Dr. Jane Brooks Thank you for visiting doctorsNS.com. On our site you’ll find information about Doctors Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia health-care system, and what you can do to stay healthy.

As a Middleton doctor who has been exposed to both family and emergency medicine, I understand the frustrations many of you feel when trying to access care in this province. I spent the first eight years of my career as a Middleton fee-for-service full-scope family doctor doing ER shifts. For the past three years I’ve worked in a collaborative practice with my husband Dr. Eric Balser, two nurse practitioners, a family practice nurse and a dietitian.

Currently there are 50,000 Nova Scotians without access to a family doctor. To add to the seriousness of the situation, 25 per cent of Nova Scotia’s physicians plan to retire in the next five years.

Doctors are patient advocates and our association is committed to advocating for every Nova Scotian to have timely access to appropriate quality care. During my term as President, Doctors Nova Scotia will continue to address:

• recruitment and retention of doctors

• lack of long-term care beds

• overcrowding and short-term closure of emergency care facilities

• adoption of electronic medical records

We will work with government, other health-care providers, hospital administrators and other health-care organizations to ensure you have timely access to care when it is required.

In addition to advocating for timely access to appropriate quality care for Nova Scotians, the association also advocates for legislation that supports healthy living. Being healthy starts long before a visit to the doctors’ office and that’s why Doctors Nova Scotia invests in preventive programs. Doctors do everything they can to help you through personal illness, you have a lot of control over your own health.

By being physically active, eating healthy, getting a flu shot and living a smoke-free life you can maintain or improve your health. It’s also important for women to get regular Pap tests.

For parents I recommend a visit to the site’s Youth Running for Fun section. It highlights our free doctor-sponsored running program and provides information on how your child can become involved. My two sons have participated in the program and thoroughly enjoyed it.

As doctors, we are committed to your health and encourage you to take measures for a healthier life. We all have a role to play in getting and staying healthy, and it starts long before visiting the doctor’s office. I recommend you explore doctorsNS.com and take the first step in becoming a healthier you.

Sincerely,

Jane Brooks, MD, PhD, CCFP
President