**** CNS Media Release
Electronic Referral System Expands to Include MRIs, Ultrasounds
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More patients will see better communication around referrals with the addition of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound tests to the e-referral system.
Patients who provide an email address receive automatic notifications when the referral is sent, when an appointment is booked and if the referral is updated. The referring provider also receives the notifications.
This system provides better tracking, review and co-ordination of referrals. Patients still choose where they receive care and receive better information on the status of their referral.
“Transforming healthcare includes improving the tools, systems and processes that healthcare professionals use every day to help care for their patients,” said Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson. “Technology is helping us provide better communication, shorter wait times and overall better, faster care for Nova Scotians.”
Primary care providers have been sending surgical referrals electronically since March. MRIs were added in September and ultrasound e-referrals begin this week.
Electronic referrals will, over time, eliminate inconsistent, misdirected or duplicate referrals, helping reduce wait times and improving the information that doctors and patients receive about the status of the referrals.
Eventually, all non-emergency surgical, MRI and ultrasound referrals will be processed centrally using this electronic tool. Work is underway to expand the use of this system to allow for e-referrals for computerized tomography (CT) scans.
Quotes:
“This is a very exciting time in diagnostic imaging. An electronic referral system promotes patient-centered care through timely triage, improved communication and equitable access based on patient’s choice and wait times. It sets the foundation for creating efficiencies across the system while also reducing administrative burdens for providers.”
– Dr. Judy Rowe, Physician Lead, Diagnostic Imaging eReferral Implementation, Nova Scotia Health
“I’m very happy to be a part of this remarkable innovation. The ability for primary healthcare providers such as myself to make use of a streamlined online e-referral system has been a true game-changer for my own medical practice, which is already seeing marked improvements in efficiencies and effectiveness.”
– Dr. Ajantha Jayabarathan, family physician, Halifax
“We use Ocean eReferral system for all our consults to the pediatric ear, nose and throat clinic at IWK Health. This efficient and effective process allows us to have all of the referrals in a searchable database so that we have more access to information when patients call. We can easily manage our waiting lists and see directly how many consults are waiting. We can also send consults to any of our three surgeons based on their subspecialty interests or waiting lists. Triaging consults by physicians has become much easier and takes very little time or effort. The e-referral system is part of the future success of Nova Scotia’s healthcare system.”
– Dr. Gerard Corsten, Chief, Pediatric Surgery, IWK Health
“More than 10,000 surgical e-referrals have been sent since March. We now have new insight into the number and types of referrals being sent and their status, which is improving our ability to plan, co-ordinate referrals, communicate with patients and providers, and support more timely access to surgical consults.”
– Dr. Greg Hirsch, Senior Medical Director, Perioperative (Surgical) Service Network, Nova Scotia Health
Quick Facts:
— primary care providers with surgical consult requests send them electronically to a central intake office or specific surgeon
— almost 900 MRI e-referrals have been received since September
Additional Resources:
Action for Health, the government’s plan to improve healthcare in Nova Scotia: https://novascotia.ca/actionforhealth/
News release – Electronic Surgical Consult Referrals Will Mean Better Communication, Shorter Wait Times: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230329001
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Long-Term Care Expansion in Tatamagouche
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Seniors in the Tatamagouche area in need of long-term care will have access to modern spaces with the replacement of Willow Lodge home for special care.
The new 96-room facility, scheduled to open in 2031, will provide care to 35 more seniors living in the area. Each resident will have their own room and private washroom.
Tom Taggart, MLA for Colchester North, on behalf of Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Barbara Adams, made the announcement today, December 6, at Willow Lodge.
“It’s an honour to be a part of government’s plan to invest in long-term care,” said Mr. Taggart. “This is great news for the people of Tatamagouche and our neighbouring communities. These new care rooms will bring ease and comfort to our loved ones and reduce pressures on our hospitals, helping to improve healthcare for everyone.”
The new home is part of the recent addition of 2,200 rooms to the Province’s long-term care infrastructure plan. This plan expansion includes new long-term care homes that will add about 800 rooms to the long-term care system and the replacement of older homes with new, modern facilities that will have about 1,400 rooms. All these new homes are expected to be ready by 2032. The original plan included homes with about 3,500 rooms expected to be ready by 2027. Together, these new spaces will help to meet the care needs of the province’s aging population.
All new living spaces will be single rooms, each with its own private washroom. The government is contracting with several long-term care providers for new facilities and to replace existing ones.
Information and progress updates on all 5,700 rooms are available at: https://novascotia.ca/long-term-care-rooms-progress-updates/
Building and improving more long-term care rooms is part of Action for Health, the Province’s strategic plan to improve healthcare. Building and renovating new facilities with single-bed rooms and ensuring seniors live with dignity and can age well are also commitments in the Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister’s mandate.
Quotes:
“We are excited with the news of receiving a new, modern and efficient resident-centred home. This announcement is a testimony of respect, not only for our Willow Lodge residents but our care partners who deliver optimum care, and the community at large. We appreciate all the hard work that has gone into making this necessary commitment to ensuring our seniors are receiving their due respect today and into the future.”
– Janine Jaconelli, Executive Director, Willow Lodge
Quick Facts:
— the long-term care infrastructure plan was announced in January
— current wait lists for long-term care spots vary across the province; as of November 15, there were just over 1,700 people waiting at home for placement in long-term care
— of those waiting at home, more than 70 per cent receive home care
— seniors make up close to 22 per cent of Nova Scotia’s population; this is expected to climb to more than 25 per cent by 2032
— the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment, Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care, and the continuing care sector are working together to recruit the staff needed to support the delivery of care that will be required for these new rooms
Additional Resources:
News release – Province Adding, Replacing More Long-Term Care Rooms: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20231120001
News release – First Long-Term Care Replacement Home Opens: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230929006
News release – Construction Beginning on Long-Term Care Homes in Central Zone: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230517001
News release – Province Building More Long-Term Care Rooms: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230111001
Action for Health, the government’s plan for transforming the healthcare system: https://novascotia.ca/actionforhealth
Mandate letter for the Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-SLTC.pdf
