Nova Scotia government’s health app to include ultrasounds

The province’s health app has been updated to include ultrasound reports, which will allow patients to access their information from their smartphone.

The launch will start with ultrasound results completed after Aug. 5. Nova Scotians can access the report on the YourHealthNS app.

“We continue to grow the app by adding more records for Nova Scotians to access about the healthcare they are receiving,” Michelle Thompson, Health and Wellness Minister, said in the release. “This is valuable information for patients to have at their fingertips that will support them to take a greater role in the healthcare they receive.”

Announced on Monday by the provincial government, the ultrasound reports includes information such as the reason for the ultrasound, its findings, body part scanned and any comparisons with previous ultrasounds.

The province added images will not be included.

A release from the Nova Scotia Health says the reports take about 14 days to be made available. The government recently expanded access to electronic health records to people provincewide with a valid Nova Scotia health card who are 16 years old and up.

According to figures provided by the province, more than 309,000 ultrasounds were performed in Nova Scotia in 2023.