Premier Tim Houston speaks to reporters at One Government Place in Halifax (Jacob Moore/Acadia Broadcasting)
Premier Tim Houston says Nova Scotia is ready to move ahead with the province’s new healthcare information system despite concerns raised by some healthcare workers ahead of this weekend’s rollout.
The province’s new clinical information system, known as OPOR, is scheduled to go live Saturday.
Some healthcare workers have voiced concerns about whether the system and staff are fully prepared for the transition.
Houston defended the launch timeline during cabinet scrums Thursday, calling the system a major improvement over the province’s current patchwork of healthcare databases.
“This is a project that’s been in the making for over 10 years,” Houston said. “Thousands and thousands of hours of preparation.”
The premier said the new system will help connect healthcare records across the province and reduce the need for patients to repeatedly explain their medical history.
“There will always be a bit of nerves,” Houston said. “My dad used to say, if you’re not nervous, you’re not ready.”
Houston also rejected rumours that the province was moving ahead with the launch to avoid financial penalties tied to its contract with Oracle.
“We would never put patients at risk because of the clause in the contract ever,” he said.
The OPOR rollout follows earlier implementation work at the IWK, which Houston said helped the province learn lessons and make improvements ahead of the province-wide launch.
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