Tariffs, Trade, and Triage: Keeping Healthcare Supplied in Unpredictable Times

In this episode, Karen speaks with Christine Donaldson, President and CEO of HealthPro Canada, and Derek Spinney, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Corporate Services at Nova Scotia Health, about the delicate balancing act of healthcare procurement.

From navigating on-again, off-again tariffs - or tariff threats - to managing Canada’s reliance on American-made medical supplies, Christine and Derek reveal the behind-the-scenes decisions that protect patient care, and explore how HealthPro Canada is working to build a more resilient, transparent supply chain—and what provincial health systems, like Nova Scotia Health, are doing to stay one step ahead.

Hot on the heels of "Let's Talk Access" episode, Karen chats with the practice team from Halifax's Mentor Clinic. In what Karen calls, "a two-fer," Drs. John Ross and Shauna Archibald and Nurse Practitioner Theresa Hubley discuss what it's like to work at, and care for patients in, Nova Scotia's first Health Home.

They discuss how through creating a healthier work environment for staff, they have more time to promote wellness and not just treat illness.

Links:

1. Health Homes in Nova Scotia
2. Need a Family Practice Registry

Nova Scotia is on a journey to improve access to primary care for all Nova Scotians. This includes more providers, expanding the scope of practice for pharmacists and nurse practitioners, registered nurse prescribers, developing Health Homes so that care is collaborative with same-day/next-day appointment access, and creating the YourHealthNS app to put care directly in the hands of Nova Scotians.

Listen in as Karen chats with Bethany McCormick, vice president of operations for Northern Zone, and executive sponsor for Primary Healthcare and Madonna MacDonald. acting vice president of operations for Primary Healthcare in Central Zone. Their titles are long, but their impact on improving access to primary care will leave an even longer legacy.

Links:

1. YourHealthNS
2. Need a Family Practice
3. VirtualCareNS
4. Health Homes in Nova Scotia
5. 811
6. 211

Interested in learning more about becoming a Health Ambassador? E-mail: podcasts@nshealth.ca

Editor's note: Since recording, the YourHealthNS app has now surpassed 700,000 downloads, and there are 91,423 Nova Scotians on the Need a Family Practice Registry (as of June 1, 2025).