▁since ▁the ▁in ception ▁of ▁the ▁province - wide ▁system ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 8 , ▁which ▁involved ▁the ▁am alg am ation ▁of ▁ 5 9 ▁separate ▁service ▁prov iders ▁across ▁Nova ▁Scot ia ▁to ▁create ▁a ▁province - wide ▁and ▁integrated ▁system . ▁ ▁Activ ities ▁The ▁Ext ended ▁Care ▁Program : ▁The ▁main ▁goal ▁of ▁an ▁E CP ▁is ▁to ▁respond ▁to ▁non - emer gency ▁calls ▁in ▁n urs ing ▁homes ▁where ▁they ▁will ▁assess ▁and ▁potentially ▁treat ▁patients ▁on ▁site . ▁This ▁will ▁reduce ▁the ▁need ▁for ▁some ▁patients ▁to ▁go ▁to ▁hospital ▁via ▁amb ul ance ▁and ▁wait ▁in ▁the ▁emer gency ▁department ▁for ▁several ▁hours , ▁thus ▁creating ▁a ▁more ▁personal ▁approach ▁to ▁health ▁care ▁by ▁allowing ▁patients ▁and ▁their ▁families ▁to ▁remain ▁in ▁a ▁comfortable ▁environment ▁for ▁as ▁long ▁as ▁possible . ▁ ▁The ▁C lin ical ▁Support ▁Des k : ▁Histor ically , ▁a ▁high ▁volume ▁of ▁calls ▁to ▁E HS ▁are ▁non - emer gency ▁and ▁as ▁such , ▁automatically ▁dispatch ing ▁an ▁amb ul ance ▁may ▁not ▁best ▁address ▁patient ▁needs ▁nor ▁is ▁it ▁the ▁best ▁use ▁of ▁resources . ▁However , ▁the ▁current ▁system ▁is ▁not ▁set ▁up ▁to ▁provide ▁alternate ▁levels ▁of ▁care ▁or ▁transport . ▁A ▁first ▁of ▁its ▁kind ▁in ▁Canada , ▁a ▁C lin ical ▁Support ▁Des k ▁( C SD ) ▁will ▁handle ▁these ▁low - acu ity ▁calls . ▁Par amed ics ▁and ▁n urs es , ▁with ▁active ▁clin ical ▁experience , ▁are