Meet Dr. Norman Pinsky: Retired Physician Providing Virtual Care
Dr. Norman Pinsky is a retired physician who now connects with patients from the comfort of his living room. Since answering the call to support Nova Scotians, he has completed over 5,000 virtual consultations. Watch this video to learn more about Dr. Pinsky's virtual care practice!
VirtualCareNS is continually enhancing its platform to benefit both patients and healthcare providers like Dr. Pinsky. If you're interested in joining the VirtualCareNS team, please contact us at VirtualCareNSAdmin@nshealth.ca.
Nitrofurantoin 100 mg Extended Release Capsules Shortage and Alternatives for Uncomplicated UTIs
~shared on behalf of the Health Antimicrobial Stewardship Program
Extended release formulations of nitrofurantoin 100 mg capsules (i.e. generics for MacrobidÒ) are currently not available. NS Health supply is low and access in the community is also limited. There are two manufacturers. PMS’s resolution date is January 2025; Auro’s is later in September however, this has already been subject to multiple delays.
As always, judicious use of antimicrobials for treatment of uncomplicated UTI is advised. If extended release nitrofurantoin is unavailable, the NS Health Antimicrobial Stewardship program preferentially suggests the following as alternatives:
- Nitrofurantoin (regular release) 50-100 mg QID OR
- Fosfomycin 3 g orally as one dose as alternatives to Macrobid
Nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin are preferred for uncomplicated UTIs over amoxicillin-clavulanate since both concentrate in the urine and have narrower spectrums of activity. Both are usually more active than cephalexin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for urinary pathogens.
Nova Scotia Pharmacare will be changing their exception status criteria to allow the use of fosfomycin as a first line agent for uncomplicated UTIs in the community.
Updates for this shortage will be posted in the Drug Shortages - Home (nshealth.ca) website.
If you have any questions or need help with antibiotic selection, please contact pharmacy or a member of the AMS team.
One Person One Record (OPOR) Program Update
The OPOR Clinical Information System (OPOR-CIS) design decisions are now 92 per cent complete!
As we near the completion of the design and build of the CIS, testing and validation work has begun. System testing has been ongoing since the spring, and this fall we will begin integration testing for the first CIS Go-Live. The OPOR Team works closely with Oracle Health on the testing once workflows are approved.
System testing is based on patient scenarios and focuses on the testing of a single department’s workflow and system use. In addition to the CIS, other applications and system interfaces may be tested as well.
The purpose of integration testing is to validate the complete integrated system build of the CIS. This validates that the system functions correctly as designed for the future state workflows.
Prior to each Go-Live Wave, additional integration and regression tests will be done based on specific requirements. This will allow OPOR to learn and grow from each implementation.
Learn more about the OPOR Program and the OPOR-CIS, at opor.nshealth.ca
“Opportunity to recharge is a game-changer” daughter caring for mom says of respite care
Every day in homes across Nova Scotia, people are stepping forward to care for family members and friends of all ages so they can remain in their homes and communities as long as possible. However, caring for someone else can leave caregivers physically and emotionally drained. They may need an opportunity to rest and reset to be able to continue with their caregiving responsibilities.
Jodi Bishara is one of those dedicated, compassionate Nova Scotians caring for her nearly 93-year-old Mom at their family home in Yarmouth. As the primary caregiver for her mom, Barbara, Jodi has taken steps to care not only for her mom, but also for herself by contacting Nova Scotia Health Continuing Care to request an assessment of Barbara’s care needs. Read more about Jodi and Barbara's experience with respite care here.
For more information on Respite and Caregiver Support, please click here.
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