Dartmouth resident praises YourHealthNS app for expanding access to care

A Dartmouth man credits the YourHealthNS app with streamlining his path through Nova Scotia’s health system, tapping into services he once believed only his primary care provider could deliver.
 

Retiree Robert Moffat said he was impressed by the quality and user‑friendly design of the app, which allows residents to book appointments, renew prescriptions and access community health resources. The digital platform was launched in 2023 in partnership with Nova Scotia Health, IWK Health and the Government of Nova Scotia.
 

“It works. It’s easy and it’s a very effective tool,” Moffat said.
 

Moffat said he first learned about the app through an advertisement and later decided to try it when he needed to renew a prescription. Instead of waiting for his family doctor, he booked an appointment with a local pharmacist, directly through the app.
 

“I booked the appointment and not even a week later I was able to meet one‑on‑one with the pharmacist, review my medication and have it renewed very simply,” Moffat explained.
 

He said his experience highlights how technology can extend health services.
 

“It’s a relief, I think, in some ways,” Moffat said. “It’s encouraging to think we are now able to leverage this technology and find efficiencies in the delivery of our healthcare services.”
 

Beyond prescriptions, Moffat said he has used the app to schedule blood work and to explore wellness programs such as meditation classes in his community.
 

“Had it not been for the app, I probably would not even know where to begin looking for those types of services,” he explained. “It’s nice knowing that it’s right there at my fingertips when I need it.”
 

Moffat, who lives in Dartmouth with his wife and their cat, said he sees the app as part of a broader shift toward modernizing healthcare in the province. He believes technology can help relieve pressure on primary care providers and improve access for patients.
 

“I feel like it’s long overdue, that as a province we make these types of investments,” he said.
 

Moffat hopes the app continues to expand and eventually integrate full health records, giving Nova Scotians even more tools to manage their own care.
 

“As consumers of healthcare services, I think we’re entitled to have access to this kind of information to better inform ourselves,” he explained. “Tools like this enable people to take personal accountability for their health.”
 

While he doesn’t use the app every day, Moffat said it has become a reliable source he can turn to when needed. He believes the province’s investment in digital health services is essential for the future.
 

“It’s the way to go,” he said. “Technology of this kind is only going to become better and more reliable and more user friendly. I’m glad to think the province is investing in these types of solutions because healthcare needs to adapt and change in order to deliver top‑quality services.”
 

Photo of Robert Moffat