Primary Care providers will now send referrals for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)’s and ultrasounds, electronically.

The province says physicians have been using e-referrals for MRI’s since September, with roughly 900 referrals received since; but ultrasounds were added this week.

It’s in an effort to improve communication in the health care system.

“Transforming healthcare includes improving the tools, systems and processes that healthcare professionals use every day to help care for their patients,” said Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson. “Technology is helping us provide better communication, shorter wait times and overall better, faster care for Nova Scotians.”

Patients who provide an email will receive notification when the referral is sent, an appointment is booked, and the referral is updated. Patients still choose where they receive care and receive better information on the status of their referral.

In time, e-referrals should help reduce wait times by reducing misdirected or duplicate referrals.

Work is currently underway to include computerized tomography (CT) scans.