Your Supports
Change doesn’t have to be difficult. The implementation of a new Clinical Information System (CIS) will have an enormous impact, affecting the everyday work of approximately 40,000 staff and healthcare providers across Nova Scotia.
Preparing for new clinical practices and technology is a significant undertaking. Specialized teams are in place to support staff before, during and after implementation. These teams will create strategies with a variety of initiatives to support leaders and staff through this large-scale transformation project.
The One Person One Record Team will ensure healthcare providers receive all necessary training that needs to be done before their facility goes live with the new CIS.
Education
As we progress through the OPOR Program, paper-based processes will transition to electronic, existing applications will be replaced, and new digital technologies will change how patient information is generated, stored, and accessed. To execute a change of this magnitude requires detailed attention to what and how we learn about the system to optimize our success.
Our Education and Learning team will be designing a user-centred training program using a variety of modalities that will enable learners to develop both competency and confidence in their ability to use the new system.
People Leaders
The insight, effort and energy of your managers is critical to the success of implementation. People Leaders at Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health will be supported in their roles through the provision of all the tools and resources they need to support their teams. In this way, physicians, clinicians, and health system employees will be supported in getting comfortable with using the CIS in their everyday work routines.
Sponsors, Change Champions & Peer Mentors
One of the key elements in the success of the OPOR program is the degree of involvement and participation by all Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health employees. OPOR will lean on the enthusiastic participation of the experts that are currently delivering care to Nova Scotians.
A Change Champion is an advocate for the OPOR program in a specific clinical area.
A Change Champion is an individual who serves as a trusted “go to” person and acts as a conduit of information related to OPOR. A Change Champion can be anyone who works in healthcare, regardless of title or role (i.e. physician, ward clerk, registered nurse, occupational therapist, etc.).
They work with the OPOR team and leaders to encourage colleagues’ engagement, support change management activities, and support Go Live efforts. The Change Champions also encourage continued adoption post Go Live.
Peer Mentors are advanced users of the One Person One Record-Clinical Information System (OPOR-CIS). A Peer Mentor has received advanced training in the new systems to assist peers during implementation. They support teams by providing at-the-elbow support during go-lives, basic trouble shooting, and issue triage assistance.
While not an expert or trainer, a Peer Mentor is a few steps ahead of other colleagues and can provide peer-to-peer support during implementation of new systems. Having attended basic and supplemental training, Peer Mentors can troubleshoot difficulties alongside peers on-site during launch. Peer mentors know who within the OPOR team to go to in the case of issues or concerns.
A sponsor is an established senior leader who actively and visibly participates in the project to build a coalition of support. These leaders champion change, and advocate for successful implementation.
Leadership is critical for the complex execution of a CIS implementation. OPOR will support identified sponsors of the project to have an active and visible presence with peers, staff, and physicians throughout implementation. Sponsors will lead the vision of transformation for teams, be routinely briefed on critical adoption issues and participate in solutions. Through Sponsors, clinicians and all health system employees will gain a fuller understanding of all aspects of the CIS implementation.
A Change Champion is aware of and is an active participant in the OPOR strategy. They are a key participant in the Change Network, providing insight and supporting OPOR from the frontline. A Peer Mentor has advanced training in the application. A Clinical Change Champion may also act as a Peer Mentor.
There are many ways to participate in OPOR as a Change Champion or Peer Mentor.
Contact OPOR@nshealth.ca to get involved.
At-the-Elbow Support
At the Elbow Support refers to a specialized support service provided during the critical stage of a new CIS deployment, known as “go-live”. This hands-on, on-site service aims to minimize disruptions by offering personalized assistance to healthcare professionals as they adapt to the new system.
Specialists are physically present or readily available remotely to troubleshoot issues, answer queries, and provide training, ensuring a smoother transition and optimizing system utilization.
It’s an essential service designed to enhance user competency, mitigate resistance to change, and ultimately improve patient care quality.
Physician & Provider Support
The Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO) and the Physician Support team are dedicated to optimizing OPOR’s solutions for physicians and other prescribing providers to ultimately support the provision of healthcare in Nova Scotia. Medical Informatics focuses on improving connections between individuals, information, and healthcare delivery so that patients and providers benefit from safe, meaningful technology-enabled care. This team is devoted towards representing physician and provider interests while analyzing, designing, implementing, and evaluating relevant content to improve health outcomes for Nova Scotians.
The Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO) and the Physician Support team will become a key contact for all physicians and providers using OPOR solutions. The CMIO and their interdisciplinary team will engage with physicians and other providers to address their questions, troubleshoot specific concerns, host leadership opportunities, ensure optimal user experience, and maximize solution usability. OPOR is a clinically driven solution based on best practices to optimize the provision of healthcare in Nova Scotia.