2024-12-20

On Other Channels...

Below is a digest of new blog posts across all the Connect Care clinician blog channels in the last week; this is our last digest for 2024. For more info on the blogs, click here. Note: A camera icon in a post on any of our channels indicates that there is an accompanying screenshot - just click the icon to view. 

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2024-12-18

Email Subscription Service Ending for Connect Care Clinician Blogs

Effective end of this month (December 31, 2024), we will be discontinuing our current email subscription service for all our Connect Care clinician blog channels. At this time, we do not have an alternate email subscription service available, but will continue to look for an appropriate service that meets our readers' needs. 

In the meantime, the blog channels do each support “subscribing” to their RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed, for those who use newsfeed readers - see the tip sheet for more information. For others, perhaps consider bookmarking the main Bytes channel (bytes.connect-care.ca) and checking in on Fridays and the end of each month. Digests of new blog posts across all Connect Care clinician blog channels are published most Fridays on Bytes under the title "On Other Channels". Also, our monthly prescriber newsletter, Between the Charts (news.connect-care.ca), highlights key blog posts from the previous month; issues are typically published in the last week of each month, and a notice is published on Bytes as soon as the next issue is available. Both of these updates are gathered under the tag "Updates", and can be directly bookmarked via ahs-cis.ca/cmioupdates.

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2024-12-13

On Other Channels...

Below is a digest of new blog posts across all the Connect Care clinician blog channels in the last week. For more info on the blogs, click here. Note: A camera icon in a post on any of our channels indicates that there is an accompanying screenshot - just click the icon to view. 

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2024-12-06

CMIO Prescriber Drop-in Now Closed

As we approach the end of the fifth week of Connect Care at the Launch 9 sites, the CMIO Virtual Drop-in Centre has now closed. Though the launch support period may have ended at your site, that is not the end of Connect Care support available for prescribers. 

It is expected that new users will continue to have questions as they encounter situations perhaps not covered in basic training, or when returning to a workflow they need a refresher on, or when there is an opportunity to dive into some of the more advanced tricks and tools available to get the most out of the Connect Care clinical information system (CIS) and make your user experience smoother. There are a number of post-launch supports in place for these reasons. 

  • If you are experiencing a problem that has possible immediate patient care impact, call the IT Service Desk & Solution Centre at 1-877-311-4300 (#1 for Connect Care). The Service Desk is able to provide high-level workflow and training support; urgent issues will be escalated to an on-call CMIO training team member.
  • For all other issues, take a look at this FAQ to discover the best post-launch resource to use for help.
Don't struggle - ask for help. A solution is likely just a call or click away.

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On Other Channels...

Below is a digest of new blog posts across all the Connect Care clinician blog channels in the last week. For more info on the blogs, click here. Note: A camera icon in a post on any of our channels indicates that there is an accompanying screenshot - just click the icon to view.  

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2024-11-29

On Other Channels...

Below is a digest of new blog posts across all the Connect Care clinician blog channels in the last week. For more info on the blogs, click here. Note: A camera icon in a post on any of our channels indicates that there is an accompanying screenshot - just click the icon to view.  

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2024-11-28

Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers - Issue 13 Now Available

Our monthly newsletter for prescribers, called "Between the Charts", summarizes key news items, Epic system updates, efficiency tips and extras that will help prescribers optimize their Connect Care user experience, all in two pages. The next issue is now out, available at the below link! This issue includes information on:

  • Launch 9 accomplishments and remaining prescriber Virtual Drop-In Centre hours
  • Airway alerts on Storyboard
  • Expanded access to improved transition planning and Exceptional Care Plan improvements
  • Ordering partial patch doses coming soon
  • Referral Order vs. Recommendation
  • Variables that may cause a delay in viewing images after completion of an imaging investigation
  • How to report broken resource links
  • Publication schedule for holiday season
  • And more!

The previous issues can still be accessed, via the archive in the Connect Care Manual. 

If you have any feedback on this issue or have a suggestion for content you'd like included in a future issue, please send us an email.

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2024-11-27

Seeking Site Medical Informatics Leads (All Zones)

Alberta Health Services is seeking passionate leaders to fill multiple available positions as Site Medical Informatics Leads (SMILs) in the North, Edmonton, Central, Calgary, and South Zones. The SMILs will collaborate closely with their Zone's Medical Leadership team and work together with leadership and healthcare practitioners at assigned facilities/site(s) to ensure the seamless integration and optimization of Digital Health. The SMILs will:

  • directly engage site leadership;
  • establish and maintain effective communications;
  • identify workflow and tool gaps;
  • contribute local/specialized knowledge;
  • be a visible champion for clinical systems; and
  • be involved in enhanced local decision-making.

The SMILs will be seasoned physicians within the province of Alberta who understand the complexities of large-scale transformational change, have experience in clinical operations, are committed to continuous quality improvement, and can contribute to the innovation, integration, and consistency of patient-centered clinical care. The successful candidates would report to the Chief Medical Information Officer.

The postings will remain open until suitable candidates are found. 

For a full description of the positions and to apply, see the relevant zonal posting:

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2024-11-25

All User Bulletin - Microsoft SharePoint File Collections Upgrade and Reporting Broken Links

All-user-bulletins highlight stumbling blocks that all prescribers need to be aware of when using the Connect Care clinical information system.

Internet Links to SharePoint Assets - Reporting Breaks
Users of Connect Care blogs (blogs.connect-care.ca) and the Clinician Manual (manual.connect-care.ca) may find broken resource links in the coming weeks as Alberta Health Services updates its instance of Microsoft SharePoint, where many resources are stored.

The CMIO portfolio has been careful to employ stable links that should survive the upgrade. We do not anticipate significant problems. Nonetheless, users can help by reporting any broken links, or other improvement requests, to the CMIO Editorial Board at:
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2024-11-22

Document and Results Routing Preferences for Mixed-Context Providers

Mixed-context providers (providers who work at AHS using Connect Care and in the community using another legal record of care) are able to receive results at multiple locations and by multiple methods including Connect Care In Basket, Fax, and eDelivery (electronic delivery direct to their EMR InBox). Delivery methods consider who (provider), where (location/address for each provider) and how (delivery method for each location/address). With this information, documents and results can be more consistently delivered to the right location (where the provider sees the patient). We call this approach to document and results routing “address-level delivery.”

The provider’s record in Connect Care lists the locations/addresses they work at and, for each location, the preferred delivery method for that location. Mixed-context providers may have location listed on their record in Connect Care that are locations that use Connect Care; providers may prefer for those locations to have a preferred delivery method of “In Basket”.

How does Connect Care route clinical information? 

Where and how clinical information is routed for mixed-context providers depends on what is on the provider’s record in Connect Care and on in-system user workflow (e.g., ordering department in Connect Care, type of information, selections by staff transcribing orders). Where and how the information is delivered is evaluated in this order:

  1. When a Connect Care user chooses the address and delivery method as part of their workflow, that will be used instead of a system default or preferences.
  2. If a provider is listed on the patient’s care team in Connect Care as the patient’s primary care provider (PCP), the location at which they see the patient will be used.
  3. If a location is not known, the provider’s primary/default address will be used.

How do I change my provider information or primary address?

You can request that your delivery preference be changed to your Connect Care In Basket by contacting the AHS IT Service Desk:

  • Call 1-877-311-4300, option 1, option 1.
  • Let them know you want to change your delivery preference to Connect Care In Basket for all AHS locations and whether you want your primary/default to be changed to your Connect Care In Basket.
  • Provide mailing address/phone/fax for that location.

For additional changes, a missing location, or if your clinic wishes to set up eDelivery to an EMR, complete the Provider Set-Up in Health Information Systems form.

For more information about Connect Care address-level delivery, see the FAQ:

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On Other Channels...

Below is a digest of new blog posts across all the Connect Care clinician blog channels in the last week. For more info on the blogs, click here. Note: A camera icon in a post on any of our channels indicates that there is an accompanying screenshot - just click the icon to view.  

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2024-11-18

BBHR: Exceptional Care Plan Improvements

Building a Better Health Record (BBHR)

As part of our documentation quality improvement initiative, we promote practical ways for clinicians to provide clear and actionable communication at transitions of care.

Improvements to Exceptional Care Plan Tools

Some patients suffer from chronic or recurring conditions that may present in settings where staff are unfamiliar with a patient's specific treatment requirements. Examples include rare bleeding disorders, complement deficiencies, and complex metabolic disorders, as well as multi-emergency department users requiring a consistent approach to management that may differ from typical practice.

Clinicians managing such patients may have devised individualized treatment plans that work best for a particular patient with a particular health condition. These "Exceptional Care Plans" (ECP) are documented in Connect Care using a workflow that ensures that the existence of the plan is highlighted for others.

ECP workflows have been enhanced to streamline and simplify the work of creating, updating, inactivating, reviewing and sharing for authorized providers. Workflow descriptions, tips and demonstrations are updated:

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2024-11-15

On Other Channels...

Below is a digest of new blog posts across all the Connect Care clinician blog channels in the last week. For more info on the blogs, click here. Note: A camera icon in a post on any of our channels indicates that there is an accompanying screenshot - just click the icon to view.  

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2024-11-08

On Other Channels...

Below is a digest of new blog posts across all the Connect Care clinician blog channels in the last week. For more info on the blogs, click here. Note: A camera icon in a post on any of our channels indicates that there is an accompanying screenshot - just click the icon to view. 

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2024-11-07

Improving Issue Reports and Help Desk Interactions

Problem reports (help.connect-care.ca "tickets") have been well within expectations so far with Connect Care Launch 9. Of course, more tickets are expected as clinical volumes ramp up. The good news is that tickets are resolved quickly, with critical tickets resolved within minutes to hours.

Helpdesk tickets route most efficiently when the user provides clear information at the right level of detail. See our tips for impactful issue reports:

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2024-11-05

BBHR: Expanded Access to Improved Transition Planning Tools

Building a Better Health Record (BBHR)

As part of our documentation quality improvement initiative, we promote practical ways for clinicians to provide clear and actionable communication at transitions of care.

Expanded Access to Improved Transition Planning Tools

Connect Care provides a set of integrated supports that can help clinicians anticipate and plan for a patient's discharge from hospital. Designed to facilitate multidisciplinary collaboration, the Transition Planning Package improves communications within and across encounters.

Recent enhancements expand access to a common set of standardized discharge planning tools for all participating disciplines, including transition coordinators, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, recreation therapy, psychology, spiritual care, respiratory therapy, speech language pathology, dietetics and social work. Care teams can customize the planning tools to adjust which discipline "readiness" statuses are tracked. A new rich text field allows teams an easier way to capture and continually update narrative planning considerations that arise in Rapid Rounds and are helpful to track.

In addition to full access to Rapid Rounds supports, all team members can view and interact with a patient's transition plan through an inpatient chart sidebar, summary activity index and/or summary activity "patient story" display. All have been enhanced in response to user feedback.

Finally, the current and discharge target "safe handling status" (SHS, a simple measure of requirements for things like patient transfers, correlating with functional mobility required for discharge readiness) is now incorporated into Connect Care transition planning tools. A SHS column can be added to Rapid Rounds (and other) patient lists. SHS current and target status is incorporated into the integrated readiness ("traffic lights") tool as well as chart sidebar, storyboard and other planning reports.

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2024-11-04

Phased Replacement of IMPAX Viewer - Starts November in North Zone

Provincial Enterprise Imaging (PEI) is replacing the IMPAX system as the new Picture Archive and Communication System (PACS). Implementation of PEI will be phased, starting with North Zone on November 12, 2024. The remaining zones will implement PEI between January and May 2025 (see this poster for a timeline). Note that, for North Zone's implementation, OrthoView will also be replacing MediCAD as the orthopedic templating software.

