Tony Smith powers smarter, connected patient care

Tony Smith has tackled everything from staffing shifts to streamlining patient care since joining Nova Scotia Health in 2010. Now training clinical teams for the Care Coordination Centre (C3) in Central Zone, he drives change from behind the scenes, helping the system run smarter and faster.   

“I’ve always wanted to work somewhere that truly affects people’s lives,” Tony shares. “Healthcare is full of inspiring individuals. It’s a profession that naturally attracts caring and helpful people.”  

C3 is an advanced technology that organizes and presents patient data in a way that enhances care delivery. From admission to discharge, C3 gathers and organizes information in a way that is used to positively impact and improve each patient's stay. Access to real-time patient information enables healthcare teams to better understand patients and accelerate their healthcare journey. 

“While I don’t work directly with patients, my role helps empower frontline staff by training them on C3 technology,” says Tony. “This means patients benefit from more connected, informed, and responsive care, even if they never see the technology behind it.” 

As part of the C3 team, Tony supports frontline staff by delivering training for C3 technology. His days are filled with hands-on sessions, presentations at education events, creating instructional media, and responding to questions from staff who use advanced C3 technology daily.  

“I hope patients feel confident and reassured, knowing that their care team is well-connected and informed thanks to C3,” says Tony. “Even though my work is behind the scenes, it plays a part in making their experience smoother and more coordinated.” 

Tony expressed how rewarding and easy it is to see how C3 affects healthcare teams with a clear overall view of their patients' status. It helps healthcare teams understand patients’ needs, determine the most appropriate care setting, and plan for discharge – all in a streamlined, accessible format.  

“In such a complex environment, technology like C3 is essential,” Tony explains. “It gives our multidisciplinary teams a clear, user-friendly view of patients' hospital journey, helping everyone stay aligned and informed.”  

Explore C3 here: Care Coordination Centre (C3) | Nova Scotia Health.

Photo of Tony and his wife Emma.