Medical Resources

Welcome Collaborative

The Welcome Collaborative has developed a catalogue of resources aimed to support physicians trained outside of Canada and new to practising in Nova Scotia, to successfully integrate into medical practice in the province.

Professional Standards and Guidelines

Professional Standards reflect the minimum professional and ethical behaviour, conduct or practice expected by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia. Registrants licensed with the College are required to be familiar with and comply with the College standards.

Guidelines contain recommendations endorsed by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia. The College encourages its registrants to be familiar with and to follow its guidelines whenever possible and appropriate.

Charting

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia professional standards and guidelines regarding charting. Good charting is comprehensive, reflecting all relevant information and all care provided. Charts signed off on by physicians are presumed to be complete. In making this presumption, the College applies the axiom: “not documented, not done.”

Referrals and Consultation

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia professional standards regarding referrals and consultation. This professional standard sets out the professional obligations of physicians when referring patients or seeing patients in consultation with a primary care physician or another provider.

Nova Scotia Medical Act

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia serve the public by regulating the province’s medical profession in accordance with the Nova Scotia Medical Act and its regulations.

Physician practice resources

A list of resources to support physicians in their practice including opioid prescribing, change in clinical scope of practice, immunization, and closing your medical practice.

CMA code of ethics and professionalism

This code of ethics has been prepared by the Canadian Medical Association as an ethical guide for Canadian physicians, including residents, and medical students. Its focus is the core activities of medicine and is based on the fundamental principles and values of medical ethics, especially compassion, beneficence, non-maleficence, respect for persons, justice and accountability. 

Good practices

Good practices help physicians navigate today’s challenges.

• Topics that address real-life challenges
• Guidance on how to handle complex situations
• Point-of-care tools, such as checklists, to help put the guidance into practice

Choosing Wisely Canada

Choosing Wisely Canada is the national voice for reducing unnecessary tests and treatments in Canada.

College of Family Physicians of Canada

The CFPC helps family physicians at all stages of their careers navigate the challenges that exist in today’s practice settings in a safe and equitable way. 

Nova Scotia Health

Nova Scotia Health provides health services to Nova Scotians and operates hospitals, health centres, and community-based programs across the province.

CMPA – International Medical Graduate Resources

Access a set of core educational assets to help you learn about medico-legal and safe medical care principles that are central to the practice of medicine in a Canadian context.

Medical Council of Canada

A list of reference books and online reference materials relating to the MCC examinations. Please note — while a point-in-time examination is not required by PACE, the preparation resources offer helpful insight to practicing medicine in Canada.

Nova Scotia Drug Information System

The Nova Scotia Drug Information System is a province-wide system that contains a comprehensive medication profile for everyone who gets a prescription filled in a community pharmacy in Nova Scotia.

Medical Record Keeping

Optional professional development opportunity (is self-funded) to support Candidates in exploring information on standards of care in medical record keeping as well as guidelines on documentation, including useful tools to facilitate the proper flow of information in all aspects of care.

Other Resources

Physicians Settlement Support

Settlement support for physicians, spouses/partners, and family

Welcome to Nova Scotia Resources

Supporting your settlement journey with resources for finding housing, applying for tax benefits, registering for healthcare, transportation, and finding a job or education.

Physician Resources

Nova Scotia More Than Medicine website including recruitment news and physician opportunities.

Move to Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia offers practising physicians a variety of practice opportunities, teaching and research options, and pay models. If you’re considering moving to Nova Scotia to practise medicine, you’ll need to consider a number of variables.