The province has announced a new app called YourHealthNS will help residents find the right health care they need.
Features of the app include a customizable home screen; the ability to book blood tests, X-rays, flu shots and COVID-19 vaccine appointments; a search tool to find the nearest health services; predicted emergency department wait times; and access to free, same-day virtual care.
The new app YourHealthNS is a one-stop shop to book services, navigate care and find information easier and faster. (Communications Nova Scotia photo)
Antigonish MLA and Health Minister Michelle Thompson said the idea behind the app was that with the new health related initiatives such as walk-in, mobile, and pharmacy clinics, people weren’t really sure where and how to access the proper information and what the appropriate care was for them.
A release from the province states accessing virtual care also became easier for Nova Scotians. People on the Need a Family Practice Registry can receive comprehensive care from Nova Scotian healthcare providers who can order diagnostic tests and provide referrals to specialists. Those on the registry will also have access to general consults and prescription refills 24/7, 365 days a year through a partnership with Maple.
Nova Scotians who are attached to a primary care provider will also have access to virtual care, which will include general consults and prescription refills, with the province covering two visits per year.
Thompson encouraged all residents to download the app. She also noted if people don’t have access to the app, they can phone 811, which is a service offered 24 hours a day, seven days a week by experienced registered nurses.