Comprehensive Summary
This comprehensive summary will serve as an accessible, inclusive, and evidence-based resource that informs care provider practice and education across Nova Scotia in caring for persons who are diagnosed with opioid use disorder, their newborns, and their families. The resource was created using a diverse, interprofessional team, including patient partners, to ensure the practice guidance and recommendations within the comprehensive summary align with and enhance care provider clinical practice and the patient’s personal experience.
Webinar video “Reproductive Care Program of Nova Scotia…” – mp4
PDF [Comprehensive Summary and Clinical Toolkit (v.032025)]
Clinical Practice Toolkit
This section includes several knowledge translation tools to support the effective translation of this knowledge into practice. This section is divided into periods across the perinatal continuum. The tools are easy to access and print to serve as “in the moment” guidance supporting healthcare providers in care provision of this perinatal population. This section will evolve as new knowledge translation tools are developed to support clinical practice.
Section One: Introduction
The first section supports care providers in understanding the local context and this perinatal population. There are two PDFs in this section which are to serve as a foundational guide for care and communication across the continuum of care.
Care Principles Infographics (v.032025).pdf Communication Tree (v.0320250.pdf
Section Two: Antepartum
This section includes knowledge translation tools to support care provider practice during the antepartum period. Building a foundation of care inclusive of clear communication and partnerships between all care team members and the family is imperative.
Antepartum Education Points (v.032025) Consultations and Considerations SnapShot (v.032025) Continuum of care for Pregnant Individuals on OAT (v.032025) Intrapartum Education Points (v.032025) Newborn Education Infographic (v.032025) Pharmacy Considerations with OAT Infographic (v.032025) Postpartum Education Infographics (v.032025) Section Two Chapter Summary (v.032025)
Section Three: Intrapartum
This section includes knowledge translation tools to support care provider practice during the intrapartum period. The importance of clear communication and responsive care to the birthing persons experience is highlighted.
Intrapartum Care Considerations (v.032025) Intrapartum Education Points (v.032025) Pain in Labor Infographic (v.032025) Section Three Chapter Summary (v.032025)
Section Four: Postpartum
This section includes knowledge translation tools to support care provider practice during the postpartum period. These tools guide establishing a supportive plan of care for parents / caregivers to transition home with their newborn.
Important Pharmacy Considerations PP Prescribed OAT (v.032025) Postpartum Care Considerations (v.032025) Postpartum Education Infographics (v.032025) Section Four Chapter Summary (v.032025)
Section Five: Newborn
This section includes knowledge translation tools to support care provider practice during the newborn period. Focusing on empowering birthparent engagement in care, along with facilitating the newborn’s success in eating, sleeping and consoling, these resources can help support care by building capacity in both care providers and families in caring for a newborn who is experiencing withdrawal.
Discharge Teaching Topics (v.032025) ESC Tool Guide (v.032025) Newborn Education Infographic (v.032025) Newborn Feeding Support (v.032025) Newborn Weight Management (v. 032025) Optimizing Non-Pharmacological Interventions (v.032025) Section Five Chapter Summary (v.032025) Top Eight Care Considerations Newborn Care (v.032025)
Regional Transfer Support
This section includes knowledge translation tools to support care provider practice during the transfer of a family from a regional site. These tools have been developed in collaboration with Emergency Health Services (EHS), IWK Health, and regional care facilities in Nova Scotia to support care providers and families when transfer is needed from one health care facility to another.
NOWS Transfer EHS Ground (v.032025) NOWS Transfer LifeFlight (v.032025) Regional Transfer Algorithm Full Size (v.032025) Transfer Algorithm Overview (v.032025)
Implementation Support
This section includes implementation support and overview. This section will evolve as new resources are developed to support implementation of the toolkit and summary into practice. Below is a video to describe the implementation process used to pilot the resource with success at a regional site in Nova Scotia.
Implementation Overview OAT Toolkit and Summary.mp4