For people without a doctor, pharmacy-based primary care in Nova Scotia is turning out to be a game-changer.

“It’s a Godsend,” says Lower Sackville resident Judy Gard. “We figured we won the jackpot.”

Pharmacist-led clinics are offering Nova Scotians a faster, easier way to talk to a healthcare professional, and to treat common illnesses and manage chronic conditions.

Gard says: “We were lucky to have a doctor for many years. But when he retired, I was really afraid. I didn't want to go to the ER and take a seat in there and wait for hours.”

Seventeen years ago, when Suzanne Baker began her career in fall prevention, both her mother and grandmother had fallen and had broken hips.

“I watched them throughout their journey to recovery and saw the impacts that falls have on patients, their families and staff,” said Baker, the clinical coordinator of Falls Prevention in the Western Nova Scotia Health.

Falls account for at least 40 per cent of incidents in hospitals, and the length of stay for those who fall are generally three times longer. (1) This has a significant impact on the healthcare system.

Kathleen MacDonald, Clinical Practice Lead (CPL) at Sutherland Harris Memorial Hospital shares her journey in finding comfort in SHMH and the potential that it holds.

The Sutherland Harris Memorial Health Foundation continues to bring quality health care to Pictou West through its commitment to excellence and the people it serves.

The foundation was established in 1994 to administer funds accumulated from donors over the years to support the hospital. Over the years, the mandate of the foundation reached beyond the hospital into the community of Pictou West.

Public Health supports access to COVID-19 and influenza immunization, as well as COVID-19 testing across the province. To help ensure all Nova Scotians have access to these important services, we will be holding testing and immunization clinics next week. All upcoming clinics can be found online at www.nshealth.ca/PHMU.

Since launching in March, the Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health Central Intake teams for surgical care have supported more than 9,000 electronic referrals (eReferrals).

They are the hub of a new approach to better manage and coordinate surgical referrals, with the goal to enhance communication with patients and providers, support more timely access to care and provide better information to support planning.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a growing concern in Nova Scotia, with one in every 80 people, or 1.25 per cent of the population, affected by the chronic conditions of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. By the year 2030, it is predicted the number of people living with IBD in the province will increase to 1 in 60, and the team at the Nova Scotia Collaborative Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Clinic is readying for the increased demand for quality patient care. 

People with dementia often require specialized care and supervision, often the decision is made that a long-term care facility will be the most appropriate care setting as they are equipped to provide the level of support and safety they need. Many patients on the transitional care unit are those with dementia waiting to transition to long-term care.

On September 29, members of Nova Scotia Health’s cancer screening team, their partners, government representatives and patient family advisors gathered for an afternoon of learning about Mi’kmaw history and culture.

The afternoon began with a smudging ceremony, led by Elder Geri Musqua-LeBlanc, who explained that four sacred medicines are used during smudging: Sage, cedar, sweet grass, and tobacco. The spiritual ceremony is designed to cleanse participants and the space of any negative thoughts. All who were interested were invited to participate in the smudging ceremony.

The Gathering Place provides more than what its name entails. The program, run by Nova Scotia Health Mental Health and Addictions services, provides a welcoming place for people in Lunenburg and Queens counties who are struggling with mental health and substance use concerns.

The Gathering Place offers a safe, comfortable, non-stigmatized environment to help clients improve their social interactions and other wellness goals.