Nova Scotia Well being says new expertise will ‘modernize’ and enhance most cancers care – Halifax
Nova Scotia Well being is adopting a brand new expertise geared toward streamlining take care of most cancers sufferers.
Much like the not too long ago introduced One Individual One Report, the brand new Oncology Transformation Undertaking (OTP) is bringing collectively key oncology data techniques to create a single entry level for most cancers sufferers and their care groups.
READ MORE: New affected person medical data system coming to N.S. in $365M contract
“That is revolutionary,” stated Dr. Bruce Colwell, an oncologist with Most cancers Care Nova Scotia.
“That is actually going to make a giant distinction. I spend an inordinate period of time doing paperwork and we’re going to eliminate paper.”
OTP is a method to modernize most cancers care and permit for real-time communication between most cancers centres in addition to sufferers and their care groups. Along with being a communication software, the system can even present knowledge analytics which can assist to reinforce most cancers therapy.
“We don’t have good knowledge proper now in any respect,” Colwell stated.
“We don’t know what we’re doing by way of how a lot drug wastage now we have, how effectively the remedies are working. This provides us oncology-specific knowledge which is nowhere in any of the EMRs [Electronic Medical Records].”

The system is touted as revolutionary for rural care, with the affected person portal giving sufferers extra entry to their care crew and serving to cut back pointless journey.
“The affected person will really feel this and can really feel this in an impactful means,” stated Dr. Amanda Caissie, interim head of radiation oncology.
Caissie stated the system will allow sufferers to entry their care crew in a seamless means virtually 24/7, and hopefully stop emergency room visits as a result of sufferers will probably be in a position “to speak their signs earlier and get the care they want earlier than they current too late.”
Nova Scotia has among the many highest most cancers incidence charges within the nation and, in response to Caissie, the province additionally has one of many worst most cancers dying charges within the nation. She stated that this new expertise will assist monitor and analyze how affected person care may be improved.
“It’s not simply an digital software,” Caissie stated.
“It’s a software that’s going to assist us change the way in which we ship most cancers care and enhance outcomes for sufferers.”
“I hope sometime we’ll be capable of current that these outcomes for most cancers sufferers aren’t the worst within the nation, that they’re the perfect within the nation.”
The expertise is being created by Varian, a world chief in oncology expertise. The system will launch this spring, with an accelerated 12-month timeline to totally combine it. It can even be appropriate with One Affected person One Report when that system launches.
The undertaking is essentially being funded by means of the operations of Nova Scotia Well being and the Most cancers Care program with the Province contributing $13-million to the Varian contract. To help the combination of the system the QEII basis can be fundraising as a part of its $100 million We Are marketing campaign.
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