Electronic medical record grants (2023)

Electronic medical record grants (2023)

Financial assistance for physicians who set up and maintain an electronic medical record (EMR) in their practices is part of the existing Master Agreement between Doctors Nova Scotia and the Department of Health and Wellness.


Funding incentives make it possible for Doctors Nova Scotia members to move to an EMR system while minimizing out-of-pocket expenses and providing resources for a smooth transition from paper records. Under the terms of the 2019 Master Agreement contract, the EMR participation and utilization grants (Envelopes B and C) are still slated to convert to fees. The program remains unchanged until new fees are established, except for family physicians who convert to the new longitudinal family medicine (LFM) payment model. 

Under the terms of the 2023 Physician Agreement, EMR grants B and C are included in the base salary of family physicians under the new LFM payment model.

EMR grants

There are three grants are available.

One-time EMR investment grant (A) – $10,000

This one-time grant is to assist physicians in the adoption of an EMR system and will be paid upon implementation. 

Annual EMR participation grant (B) – $2,000

This grant will help offset the investments of time and effort by you and your staff in educational and peer-support activities. If you implement an EMR or sign a license agreement with one of the two recommended EMR vendors on or before March 31, and implement prior to Sept. 30, you will be eligible for this grant. As well, you will continue to receive it in any year in which you have invested at least four hours in EMR participation events and activities, up to March 31 (a self-assessment is required). The grant is available as long as you continue to use the EMR through education or participation in an EMR group. 

Annual EMR utilization grant (C) – Varied amount based on usage

This grant is to encourage and reward you financially for the extent of your efforts in the use of the EMR in your practice. The funding available depends on the usage of the EMR system and the pool of funding available. 

To receive this grant, you must complete a self-assessment application; your individual score is compared to the rest of the applicants’ scores. To be eligible, you must have implemented an EMR by March 31, and have billed (or shadow billed) a minimum of $30,000 in MSI billings within an EMR in the 12 months up to March 31.

More information and a link to the EMR grants application (when active), can be found here.

Next steps