share the survey results in a way that ensures every employee and physician is well-informed and involved in the process.

The Nova Scotia Brotherhood Initiative is hosting its fifth Annual Men’s Health Conference, on Saturday, March 9 at the NSCC Akerley Campus.

This free all-day event (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.) is a safe space for black men to come together and talk about health and wellness as well as other relevant topics including mental health, financial wellness, career advice, spirituality, community building, healthy relationships, erectile dysfunction, human rights, and racism.

Click here to register for the conference.

Visit https://www.nshealth.ca/clinics-programs-and-services/nova-scotia-brotherhood-initiative-nsbi for more details and to download the conference poster.

For more information about the conference please contact Preston Trench: 1-782-641-5641 or email Preston.Trench@nshealth.ca.

You're invited to the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium on February 17 for the beloved annual fundraising event, this year supporting Chroma NB. Each Dalhousie Medical School student class will perform a skit, facing off for the coveted trophy.

To purchase tickets to this event:

Online: https://tickets.artscentre.dal.ca

Phone: (902) 494-3820 or 1 (800) 874-1669 (Atlantic provinces only)

Dalhousie Arts Centre Box Office hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 12:00pm-6:00pm

Nova Scotia Health team members had their research related to shared decision making in cardiac surgery published in the Canadian Journal of Surgery this month.

A formalized shared decision-making process with individualized decision aids for older patients referred for cardiac surgery.

Congratulations to team members:

• Ryan Gainer, MSc
• Karen Buth, MSc
• Jahanara Begum, MSc
• Greg Hirsch, MD

You can learn more about their work here.

Can J Surg 2023 January 3;

67(1). doi: 10.1503/cjs.004922

Our Medical Affairs team is growing. This is a new section that will introduce the Medical Affairs team members each week so that physicians can see the many people contributing to a better organization for you.

~sharing on behalf of Chiedza Chigumba, Manager, Physician Recruitment

As our Physician Recruitment team continues to expand, I am happy to make the following team announcements:

Isha Seth has transitioned into a new role as the Physician Recruitment Consultant focused on supporting Specialist Recruitment in the Central Zone. Isha joined the team at the end of June, 2023 in a role focused on international medical graduate recruitment for specialists. She has built strong partnerships with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the College of Physicians and Surgeons Nova Scotia; she thus has a keen understanding of the various specialist licensure pathways including the new Practice Eligibility Route. She is also familiar with the general requirements for supervision of Defined License physicians and can provide support to departments that would like to learn more. This is a new role on our team that would have Isha working with Medical Leadership to help fill high needs specialist positions in the Central Zone.

Isha came to us from the Department of Medicine, Central Zone where she was the Project Manager of Communications and Strategic Planning and previously an Education Coordinator for the Dalhousie University Internal Medicine Residency Program. Prior to joining NSH, Isha worked in commercial banking and wealth credit management for a large Canadian bank. Isha’s past work experience in the U.S. includes medical association management, including international membership development and operations, and public relations. Isha completed a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master of Arts Degree in Journalism and Communication from The Ohio State University. Isha is fluent in English, Spanish, and Hindi. She lives in Halifax with her husband, Sachin.

Pragna Kodali has joined the Physician Recruitment Team in a provincial role as a new Physician Recruitment Consultant focusing on international medical graduate recruitment. Pragna (she/her) is a spirited professional with a diverse background that has shaped her into the dedicated individual she is today. Born in India, Pragna’s formative years were spent in Kuwait, where she lived for 12 years before making Nova Scotia her home in 2014.

Pragna's educational pursuits reflect her passion for both science and policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology and Economics from Dalhousie University, laying the foundation for her understanding of the intricate connections between healthcare and economic dynamics. Building on this, she earned a Master's degree in Health Policy from Indiana University, solidifying her commitment to making meaningful contributions to the healthcare sector. Pragna's early aspirations were deeply influenced by her upbringing in a family of physicians and surgeons. With an initial dream of working in public health dentistry, she navigated toward her current role with a steadfast determination to contribute to the well-being of communities.

Pragna's childhood dreams once involved aspirations of becoming an astronaut, fueled by her adventurous spirit. She even attended a simulated NASA space camp at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, only to discover that freeze-dried food wasn't quite to her liking. While her career path may have taken a different trajectory, the experience left an indelible mark on her adventurous spirit.

Although Pragna is relatively new to her current role in recruiting for Nova Scotia Health, her journey began with an impactful internship, where she fell in love with the intricate world of healthcare consulting. Her favorite aspect of the job is the opportunity to collaborate with individuals from diverse backgrounds, bringing a wealth of perspectives to the table and sharing her love for Nova Scotia with the Physicians she connects with.

1-833-876-1724

Thanks to those who have called our support line already. Our task team is working to return calls and book meetings with practices at times that are mutually convenient.

If you are a physician looking for support with your practice, or want to provide feedback on any issue, please call the hotline. Our team is standing by to take your call. If we are on another call, we will respond to all voice mail messages within one business day and your file will be directed to the working group for resolution by Medical Affairs and our health system partners.

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.