Nova Scotia Completes Final Rollout of Electronic Medical Records System
Nova Scotia Health has activated the One Person One Record electronic medical records system in its western, eastern, and northern health zones, completing the province-wide rollout. Temporary service disruptions are expected as staff adapt to the new platform.
Nova Scotia Health has completed the third and final rollout of its One Person One Record electronic medical records system, activating it today across the western, eastern, and northern health zones. The implementation marks the conclusion of a province-wide transition from paper records to a unified electronic platform for healthcare providers.
The province signed a $365-million contract with Oracle Cerner Canada in 2023 to deliver the system. One Person One Record previously launched at the IWK Health Centre last December and in the central health zone in May.
The initial launch at the IWK Health Centre was plagued with issues regarding training, preparedness, and service delays. These challenges led to patient frustrations and raised questions about connections to an unborn baby's death. Following refinements made after the central zone launch, more than 1,500 peer monitors helped prepare colleagues for the current transition.
Despite these preparations, Nova Scotia Health officials warned that some rural emergency departments and urgent treatment centres may experience temporary changes to operating hours or closures during the transition. Services such as blood collection and diagnostic imaging could also see reduced hours or fewer appointments as workers adapt to the new system.