We welcome the following members to their new positions:

We are grateful for having these team members in our department. We say farewell and best wishes to:

Closes March 31, 2022

Wear Red Canada is celebrated annually across Canada on February 13th to raise awareness about women’s heart health. Our very own Dr. Sharon Mulvagh, Cardiologist, is Chair of the CWHHA Atlantic Planning Wear Red Committee. See her letter to colleagues (PDF).

Here are some of the ways that you can participate:

1. Wear RED

2. Share the 5 Key Messages (PDF) and help grow the #HerHeartMatters conversation.

3. Visit WearRedCanada.ca

We have made the difficult decision to cancel Teach the Teachers due to the Nova Scotia Health directive to cancel all non-COVID/non-operational meetings. We are hoping to reschedule later in the year.

Dr. Trudy Taylor

Chair, Continuing Professional Development

January 14, 2022

Join Nova Scotia Health for a Health Innovation Showcase that is being hosted virtually on February 22 and 25 to officially launch the Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub.

This free event will highlight how staff and clinicians are driving change through innovative ideas and technologies to transform health and healthcare in Nova Scotia.

The Health Innovation Hub is leading innovation and research within the healthcare system to deliver high-impact solutions for patients and providers. Through strategic partnerships with clinical champions, industry, healthcare foundations, governments and academic partners, Nova Scotia Health’s Innovation Hub is transforming healthcare through the best available evidence and innovative solutions. It’s also a catalyst that is fostering an innovative mindset and approaches to bring about positive system change.

Includes: Dr. Kenneth Rockwood, Senior Medical Director of the Frailty and Elder Care Network at Nova Scotia Health.

Registration required

Tuesday, February 22 (9 am to 1 pm AST)

Friday, February 25 (9 am to 1:30 pm AST)

DoM Research Week will be held April 19 - 22. More details to follow.

On behalf of the Quality Improvement Steering Committee, I am excited to announce the Department of Medicine's inaugural Quality Day on May 31, 2022. This will be an exciting opportunity for DoM faculty/teams and residents/trainees to showcase their Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives and share their project successes with other attendees.

The anticipated format is a blend of oral and poster presentations in virtual format. At this time, we are encouraging you to start thinking about potential projects, either completed or in-progress, that you may wish to submit and share (see below for a description of QI vs. research).

Stay tuned for details regarding event registration and a call for submissions.

Sincerely,

Ferhan Siddiqi MD FRCPC MScHQ

Chair, Quality Improvement Steering Committee (QISC)

Department of Medicine

Nova Scotia Health is taking a phased approach to COVID-19 health and safety measures based on risk level in each zone. Subject to change; refer to online version for latest updates.

This document outlines the protocols required for each level of risk from now until May 2022.

This map shows a visual representation of the risk levels.

Nova Scotia Public Health is recommending Nova Scotians using rapid tests, swab both their throat and nose when collecting their sample to improve the accuracy of the tests. This is based on research led by Nova Scotia Health's microbiology team.

Our researchers have determined that collecting samples from both the throat and nose provides a more accurate rapid test result than a nose swab alone, which is the instruction provided by the manufacturer. The investigation compared results of a common rapid take-home test using three sample sites: nasal swab; throat swab and; combined nasal/throat. Compared to PCR test results, samples from nasal or throat swabs each detected 64.5 per cent of cases. However, combining the nose and throat swabs increased sensitivity to 88.7 per cent.

Public Health is working to update the current rapid testing instructions (BTNX and SD Biosensor brands have been updated and are on the COVID-19 Hub).

Public Health is advising that if only one location of the sample is being used, it should be the nasal swab, as the throat swab alone is not as effective as the nasal swab.

For the full media release, please visit: https://www.nshealth.ca/news/nova-scotia-health-research-leads-new-recommendation-rapid-test-swabbing-technique-improves

PAXLOVID, an oral antiviral medication made by Pfizer, is used in adults to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 and who have a high risk of getting severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death. Paxlovid was approved for use in Canada, by prescription only, on January 17, 2022. Drug details are listed on Government of Canada website: https://covid-vaccine.canada.ca/info/paxlovid-en.html

There have been 369 hospitalizations and 30 deaths since the start of the Omicron wave on December 8. Community vaccination clinics closing. Vaccinations will continue at pharmacies and practices.

February 10, 2022 - Frontline healthcare workers gave Premier Tim Houston and provincial health leaders hundreds of ideas to consider as they move to fix healthcare in the province.

Drs. Barrett and Sommers urge early completion of screening form so eligible Nova Scotians can receive timely treatment and support for COVID-19 if needed (Feb. 2)