HALIFAX, N.S. – Managing healthcare appointments just got easier with two new appointment reminder options: push notifications through the YourHealthNS app, and text messages for most Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health appointments.

Every day, individuals and teams of staff, physicians, researchers and volunteers strive to deliver high quality care and services in all areas of our province. The Making Waves Awards program recognizes individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions to the health and well-being of Nova Scotians. The Making Waves Awards are designed to recognize exemplary efforts and contributions by employees, physicians, researchers and volunteers who advance our vision, mission, values and strategic directions.

The Public Health Mobile Unit (PHMU) supports access to immunization and testing in Nova Scotia. To help ensure local access to these important services, PHMU will be holding clinics in communities across the province over the next few days. All upcoming clinics can be found online at www.nshealth.ca/PHMU.

For Stacey Smith, pharmacy is about more than prescriptions - it’s about people. With nearly 17 years of experience, Smith has dedicated her career to empowering patients, building trust and bringing healthcare closer to those who need it most.

Anyone who has been admitted to the hospital has likely received care from a hospitalist, a dedicated physician who specializes in managing and coordinating treatment for hospitalized patients. Saint Martha’s Regional Hospital (SMRH) has recently welcomed five new hospitalists, enhancing care for patients admitted to the facility.

Dr. Muhammad Soofi is one of these new hospitalists and has been warmly welcomed by the SMRH team and Antigonish community.

When RJ Roggeveen arrived at Dalhousie Medical School, Nova Scotia Health staff and physicians at the QEII Health Sciences Centre knew they had an important responsibility - to ensure RJ had the support and accommodations needed to fully participate in his medical education. Now in his second year at Dal, RJ's use of a standing power wheelchair presented some unique challenges, but the team was determined to find solutions.

The project started with an idea, scrawled on a napkin at a palliative care conference in 2023, in response to a question about what organizations could do to foster grief literacy. A year later, that idea – a grief library – has come to life thanks to the Valley Hospice Foundation and a small group with passion and commitment for supporting Nova Scotians through grief.

As of Jan. 2, 2025, there are 110,456 Nova Scotians on the Need a Family Practice Registry. 

The last published number was Dec. 4, 2024 when there were 119,670 Nova Scotians on the registry.

In total 9,214 people were attached or removed as a result of ongoing validation work that confirmed they have a provider in December 2024. The percentage of the population on the registry is 10.4.

Nova Scotia Health will next update the registry in early February.

With The Heart of Health series, we’re shining a light on the many dedicated employees, physicians, learners and volunteers who make Nova Scotia Health such a remarkable place to work and receive care. Today we’re featuring Simone Comeau Geddry, recently retired Community Health Board volunteer. 

Local residents are advised that the following Public Health Mobile Unit clinic has been cancelled due to inclement weather:

Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre
606 Reeves St., Port Hawkesbury
Monday, January 6, 2025 from 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

In its place, Public Health Mobile Unit is offering the following clinic in Sydney: