Dr. Allen, presenting her session Prescribing Controlled Substance – Legacy Patients, at the Welcome Collaborative.

For physicians beginning practise in Nova Scotia, understanding the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia standards is a core professional expectation.  

Legacy Patients

The caring for legacy patients standard provides guidance for physicians assuming care of patients whose treatment was initiated by another provider. Physicians must not refuse care based on a patient’s condition or treatment plan and are expected to deliver patient-centered care tailored to individual circumstances.

Key principles include assessing the appropriateness of existing treatment, engaging in shared decision-making, and regularly reviewing medication regimens. The overarching goal is to balance patient autonomy with safe, evidence-based care while maintaining respect and continuity.

Prescribing Controlled Substance – Legacy Patients

The Welcome Collaborative hosts a Prescribing Controlled Substance – Legacy Patients, presented by Dr. Maureen Allen, Medical Consultant with the Nova Scotia Prescription Monitoring Program (NSPMP). The session equips participants to:

• summarize the NSPMP data landscape for legacy opioid and benzodiazepine patients
• define a legacy patient within regulatory and clinical contexts
• apply principles for safe prescribing of monitored medications
• implement monitoring strategies and parameters tailored to legacy care

The session underscores the importance of balancing safety, compassion, and evidence-based practice. Physicians are encouraged to review the full standard regarding caring for legacy patients and integrate these principles into daily care.