Nova Scotia Health Authority

Erin Sephton, a PA at Dartmouth General Hospital, received the 2024 Tom Ashman Award from CAPA for exceptional service and leadership in the PA profession. Sephton, who started as a paramedic, pursued a Master’s PA program at McMaster University and returned to Nova Scotia to join DGH in 2020, significantly impacting orthopedic care. Her role as a PA, still new in Nova Scotia, eases physician workload and improves care continuity. Sephton also teaches at Dalhousie University and was honored during CAPA’s national conference on her birthday.

World Pharmacy Day on Sept. 25 highlights the vital role of pharmacy teams in healthcare. Clinical pharmacist Christopher McKenna at Colchester East Hants Health Centre in Truro, Nova Scotia, exemplifies the essence of pharmacy practice through interdisciplinary collaboration and patient care. McKenna finds unique benefits in rural healthcare, fostering supportive environments and enhancing patient outcomes. Nova Scotia Health is actively recruiting pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, offering competitive compensation and bonuses.

Dartmouth General Hospital's wearables project, funded by a River Philip Innovation Grant, enhances emergency care by continuously monitoring patients with portable pulse oximeters, detecting critical events, and improving patient satisfaction. The initiative, supported by a vendor's hardware donation, aims to secure permanent funding and expand to other areas, positioning Nova Scotia Health as an innovation hub.