  • PEI Implementation
    • PEI is replacing the IMPAX system. PEI integrates into Connect Care and will help streamline workflows by providing convenient access to imaging data and reports.
    • After PEI implementation, many medical staff will view diagnostic images and reports via the XERO Viewer in Connect Care.
    • Training for PEI is through MyLearningLink. Medical staff who require PEI access will be given training information before implementation in their zone. 
    • In scope roles for access include radiologists, emergency prescribers, and orthopedic surgeons. For other prescribers who believe they may need access to PEI, please contact ProvincialEnterpriseImaging@ahs.ca. 
  • OrthoView Implementation (North Zone)
    • OrthoView will replace MediCAD. OrthoView is an advanced orthopedic planning tool integrated within PEI.
    • Training for OrthoView is available on request. For any prescribers who require training, please contact DIBusinessSupport@ahs.ca.  

For more information, see the posters. Reminders for the remaining zones will be posted here closer to their respective implementation dates.

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2024-11-02

Launch 9: We are GO!

As of 05:00 today, Connect Care welcomes 155 sites from across the province into the family; with this launch, Health Link and Correctional Health facilities are now on Connect Care, as well as additional Population and Public Health programs, and Continuing Care sites including Home Care, CapitalCare facilities and Covenant Health sites! The first few days will be intense, but with lots of help at hand we are confident that progress will be fast. 

Prescribers, please make use of the Virtual Drop-in Centre and other launch supports (launchhelp.connect-care.ca). Watch this channel for any updates, as well as the Support channel for information on "hot topic" common issues that have been flagged for Launch 9 prescribers. A Launch 9 Updates section in the Connect Care Manual also flags the largest system updates and workflow changes to be aware of (for prescribers in all launches).

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2024-11-01

Countdown Checklist L9: Drop In

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 9 prescribers readying for launch November 2, 2024...
  • Drop In
This ends our countdown checklist, with conversion of old to new charts well underway. We hope all goes well Saturday at 05:00 when the new charts become the official record of care!

Of course that's only the start. We'll have a working system but we'll need to grow it, and grow with it, to fulfill its potential.
Informatics specialists, Super Users and physician informatics leads are eager to help. Reach out.
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On Other Channels...

Below is a digest of new blog posts across all the Connect Care clinician blog channels in the last week. For more info on the blogs, click here. Note: A camera icon in a post on any of our channels indicates that there is an accompanying screenshot - just click the icon to view.  

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Countdown Checklist L9, T-minus 0: Share and Learn

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 9 prescribers readying for launch November 2, 2024...
  • Share and Learn
We are down to the final few hours. Any preparations that could be, have been. Now we must turn to one another in a spirit of collaboration.

Super Users are widely distributed. Look for yellow and orange lanyards (prescriber supports; pink caps in the OR). Don't struggle. Ask for help.
  • Late breaking tips and gap-fillers will be added to the Connect Care Manual. System/workflow updates and training addendums to be aware of around launch are also flagged on the Launch 9 Updates page of the Manual.
  • The Connect Care Prescriber Updates will focus on pointers to new material, key developments, tips, tricks and FAQs. Use the buttons at the top, especially Tips, FAQ and Support.
  • Ask a Super User or call the IT Service Desk with urgent needs: 1-877-311-4300.
  • Request non-urgent (not addressed by peers and Super Users) needs, ideas and suggestions at help.connect-care.ca.
  • Use the Virtual Drop-in Centre (virtualhelp.connect-care.ca).
Super Users use social media to rapidly share learnings so they can be widely applied... ask them for help. They can also way-find when they are unable to provide immediate help themselves.
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2024-10-31

AHS Digital Scribe Project

An exciting Quality Improvement project is about to launch in three emergency departments within AHS. Starting November 5, an artificial intelligence (AI) digital scribe application is going to be trialed by a small group of emergency physicians at the University of Alberta Hospital, the Royal Alexandra Hospital, and the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre (RDRHC). 

The project is a collaboration between AHS, the University of Alberta, and the Canadian Medical Association. Created initially by RDRHC emergency physician Dr. Mike Weldon with subsequent development by an in-house AHS team, the app, called AHS Digital Scribe, records and transcribes conversations between doctors and patients, and translates relevant details into medical notes. Once they review the notes, physicians can then copy and paste that information into Connect Care. The patient data are kept private and secure, within AHS. 

