QEII Halifax Infirmary Emergency Department is working with reduced space, which may lead to delays for those with less urgent concerns. Learn more here.
Nova Scotia Health has made changes to parking and the main entrance of the QEII Halifax Infirmary. Learn more.
Primary Healthcare Coordinators in Nova Scotia are working in Practice Facilitator roles to improve clinic operations and patient care by addressing inefficiencies and fostering a culture of collaboration. They work directly with frontline teams to support primary healthcare improvement and health home transformation, focusing on optimizing electronic medical record use, enhancing clinic efficiency, strengthening team collaboration, and improving access to care.
Vanessa Smith, a Primary Healthcare Coordinator working as a Practice Facilitater in the western zone, described her role as “multifaceted.” She collaborates with clinics to identify quick wins—small, impactful changes that can make a big difference. “A lot of clinics don’t have the time or manpower to address basic inefficiencies,” she said. “I work with them to improve efficiency through small changes, like creating custom templates or implementing batch billing systems.” In addition to these immediate improvements, Smith also supports larger, more complex projects aimed at driving long-term primary health care transformation, showcasing the wide range of her contributions.
Assisting clinics with how they store and maintain patient data is a foundational aspect of practice facilitation. By cleaning up and clearly identifying patient lists within electronic medical records, clinics can run accurate reports to better understand panel needs and use this information to optimize preventative care delivery for their patients. Smith explained, “This proactive approach enables teams to provide better preventative care, which can contribute to reducing unnecessary visits to the emergency department.”
The work of Smith and Practice Facilitators like her in western zone has had such an impact that monthly physician meetings now include time to share these success stories, with encouragement from Health Services Manager Jen Kelday. “Physicians have been so impressed by what they’ve learned from the Practice Facilitators, this is now a standing agenda item in our meetings. It’s a way to highlight real-life results and encourage others to explore what’s possible,” Kelday said.
Smith’s work with batch billing during flu season exemplifies the efficiency gains Practice Facilitators bring. “Previously, this process could take an entire day. With batch billing, it now takes 10 minutes,” Smith said. A clinic team impressed by this improvement shared their enthusiasm during a recent network meeting. One physician remarked how they had “no idea” such tools were available, describing this time-saving process as “jaw-dropping”.
Dr. Marni Goodman, Family Physician Network Lead for the Annapolis and Kings network, underscored the value of Practice Facilitators. “Our EMRs have many features that we don’t even know exist,” she said. “Facilitators not only show us how to use those features to improve workflow, but they also bring ideas from other clinics. They help us see what’s possible to make our days flow better and save us time.”
Smith stressed that every Practice Facilitator brings unique skills to the table, leveraging their strengths and those of their colleagues to find tailored solutions for each clinic. “We work as a team to ensure clinics get the right resources. It’s not just about what I can do, but about connecting them with the expertise they need.”
For Smith, the most rewarding part of her work is seeing clinic teams thrive after implementing changes. “It’s amazing to see providers and staff feel a lift in pressure. It opens them up to new ideas and possibilities they didn’t have time for before,” she said.
The work of Practice Facilitators showcases the power of collaboration and innovation in building stronger, more efficient practices—one quick win at a time.