Sambro resident feels in control with YourHealthNS app

Keith Wells first logged into Nova Scotia’s YourHealthNS app a few months ago and did not expect the digital tool to change the way he navigates the province’s healthcare landscape.

The 66‑year‑old Sambro, Halifax County resident says the app has quickly become essential to understanding his medical information and strengthening confidence in the healthcare system.

Wells says he learned about the app only after a friend suggested he try it. “I never knew a thing about it,” he said. “Somebody said to me, ‘Why don’t you go on YourHealthNS? And I said, What’s YourHealthNS?”

Once signed up, he discovered features that helped him make sense of recent MRI and CT scan results, information he previously struggled to interpret. His doctor, he said, often read results back to him but a deeper explanation was typically required.

With the app, Wells could read the full reports himself and look up unfamiliar medical terms. “I was able to really cross‑search everything, find out what the words meant and what it was referring to,” he said. “I was able to understand when I talked to the doctor what he was talking about.”

Wells said the ability to review blood‑work results has been especially valuable. Instead of relying on brief verbal updates (“Oh, your sugar’s fine, your whatever’s fine,” as he recalled), he can now see the exact numbers and compare them with baseline ranges. “It gives you what yours is, plus what baseline should be,” he said. “That’s really good information to have.”

The app’s appointment reminders have also helped him stay organized. “I forget all the time to put things into my calendar,” he said. “It lets me know when I have something important coming up.”

Wells said he appreciates having a central place to look for programs, providers and test results. The platform is well built, he said. “Whoever designed it, they did a good job.”

The biggest benefit for him has been clarity and a sense of control. The app creates a level of confidence, Wells added.

“It’s great being able to really know what’s going on with my health,” he said. “This helps me feel more connected to the healthcare system and helps me have a better understanding of how it works.”