The hope is that the AHS Digital Scribe will reduce the administrative burden on physicians, while improving the care experience for both patients and their healthcare providers. With this technology, providers can hopefully focus more on direct patient care than on typing or dictating notes. 

Initially, there will only be a small number of physicians in each designated emergency department using the digital scribe technology, but the intention is to increase the number over the coming months. We want to gather their feedback to better understand how this works in our healthcare environment and the impact it has on the clinician and patient experience. If it is shown to be successful, we will investigate the feasibility and cost of a larger project that could be integrated with Connect Care.  

More information on the AHS Digital Scribe project is available at the Canadian Medical Association site: University of Alberta | CMA. It’s expected the 2-year pilot will be complete by June 2026.

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Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers - Issue 12 Now Available

Our monthly newsletter for prescribers, called "Between the Charts", summarizes key news items, Epic system updates, efficiency tips and extras that will help prescribers optimize their Connect Care user experience, all in two pages. The next issue is now out, available at the below link! This issue includes information on:

  • Prescriber Virtual Drop-In Centre for Launch 9 and Arthur Child prescribers/consultants 
  • Workflow updates for all launches due to Launch 9
  • Daylight Savings Time on November 3
  • MyAHS Connect access changes and referral information
  • Simplified discharge dispositions for IFTs
  • H&P lookback setting extended
  • Op Notes in Prep for Procedure navigator 
  • Advanced Care Planning/Goals of Care Designation updates
  • E0 Case Scheduling workflow updates for all STAT surgical cases
  • SMAT changes in pediatric/neonatal order sets coming soon
  • AHS Digital Scribe Project
  • And more!

The previous issues can still be accessed, via the archive in the Connect Care Manual. 

If you have any feedback on this issue or have a suggestion for content you'd like included in a future issue, please send us an email.

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Important Updates for All Connect Care Prescribers (Launches 1-9)

To prepare for Launch 9, there have been a number of system updates and new or changed workflows that affect both new and previously launched Connect Care prescribers. 

A new section in the Connect Care Manual flags the largest updates and changes to be aware of - Launch 9 Updates. It includes the following topics:

  • Changes relating to admitting from/discharging to Continuing Care facilities launching in North and Edmonton Zones
  • Changes to disposition selection in the Discharge order for all IFTs 
  • Changes related to Population and Public Health programs joining Connect Care, including Health Link

Any additional changes needing attention during the launch support period will be flagged on the Launch 9 Updates page of the Manual, as well as the Connect Care Support Blog channel, our regular channel for posting system updates. Check back often, and consider subscribing to the Support Blog to receive new blog posts directly to your email.
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Countdown Checklist L9, T-minus 1: You've Got This!

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 9 prescribers readying for launch November 2, 2024...
  • You've Got This -- And We've Got Your Back
Physicians, nurse practitioners and other prescribers have dedicated time and energy to preparing for Connect Care Launch 9. You've got this! 
  • There are approximately 285 CMIO end users across the North, Edmonton, Central, Calgary, and South Zones who are part of Launch 9.
  • 20 CMIO Super Users are deployed across the province, for CMIO end user support totalling over 720 hours of scheduled availability (this is expected to increase in the coming week). 
  • 1127 hours of virtual drop-in support are scheduled for prescribers during the pre- and post-launch period.
Watch for Connect Care posters in Launch 9 sites, prescriber updates, and the launch support pages in the Manual.
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2024-10-30

Countdown Checklist L9, T-minus 2: Catch Up Dictations

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 9 prescribers readying for launch November 2, 2024...
  • Dictate any pre-launch admission or transfer notes
Launch 9 inpatient facilities are supported for dictation of admission histories, transfer notes, consultation reports and discharge summaries. This is done through the provincial eScription service, with products appearing in the Netcare electronic health record. These dictations will also be available to refer to in Connect Care when it launches.

Succinct initial progress notes become possible in Connect Care if they can refer to an existing digital admission or transfer record and simply note any changes since. The same applies for Consults performed in the coming week for patients expected to still be in-hospital post-launch.
  • