New mobile app aims to give Nova Scotians easier access to health-care services

Nova Scotia Health hopes a new mobile app will help give residents easier access to health-care services and information. 

YourHealthNS, described as a one-stop shop to book services, navigate care and find information easier and faster, launched Wednesday. 

Dr. Matthew Clarke, an emergency physician, said he regularly fields calls from people who don’t know where to go when it comes to a specific health-care problem. 

“There are many avenues in our province to seek care that I think many are unaware of,” Clarke said during a technical briefing. 

That’s where YourHealthNS comes in.

Through the app, Nova Scotians will be able to: 

• book blood tests, X-rays, flu shots and COVID-19 vaccine appointments
• search to find the nearest health services
• see predicted emergency department wait times
• access vaccination records
• access same-day virtual care
• chat with a care navigator to find the best service or information needed. 

People can customize the app’s home screen to display the most important service or information to them for easier access. 

Scott McKenna, chief information officer at Nova Scotia Health, said people with referrals will be able to book appointments for services, such as X-rays, across the province. Patients will be able to search via location when booking and be able to see all available time slots and dates. 

When it comes to seeking care, the app reminds people to call 911 if they have an emergency. 

If it’s not an emergency, McKenna said that the app will walk a person through a multi-choice survey to guide them to the appropriate care near them, such as a walk-in or mobile clinic, as well as details such as the address, hours and phone number of each service. 

However, the app doesn’t give the capacity at each clinic. 

McKenna said there is also the ability to search for care options in other areas, as some people may be helping someone else in a different community or planning for a trip to another area of the province. 

People – and not just those without a primary care provider – will also be able to seek virtual care through the app.

You can access the YourHealthNS app here:
Apple: https://t.co/oWDdAYasgJ
Android: https://t.co/i3ReE5wVQD
Web access: https://t.co/RpQWfYD5iN https://t.co/PE31cIucXt

— Health & Wellness (@nshealth) November 1, 2023

Up until Wednesday, only people on the Need a Family Practice Registry were able to access virtual care. 

Now, Nova Scotians with a primary care provider will be able to access virtual care for services such as general consults and prescription refills, free up to two times per year through the app. 

Tara Sampalli, senior director of implementation science, evaluation and global health systems planning at Nova Scotia Health, said primary care providers will receive a record of the patient’s virtual care appointment in case followup is needed. 

“This is more access, more options,” she said. 

Sampalli said Nova Scotia has just passed 100,000 visits of virtual care.

“After today, the answer is: There’s an app for that,” Premier Tim Houston said. 

“After today, the answer is: There’s an app for that.”

– Premier Tim Houston

McKenna highlighted that this is only the first version of the app. 

One of the areas Nova Scotia Health will look at expanding in the future is access to health records. Currently, the app only shows proof of COVID-19 and flu vaccinations, immunization records and COVID-19 test results.

“We need to make sure that we have that secure sign-on in there before we actually provide that,” McKenna said. 

There’s a feedback button included within the app, where Nova Scotia Health hopes to receive ideas from people who use the app and consider them for future upgrades or implications. 

The app, which is currently only available in English, cost the provincial government $10 million. The province is also spending $18 million toward Maple, which works in partnership with the province to provide virtual care. 

People are able to download the app for their iPhone or Android devices through the Apple or Google Play app store. 

For those without a mobile device, they can access YourHealthNS online.