Manav Dave is helping to improve healthcare efficiency in Nova Scotia. As a primary healthcare coordinator working as a practice facilitator in Nova Scotia Health's Eastern Zone, he focuses on optimizing workflows and technology to make it easier for primary healthcare providers to support their patients.
At Dr. Kingston Memorial Community Health Centre, Manav's expertise in electronic medical records has transformed the way the team operates. Josie Robinson, the centre’s community engagement and public relations manager, described the impact of his work. "Before, we were lost in a web of unorganized data. But Manav helped untangle it in a very short time."
When Manav first approached clinics, there was often some hesitation about how he could help. "At the start, there was some resistance, like, how could I be of help?" he said. Over time, Manav built trust by showing teams what he can do and demonstrating how other clinics have benefited from his expertise.
Once that trust was established at Dr. Kingston Memorial, Manav worked closely with the primary healthcare team to identify challenges and find solutions. One of his key contributions was creating a three-step tracking system for patient referrals to social programs such as fall prevention, estate planning, memory care and walking groups. "They wanted an efficient way to track social prescription referrals, so I developed a system that takes just three clicks to record everything within a patient’s file. Now, they can visualize and categorize data to see how many patients are engaging with different programs."
"Our system is now optimized to give at-a-glance updates of key data,” said Josie. “We can now quickly determine three key areas: prediabetic patients, inactive patients and social program referrals. This saves a lot of very valuable time for our primary healthcare practitioners." The clinic intends to use the data Manav helped track to apply for funding from provincial and federal grants, allowing the clinic to expand its services.
Beyond data tracking, Manav has introduced time-saving solutions for clinic operations. At another primary healthcare clinic, an administrator was manually recording no-show appointments into a third-party system, a time-consuming process. "She had to physically write down chart numbers and names, then re-enter them into another system. It was taking hours each week," Manav said. He developed a sidebar within the electronic medical record (EMR) that automatically tracked no-shows, allowing the administrator to instantly see all the necessary information without extra steps.
Manav believes that changing perceptions about technology is just as important as implementing new systems. Many healthcare providers see digital tools as obstacles rather than assets. "People who aren’t well-versed in technology often see it as a foe," he said. "I try to shift that perspective, to show them that technology is a friend that can make their jobs easier and improve patient care."
Originally from India, he earned a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering before coming to Canada to complete his master’s degree in computer science at St. Francis Xavier University. While studying, he worked in healthcare settings, first as an in-house security guard at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital and later as a psychiatric attendant in a Mental Health and Addictions inpatient unit. These experiences gave him insight into the challenges healthcare providers face and how technology could be used to improve efficiency. "I saw the technological gap in healthcare and realized I could contribute," he said.
His work has demonstrated how technology and healthcare can work together to improve patient outcomes. By taking the time to understand each clinic’s needs, he has introduced innovations that save time, improve patient tracking, and can even help secure funding for additional services. His efforts at Dr. Kingston Memorial Community Health Centre are just one example of how practice facilitators can drive real change.
Manav is quick to emphasize that his success has been a collective effort. "The team at Dr. Kingston Memorial Community Health Centre is really synchronized and efficiency-driven, especially Sherry Sampson, the director of the clinic, and Ashley MacDonald, the family practice nurse," he said. "I've also received tremendous support from Kyla MacNeil, the health services lead, and Jennifer Kendrick, my current health services manager. Practice facilitation is really a team effort!"
By building trust with clinic teams and understanding their needs, Manav bridges the gap between technology and healthcare delivery to ensure systems work for providers, not against them. Tailored solutions, such as custom dashboards and automated tracking tools, allow clinicians to spend less time on paperwork and more time focusing on patient care.
The work of practice facilitators directly enhances primary healthcare by improving efficiency, reducing administrative burden and streamlining workflows in clinics. "Manav is a tremendous asset and resource to have on the Nova Scotia Health Team," Robinson said. "We would encourage other healthcare teams to collaborate with him."
Photo of Manav Dave.
