News Makers

Perioperative Services team members, projects and initiatives routinely make the news for their contributions to quality care, innovation and learning. We are proud to feature some of these stories and news releases below.

These and other topics and stories are routinely featured in our Perioperative Highlights.

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July 2025

• Nova Scotia surpasses two years and 200,000 electronic referrals with positive feedback from patients

June 2025

• CIHI Report shows encouraging progress in surgical wait times in Nova Scotia

May 2025

• The essential role of perioperative nurses

January 2025

• Providers collaborate to reduce wait times and provide early intervention in patients with trigger finger

November 2024

• Seeing the impact of perioperative nurses
• From patient attendant to nursing in the operating room: Katie Stone shares her pathway to a dynamic and rewarding career in perioperative nursing
• Joint effort: Perioperative nurse, Leah Gamoulakos shares her experience in orthopedic surgery
• Perioperative nurses delivering quality care in and out of operating rooms
• Erin Sephton honored with Tom Ashman Award as Physician Assistant of the Year

October 2024

• Nova Scotia Health leader champions medical device reprocessing (MDR) from high school to the national stage
• Meet Nova Scotia Health’s Perioperative Quality Improvement Leaders: Catherine Watt, Northern Zone

August 2024

• From ideas to action: Eastern Zone teams leading surgical access and quality improvements
• Meet Nova Scotia Health’s Perioperative Quality Improvement Leaders: Susie Hardy, Eastern Zone

July 2024

• Nova Scotia Health team presents quality initiatives and leverage learning opportunities at Quality and Safety Conference
• Surgeons support patient-centred quality of care through shared decision making

June 2024

• SeamlessMD app expands to include heart surgery patients in pilot program

• New registered nurse first assistant positions helping support surgical access and quality
• Perioperative Nursing Program sets nurses up for success in operating rooms

May 2024

• Five years of surgical robotics

• Robotic revolution: Canada's first pediatric scoliosis surgery marks historic leap in robotics and surgical precision

• Perioperative Network Co-leads and team receive 2023 Nova Scotia Health Making Waves Outstanding Contribution Award

• Truro Surgeon and his colleagues awarded QEII Foundation grant to study role of nutrition in surgical outcomes

April 2024

• Antigonish physicians are increasing access for breast reconstruction and skin cancer treatment with a patient-centered approach

March 2024

• Launch of cystoscopy procedures at Yarmouth Regional Hospital improves access and reduces travel for patients

• Patient perspective: New eReferral system will ‘benefit everyone’ and ‘save lives’

• Surgeon offices receiving direct eReferrals support from Nova Scotia Health team

February 2024

• In the OR with Canada's first spinal surgery robot

• A milestone anniversary for the QEII’s cardiovascular intensive care unit

January 2024

• Department of surgery research information night creates buzz around world class research

December 2023

• 2023 marks key milestones for surgery and diagnostic imaging access

• Local hospital receives recognition for meritorious outcomes from the American College of Surgeons 

• Nearly 500 patients benefit from Stewart E. Allen Hybrid Operating Room in its first year of operation

November 2023

• Valley Regional Hospital initiative comforts and reduces infections in patients 

• Pain management pilot seeks to enhance pain support for patients after surgery

• Surgery intake referral office, Megan Adams, take prides in connecting patients and providers 

• Cardiac outreach clinics increase access to care

October 2023

• More Nova Scotians receiving vision-saving cataract surgery

• Medical device reprocessing supports surgical quality  

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July 2023

• Barry Pickrem: Setting the gold standard in medical device reprocessing

• Successful pilot of orthopedic physician assistants leads to permanent roles and expansion of innovation to other Nova Scotia Health services

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June 2023

• Dr. Ahmed Jad enhances education to promote minimally invasive surgeries at the Colchester East Hants Health Centre 

• Dr. David MacDonald receives Dr. Tom Marrie Award for leadership and excellence in anesthesia care 

• New clinic focuses on treating obesity in Eastern Zone - funded through Surgical Access and Quality Improvement Strategy

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May 2023

• Government pilots travel assistance program for surgical patients

• Surgical wait list reduced, more surgeries, procedures done last year

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April 2023

• New on-line learning module supporting patient-centered care in cardiac surgery

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March 2023

• Nova Scotia Health launches pilot for family practice anesthesia

• Improving care for transgender, gender-diverse and intersex Nova Scotians

• Electronic surgical consult referrals will mean better communication, shorter wait times

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January 2023

• Dartmouth General Hospital first location in Canada to use Mako SmartRoboticsTM for total hip replacement surgery

• Expanding Nova Scotia Health’s Perioperative Nursing Program to support current and future workforce needs | Nova Scotia Health (nshealth.ca)

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2022

• Shorter wait times for eye surgery

• Halifax Infirmary opens new, specialized operating room - Hybrid OR

• QEII Health Sciences Centre first location in Canada to use Medtronic surgical robot for spinal surgeries

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2021

• Northern Zone Orthopedic Assessment Clinic (OAC) celebrates official opening 

• QEII Health Sciences Centre home to first female surgical robotics team in Atlantic Canada

• QEII Health Sciences Centre second hospital in Canada to receive orthopedic surgical robot

• Nova Scotia’s new micrographic surgery program brings care and cure closer to home

• National Surgical Quality Improvement Program team leads patient-focused improvements for surgical patients in Nova Scotia

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2020

• A day in the life of a one of Nova Scotia Health’s first physician assistants

• Check up with Dr. Carr S01E06 Erin Sephton, physician assistant at Nova Scotia Health talks about her journey from paramedic to the relatively new role of physician assistant

• Same-day joint replacements help support access to surgeries during COVID-19

• Nova Scotia Health opening new Orthopedic Assessment Clinic in New Glasgow this fall 

• Redefining leading edge medicine with Atlantic Canada’s first hybrid operating room

• NSH neurosurgery is the first in Canada to use new robot for brain surgery

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2019

• QEII Health Sciences Centre home to Atlantic Canada’s first surgical robotics technology

• Physician assistant role pilot aims to help improve access to hip and knee replacement surgeries

• New registered nurse first assistant roles introduced in Cape Breton as part of multi-year action plan for hip and knee replacements

• Going home: Nova Scotia Health's hip and knee action plan helping joint replacement patients such as Sandra Tufts return to comfort of home sooner