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Guide for Revoking Consent in YourHealthNS .pdf
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YourHealthNS - Public FAQ.pdf
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What is YourHealthNS?
YourHealthNS connects you with care by providing single source of healthcare services, resources, and information from across the health system and care delivery partners.
YourHealthNS is available through the Apple and Google Play stores, or online at www.YourHealthNS.ca.
What does the app do?
YourHealthNS Helps Nova Scotians access a variety of health information and care options, including:
- Viewing healthcare records and reports
- Generate and share your Patient Summary
- Finding services like pharmacies and emergency departments closest to them
- Booking services including blood collection, X-rays and vaccines
- Viewing and receive reminders about upcoming appointments
- Resources for mental health, healthy eating, addictions support and more
YourHealthNS Support
If you need technical, navigational or educational support while using the YourHealthNS app, please complete the form below or visit YourHealthNS.ca and click “Support” in the upper right-hand corner.
Please do not include personal health information, or personal identifying information when submitting feedback. If you are having an emergency, call 911. This support team provides help to citizens trying to access and/or use the YourHealthNS app and they can not address personal health concerns.
For support with your "My NS Account" contact the Government of Nova Scotia’s My NS Account support team at 1-844-322-9375.
Feedback Survey
We are working daily to improve the YourHealthNS experience and are asking you for your input and feedback to help us. Your opinions matter as we continuously improve and enhance our services, resources and information. To share your feedback, please fill out this form:
Frequently Asked Questions
My NS Account/Logging In/Account Issues
What is My NS Account and why do I need it to access my records?
My NS Account is the Government of Nova Scotia’s secure online service that keeps your sensitive, personal information safe. Nova Scotians can create a single account to access multiple online provincial services and to verify personal information for online services that require it.
Can I add my child to my account?
Each My NS Account requires a unique username and email. At this time, dependents or second users cannot be added.
My old phone number is showing up on my account when I sign in – how do I change it?
MSI Registration and Enquiry can resolve issues related to correcting your phone number or health card information. Please contact MSI Registration and Enquiry either by phone at 902-496-7008, by mail or using their secure form.
Who do I contact for help with My NS Account?
Contact the Government of Nova Scotia’s My NS Account support team at 1-844-322-9375.
Records and Reports
How can I get access to view my records through the YourHealthNS app?
- Download the YourHealthNS app or visit the YourHealthNS.ca
- Click “Records” tile, then create or sign into a My NS Account to access your records
- My NS Account is the Government of Nova Scotia’s secure online service. It allows Nova Scotians to create a single account to access multiple online provincial services and verify personal information for online services that require it. It must be renewed on an annual basis. Learn more about My NS here: About My NS Account
- When creating your My NS Account, you will be asked to enable 2-Step Verification and verify your Nova Scotia Health Card Number
Where can I access my records?
Records available through YourHealthNS can be accessed in North America and Mexico.
What is an incidental finding?
An incidental finding refers to something extra that was found by the radiologist while viewing your diagnostic imaging scans, which was not related to the reason the test was ordered. Incidental findings are common and are not always a cause for concern. People can have all sorts of spots, growths, or bits of damaged tissue inside their bodies without ever having a problem. As medical imaging technology has improved and now gives us more detailed pictures, incidental findings are more common.
Your healthcare provider will know what to do based on what the incidental finding shows, and they may:
- Tell you there is no cause for concern
- Decide it's something they want to keep an eye on or order more tests
If you have had the same test in the past, your doctor may compare the older test results with the newer one to see if there has been a change.
It is important to trust your healthcare providers' medical expertise and ask them any questions you may have. They can tell you what your options are and, together you can decide if you need treatment or more tests.
How long does it take for my diagnostic imaging reports to appear in YourHealthNS?
Your diagnostic imaging reports will be available 14 days after the report has been processed. In most situations, your provider will receive the final report a few days after your test, but there are some exceptions.
How do I request records that are not available in the app?
You have the right to access and request a copy of your personal health information from Nova Scotia Health. For more details, please visit the following link: Request Release of Health Information. Please note that there may be a cost associated with obtaining health records from your primary care provider.
