Quality and Patient Safety

Quality and Patient Safety branch is responsible for providing leadership to guide and drive quality improvement across the healthcare system.

Specifically, the branch seeks to deliver on this vision through

• Providing strategic advice to the Deputy and Minister of Health and Wellness regarding the quality and safety of our healthcare system
• Developing and implementing policies and legislation related to quality and patient safety
• Identifying quality and safety priorities by monitoring and reporting of key indicators
• Acting as quality and patient safety knowledge brokers; and
• Leading a systems approach to quality improvement through a Quality and Patient Safety Framework.

We work collaboratively with other DHW branches, Nova Scotia Health Authority, IWK Health Centre and other system partners to achieve our mandate.

Quality and Patient Safety Framework (PDF)

The Quality and Patient Safety Framework can be used as a tool to promote a provincial approach to quality -- in policy, planning and program development, service delivery, education, technology, equipment, infrastructure, and design. The guide helps put us all on the same page. Consistency in our quality approaches and practices will lead to common best and promising practices across the entire system, greater sustainability, and, ultimately, improved health outcomes for all Nova Scotians.