The president-elect of Doctors Nova Scotia said delays in a project of this scope are not unexpected.

"Implementing a modern hospital-based clinical information system is a large undertaking and will be foundational to improved patient care," Dr. Shelly McNeil said in a statement.

"We know that everyone is working hard to implement OPOR and while we would like to see the timelines met, it's vitally important that OPOR is implemented well."

Nova Scotia Health conducted a campaign in November to attract United States health-care workers to the region, generating more than 500 nursing leads and five new hires.

Doctors Nova Scotia says the demand for family physicians continues to rise.

“The waiting list also to see a specialist is too long to have and an investigation to have and getting a longer waiting list,” says Dr. Gehad Gobran, president of Doctors Nova Scotia.

Doctors Nova Scotia, in an email to CTV, explained the new payment model.

“The new payment model is called the longitudinal family medicine (LFM) rural small site payment model for physicians who provide comprehensive care – primary care, UTC (urgent treatment centres), inpatient hospital care, long-term care. Or if the physician is providing care in the UTC, they will be paid either a sessional rate or the ED rate if negotiated separately,” stated the association.

However, as the waitlist goes down, there’s concern about how many will choose to retire in the near future.

Doctors Nova Scotia says 24 per cent of practicing family doctors in the province are over the age of 60. But the organization’s president says there are two key factors that could help address the issue.

“Decrease the burden on the family physicians and better remuneration, to keep them inside Nova Scotia because it is a competitive market everywhere,” said Dr. Gehad Gobran.

Dr. Gehad Gobran, president of Doctors Nova Scotia said retaining new doctors is important and involves the community making them feel welcome.

Doctors Nova Scotia President Dr. Gehad Gobran thinks the medical college will help get more doctors working in the province to decrease the number of residents needing one.

The Nova Scotia government says it is making significant inroads in cutting regulatory red tape in the province, particularly in the field of health care.

“Doctors don’t go into medicine for the exhaustive paperwork, they do so to care for their patients,” said Nancy MacCready-Williams, CEO of Doctors Nova Scotia.