NS extends patient access to their records

HALIFAX – Nova Scotia has expanded electronic health records access province-wide after a successful three-month pilot project with 15 family doctors and seven nurse practitioners at six clinics. The pilot was available to more than 13,000 patients.

“Nova Scotians deserve to have access to information about the healthcare they have received,” said Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson (pictured). “We have made it easier and more convenient for Nova Scotians to access important health information that will help them better manage their health and empower them to take control and become a more active participant in the healthcare they receive.”

Anyone with a valid Nova Scotia health card now has access to information about:

• visits to hospitals or clinics that did not require an overnight stay (like a blood collection appointment) including the provider, location, appointment type, date and time
• visits to IWK Health, including the date, time and reason
• visits to their family doctor or nurse practitioner, including the date and time (by end of September)
• VirtualCareNS appointments, including the date, time and reason
• hospital stays and emergency department visits, including location, provider, date and time of arrival and discharge, and reason for visit
• their medications, including the prescription name, dosage and how long they should take the medicine
• lab results, including blood, urine and general lab tests
• diagnostic imaging scans – like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and X-ray – including the body part scanned, the healthcare provider who ordered it, date, time and location.

Lab results will be available seven days after the ordering provider receives them. Diagnostic imaging information will be available 14 days after the ordering provider receives it.

More records will be added over the coming months from Pharmacist Walk-in Clinic+ and community pharmacy primary care clinics.

Nova Scotians 16 and older who choose to view their records can log in through YourHealthNS.

Providing Nova Scotians access to their electronic health records to better manage their healthcare is part of a larger digital health transformation that includes YourHealthNS, virtual care, the Care Coordination Centre, the Oncology Transformation Project and the One Person One Record clinical information system.

“This marks a significant milestone in our commitment to enhancing healthcare. Now all Nova Scotians can effortlessly access their vital health information, empowering them to take charge of their health and make informed decisions. This expansion of our health records pilot is a testament to our dedication to improving patient care and fostering a more connected, transparent healthcare system,” said Karen Oldfield, interim President and CEO, Nova Scotia Health.

Dr. Jennifer Lange, family physician and pilot participant, New Waterford Collaborative Practice, commented: “I believe strongly in a patient’s right to access their own medical records. The YourHealthNS pilot allowed my patients to access these records without putting an administrative burden on my office.”