Nova Scotia health app provides access to X-ray reports

A Nova Scotia health app that was launched late last year can now give patients access to X-ray reports.

From now on, people will be able to view their reporton the YourHealthNS app 14 days after their X-ray.

In a news release, Nova Scotia Health and Wellness said the reports include findings from the X-ray, a comparison with previous X-rays, the patient's history and a summary.

Images will not be available.

A spokesperson for Health and Wellness told CBC News in an email on Tuesday the decision to include more details with X-rays was based on "clinician and citizen input to ensure that all information provided is safe, relevant, and appropriate."

The department said allowing the public to have access to their own X-ray information allowsthem to have better-informed conversations with their health-care team.

Automatic documentation

"It will also supportpatients to be active participants in their health-carejourney, and have their health information automatically documented for them," the department said.

When asked if the goal of having expanded X-ray information was to have fewer in-person health visits, Health and Wellness told CBC News a third of participants who were part of its health records pilot felthaving access to their online health records prevented them from following up with their family doctor or nurse practitioner.

Previously the app only showed some details about X-rays, including the date, time, location and body part that was scanned.

Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson said in the release that access to X-ray reports is "just the beginning" and that more healthrecords and information will be coming to the app.

According to the province, more than 600,000 X-rays were performed in Nova Scotia in 2023.

Health and Wellness said it will continue to work with clinicians and engage with the public to see what other kinds of reports can be included in a "meaningful, sage and appropriate way."