A new way to move patients faster: Introducing the C3 provincial Transfer Hub

Nova Scotians are experiencing faster, smoother patient transfers between hospitals   thanks to a new province‑wide approach that puts people at the centre of the system.

Since the launch of the provincial Care Coordination Centre (C3) Provincial Transfer Hub in July 2025, teams across the province are working together in new and more connected ways to help patients get the care they need, when and where they need it.

The impact is clear. The Transfer Hub has supported more than 3,200 additional patient transfers, including a 16 per cent increase in after-hour transfers, helping people get the care they need sooner.

By quickly identifying issues and connecting the right people at the right time, the Transfer Hub has helped streamline co-ordination and reduce delays in patient flow.

Corry Fitzgerald, director of C3, says the Transfer Hub has made a meaningful impact on patient transfers across the province.  

“The Transfer Hub has filled a critical gap by providing a dedicated team that can efficiently co-ordinate transfers directly with EHS. This allows our frontline staff to focus their time where it matters most, caring for patients, rather than managing phone calls. We have an EHS staff member working directly within our Transfer Hub and this has strengthened our partnership, enabling faster, more effective communication than ever before.”

The team co-ordinates closely with frontline staff, zone-based C3 teams, and Emergency Health Services (EHS).  

Their goal is simple: improve transfers for staff, families, and most importantly, for patients.

One of the team’s most significant accomplishments has been supporting 586 repatriations (July 2025–November 2026). A repatriation is the transfer of a patient back to their home hospital or community after receiving specialized care at another hospital. It is an important role in helping people recover where they feel most supported.

“Patients want to be closer to home and closer to their families,” said C3 senior director Andrea Muenster. “We saw that transfer co-ordination was an area where we could do better. We’ve created a team that hasn’t existed at Nova Scotia Health before, and it’s already making a meaningful difference.”

C3 has also upgraded its technology to give frontline staff real-time visibility into transfers. Transfer activity now appears directly in C3 technology, allowing staff to see when a patient transfer is booked and when EHS will be arriving to pick up patients. With all updates visible in one place on the C3 platform, teams can stay informed instantly and respond more efficiently.

From the start, patient flow operations leader Katou Gabanna has helped guide the new team as they built it from the ground up.

“Patient transfers may look simple on paper, but they require co-ordination across provincial zones, hospitals, various EHS transport resources and levels of care, weather conditions, bed capacity and many other moving pieces. The Transfer Hub brings all of that together so we can make smarter decisions and keep patients moving safely through the system,” said Gabanna, reflecting on the progress made so far.

The C3 Transfer Hub is demonstrating what’s possible when teams innovate and collaborate with the focus being on patients and their families. By reducing delays, improving communication and simplifying processes, the Hub is reshaping the transfer experience for people across Nova Scotia.

And this is only the beginning. C3 continues to refine processes, strengthen partnerships, and develop new tools with one mission in mind: getting patients where they need to be, when they need to be there. 

Photo of (L-R) Katou Gabanna, Darcie Bellefontaine, Caleb Nanji.