Risk and Safety Report

At Hearing & Speech Nova Scotia (HSNS), safety is part of everything we do. In alignment with Accreditation Canada’s rigorous standards, we’re strengthening our focus on transparency, accountability, and excellence, because protecting the health and well-being of our clients and staff is foundational to the care we provide.

Whether it’s tracking patient safety concerns or improving workplace conditions, our goal is to create safe, supportive environments where everyone feels valued, heard, and protected.

HSNS embraces Healthcare Excellence Canada’s expanded view of safety as proactive, compassionate, and resilient care—integrating these principles into daily practice to keep services safe, inclusive, and responsive to client needs.

Patient and staff safety are central to our mission, supported through:

  • Regular training

  • Quality improvement initiatives

  • Ongoing engagement with clients and staff

Core values guiding safety

  • Client-centred care

  • Leadership

  • Accessibility

  • Support

  • Safety

  • Integrity

  • Collaboration

Staff safety at HSNS

Occupational health and safety (OHS) is about keeping staff safe, supported, and informed.

Over the 2024–25 reporting period:

  • 35 staff safety incidents reported

  • 32 were related to infrastructure

  • Each site has a designated OHS representative

  • OHS Committee meets monthly

  • Annual hand hygiene training and audits

  • Annual site inspections at all locations

  • Information shared with Nova Scotia Health, IWK Health, and the Department of Health and Wellness

OHS goal:
To use incident trends and site data to drive safety improvements and integrate findings into broader quality initiatives aligned with HSNS values and Accreditation Canada’s standards.

Client safety at HSNS

Patient safety means delivering care that is timely, respectful, and free from harm. 

Examples of client safety concerns might include:

  • Delays in accessing services

  • Concerns about care delivery or experience

Over the 2024–25 reporting period:

  • 30 harmful incidents

  • 25 no-harm incidents

  • 19 near misses

  • 74 total client safety incidents

We track and analyze every incident.

With 58,425 total client visits during the year, 74 client safety incidents represent 0.13% or approximately 1 incident per 1000 visits.


Looking ahead

By embedding safety into every level of service and decision-making, HSNS is building a culture of learning and accountability for our clients, our teams, and our future.

Transparency in action

With thousands of visits each year, even a small percentage of safety incidents offers valuable insights into how we can do better.