The One Person One Record Clinical Information System (OPOR-CIS) represents the most significant, transformative change to healthcare delivery ever experienced in our province.
One of the many important aspects in the development of the OPOR-CIS is that while following the Cerner Canadian Reference Model as a guide, the new system is being designed by Nova Scotians, for Nova Scotians.
Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) participate in Design Workshops during which they lend their expertise to making design decisions for the new OPOR-CIS. There is a mix of clinical and non-clinical healthcare workers who have given their time to ensure the system meets the needs of physicians, providers, employees, and patients across the province.
We are excited to continue our series of interviews featuring some of the hundreds of SMEs from different care areas and work streams.
Meet Dr. Luke Richardson, Emergency Physician, Valley Regional Hospital, Western Zone
Q. How long have you worked with Nova Scotia Health and what is your current role?
A. I have worked with Nova Scotia Health as a full-time Emergency Physician at Valley Regional since 2020. Since that time, I have joined a number of healthcare teams in my roles as the Emergency Medicine OPOR Physician Lead, C3 Western Zone Physician Lead, and Your Health Nova Scotia Physician Co-Lead.
Q. How have you been involved with OPOR?
A. I joined the OPOR team early in 2022 and have helped predominantly with the design and review of our upcoming emergency medicine section, as well as assisting with the Provider Portal and Order Set teams.
Q. What have you enjoyed most about participating in the development of the OPOR-CIS?
A. I have really enjoyed working on this project in so many different aspects. It has been really gratifying to watch the system evolve into a unique interface designed around our current workflows, but also our future needs. I also think the ability to standardize patient care across our province is going to be a much-needed upgrade and would not be possible without so many great contributors working within the OPOR team.
Q. How do you think the design session process contributes to ensuring the OPOR-CIS meets the needs of clinicians and physicians in Nova Scotia?
A. I am so happy to be a part of a project that has focused to ensure all appropriate partners are invited to participate in the project development. As a physician working entirely in Western Zone, I can’t express the importance of including our rural and regional healthcare providers when designing provincial strategies. I am so happy to see a project that has gone above and beyond to make that happen.
Q. What do you think the biggest impacts will be for employees, physicians, and patients with the implementation of the OPOR-CIS, and what are you most excited about with the launch of this clinical transformation?
A. I think this is truly going to raise the bar for provider efficiency and patient care; documentation is going to be completed in real-time and be easily accessible, order sets will be provincially standardized, inefficiencies will be reduced with time, and overall patient safety will be at an all-time high.
Thank you to Dr. Richardson, and to all those dedicating their time to the development and implementation of OPOR. To learn more about OPOR, including how you can get involved, visit opor.nshealth.ca
One Person One Record (OPOR) is a multi-year program designed to transform the way we use and share health information in Nova Scotia. It’s a collaboration between Nova Scotia Health, IWK Health, and the Province of Nova Scotia. OPOR will enable a digitally supported, patient-centered healthcare transformation in Nova Scotia. The ultimate outcome is for patients and providers to have seamless access to the information and care processes they need, no matter where care is given or received.
