A look inside the implementation of a national standard through a learning health system lens

The CAN/HSO13200:2023 Pediatric Pain Management is the first-ever national standard for pediatric pain care. Grounded in a range of evidence, this framework guides quality, equitable care that reflects the needs of children from birth to 18 years old and their families. But, the standard alone is just one part of the solution—the real gains for patients happen when it’s put into practice. 

In this session, you’ll hear the story behind the standard—why it was needed, how it was developed in partnership between Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP) and the Health Standards Organization, and what it means for improving care for children across the country. Then you’ll learn how the standard is being applied in Nova Scotia through a collaborative approach involving IWK Health and rural hospitals across the province. We’ll walk through practical steps for implementation—understanding local context, identifying what’s working well and where there are gaps, and connecting teams with the right tools and resources. This process highlights how the standard is broken down into focused, actionable priorities at pilot sites. This work is part of SKIP, a national knowledge mobilization network, and the broader Maritime Child Health initiative, a pediatric learning health system that brings together clinicians and data experts to support timely, evidence-informed responses to pressing patient needs.