If you have any further questions about your records, you can contact the Department of Health and Wellness Health Privacy and Records Management at:
Website: PHIA - Your Privacy Our Commitment | novascotia.ca
By mail: Privacy and Access Office
NS Department of Health & Wellness
1894 Barrington Street
P.O. Box 488
Halifax, NS B3J 2R8
By email: phia@gov.ns.ca
Confidential Voicemail:
- Toll Free: 1-855-640-4765
- Local: (902)-424-5419
To request a copy of your personal health information from IWK Health, please visit: Release of IWK Health Information. Note that there may be a cost associated with accessing your health records from your primary care provider.
I don’t have Nova Scotia health card, but I have received care in Nova Scotia – can I view those records in YourHealthNS?
At this time, only patients with Nova Scotia health card numbers can access their health records through the YourHealthNS app.
What does it mean if a result says, “not specified”?
When a result is displayed as "Not Specified," it generally means that the corresponding section of your health record was left blank or not entered by your healthcare provider. This could occur for various reasons such as the result being entered in a different field rather than the designated result field.
Please note that this does not indicate that the result is missing. Your healthcare provider should have access to the complete details of your record.
Will health records from other provinces be available?
No. Online health records through YourHealthNS only include data from Nova Scotia.
Will patients who do not have a family physician be able to see their records through YourHealthNS?
Yes. If you have a Nova Scotia health card and received healthcare in the province, a record will have been created that you can access.
Patient Summary
What is a Patient Summary?
Patient Summary is a secure, digital snapshot of your key health information in YourHealthNS. It’s designed to make it easier to share important health details with health care providers or people you trust.
Who can create and share a Patient Summary?
Anyone with a YourHealthNS account over the age of 16 can generate and share a Patient Summary.
When do I use Patient Summary?
Patient Summary allows Nova Scotians to create a secure summary of their health information. It gives individuals the opportunity to easily share that information with a trusted person, like a health care provider, family, friend, or caregiver.
For example, Nova Scotians may use Patient Summary at an emergency department or specialist appointment with a health care provider that they haven’t met before. Patient Summary could be used when Nova Scotians are travelling within Canada and require medical assistance.
Patient Summary can also be used by individuals who want to share their information with a family, friend, or caregiver for support.
Can a healthcare provider create a patient summary using the patient's health card number with consent, or in emergencies when the patient cannot provide consent?
No, patients are the only ones who can create their patient summary.
What information does the summary include?
- Your name, date of birth, health card number
- Allergies and intolerances that have been documented in an electronic medical record
- Diagnostic imaging records from January 2023 onwards
- Hospital visits and stays for the last 12 months
- Immunization records for Nova Scotia School Immunization Program, COVID-19, flu, and other routine vaccinations from 2008 onwards
- Lab results for blood, urine, and general lab tests from January 2023 onwards
- Current medical conditions that are being managed over time
- Prescription medications and self-reported medications from the last 12 months
Who should I share my Patient Summary with?
YourHealthNS users should only share their Patient Summary with trusted individuals, such as healthcare providers, family members or friends.
How do I share my Patient Summary?
Log in through your My NS Account. Navigate to the Records section. Tap “Patient Summary,” and then “Share My Patient Summary.” Accept the privacy statement, set a unique PIN, and share using the secure link or QR code.
How does someone else view my Patient Summary?
They click the secure link that you sent by email or scan the QR code that you have shown them, enter the PIN you provided, and can then view your summary for up to 24 hours.
How long is the Patient Summary available?
Once generated, it’s available for 24 hours. After that, it expires to protect your security.
Can I stop sharing before the 24 hours are up?
Yes, you can stop sharing your Patient Summary by deleting the share from your Share list.
What happens if someone enters the PIN wrong?
When you share your Patient Summary, you create a secure link with a description and a PIN. If someone enters the wrong PIN, they’ll see a message saying: “The PIN does not match our records.”
If five PIN failures happen, the PIN is automatically deleted, and the link becomes inaccessible. You will need to generate a new Patient Summary share and PIN to provide access to your information.
Can I add or edit information in the Patient Summary?
No. The information in Patient Summary reflects exactly what is within a person’s health record.
Where can I access Patient Summary?
Patient Summary, and all records viewable in YourHealthNS, can be accessed in North America and Mexico.
Where does the information about allergies and intolerances come from?
The allergies and intolerances that are shown in Patient Summary are documented in an electronic medical record. It may not show all of your allergies and intolerances, and some allergies and intolerances may appear more than once, as the information comes from many different sources.
Where does the information about medical conditions come from?
The medical conditions section includes medical conditions that are being managed over time. It may not include all health conditions and some conditions may be shown more than once, as the information comes from many different sources.
Who do I contact for help?
For technical support with YourHealthNS, please contact YourHealthNS Support.
Appointments
What type of appointments are included in push notification reminders in the YourHealthNS app?
- Appointments for hospitals, primary care, walk-in clinics, community pharmacies, vaccines, mental health and addictions (Nova Scotia Health/IWK), diagnostic imaging, lab work, ECG/EKG, STI testing and screening mammograms
- Appointments at participating First Nations health centres
What type of appointments are excluded for push notification reminders in the YourHealthNS app?
- Clinics using paper records or doing bookings outside standard digital systems
- Independent providers (e.g., physiotherapists, chiropractors, private mental health clinics)
- Diagnostic mammograms
- Cancer care appointments that are already getting reminders
- Specialist appointments
- Certain appointment areas to ensure sensitive information can be communicated with patients most appropriately
Am I able to confirm or cancel an appointment through YourHealthNS?
No. To confirm, cancel or reschedule an appointment, you’ll need to contact the clinic directly.
Nova Virtual Assistant
What is Nova?
Nova is an AI-powered virtual assistant integrated into the YourHealthNS mobile app and web app. It provides quick and reliable answers to healthcare-related questions, helping Nova Scotians navigate the healthcare system more efficiently.
Users can ask follow-up questions, rephrase questions and in addition to receiving answers directing them to care options, they'll receive additional resources.
Users asking questions about accessing care who have location services enabled when using Nova will be directed to the service options closest to them.
Is the information provided by Nova reliable?
Nova sources its information from trusted Nova Scotia-based healthcare resources, including the websites Nova Scotia Health, IWK Health, Nova Scotia Cancer Care Program, Nova Scotia Mental Health and Addictions Program, and more. Nova was widely tested by healthcare providers, ensuring answers are accurate and relevant to your needs.
Nova’s responses are not a substitute for medical advice and should not be relied on in the place of directives from clinicians.
Privacy and Security
Is my information safe and secure?
All data will be stored in a secure cloud environment. Your data will not be stored on the YourHealthNS app and can only be viewed through My NS Account from within the app, after authentication. To find out what information is collected, how it's used and disclosed, how information is protected or to learn more about your privacy rights and choices, see our Privacy Notice.
Where will my healthcare data be stored?
All patient data is being securely stored on cloud-based servers in Canada.
Does Nova use or store my personal health information?
No, Nova does not collect or store any personal health information. The tool is designed to comply with all relevant privacy laws and regulations.
Nova also cannot identify whether users are or are not logged in to their MyNS Account, and cannot access health records or link users to the questions they ask.
Can patients revoke consent for their online health records through YourHealthNS?
Nova Scotians can withdraw consent from having your health records viewable through the YourHealthNS app.
It’s important for Nova Scotians to understand that any time you receive a healthcare service in Nova Scotia a health record is created. This record can then be used by healthcare providers across the healthcare system to have a better understanding of your complete medical history and provide care that is appropriate. Health records will always be part of the system, but it’s up to each patient to decide if they want to access them through YourHealthNS with a secure login, or by requesting paper records directly from a provider.
When you use YourHealthNS to view your health records, your personal health information is collected, used and disclosed under the authority of the Nova Scotia Personal Health Information Act. You have the right to withdraw your consent to the use or disclosure of your personal health information for this purpose at any time.
You can find the instructions to withdraw your consent here.
Who do I contact with concerns about my personal health information?
If you have a concern regarding your personal health information, please contact the Department of Health and Wellness Health Privacy and Records Management at phia@novascotia.ca.
Who do I contact if I think there is an error in my health information?
If you see any health record information within YourHealthNS that is inaccurate or incomplete, please contact the Department of Health and Wellness Health Privacy and Records Management using the contact information below.
Website: PHIA - Your Privacy Our Commitment | novascotia.ca
By mail: Privacy and Access Office
Nova Scotia Department of Health & Wellness
1894 Barrington Street
P.O. Box 488
Halifax, NS B3J 2R8
By email: phia@gov.ns.ca
Confidential Voicemail:
- Toll Free: 1-855-640-4765
- Local: (902)-424-5419
Who do I contact if I have feedback about YourHealthNS?
To access the feedback option while using YourHealthNS, click the three horizontal lines in the upper right-hand corner and then click Feedback. You can also visit YourHealthNS.ca and click “Feedback” in the upper right-hand corner.