As Nova Scotia Health continues to roll out a new provincial digital patient-record system, residents in Antigonish can expect changes to how health information is managed in the future. The project, known as One Person One Record, is a $365-million initiative designed to replace over 80 separate record systems with one unified platform provided by Oracle Health Canada.
While the new system recently launched across the Central Zone of Nova Scotia on May 9, 2026, St. Martha’s Regional Hospital in Antigonish remains in the Eastern Zone and has not yet transitioned to the new technology. The health authority has stated that implementation dates for the remaining zones across the province will be shared as they are finalized.
When the transition eventually reaches local facilities, patients may notice staff wearing purple vests throughout care areas. These team members are deployed to provide on-the-ground support to care teams and assist with updated registration procedures during the changeover. In other parts of the province that have already adopted the system, the health authority has temporarily scaled back some services, such as reducing blood collection and electrocardiogram appointments by 50 percent for approximately six weeks, to allow staff time to learn the new digital workflows.
The rollout of this system has been the subject of significant debate. While provincial officials have reported positive feedback following the initial week of the Central Zone launch, the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union has raised concerns regarding staff readiness. A recent survey of healthcare workers at the IWK Health Centre, which began using the system in late 2025, highlighted reports of increased workplace stress, challenges with documentation, and medication errors. Despite calls from the union and opposition parties to delay the expansion, the provincial government moved forward with the recent launch.
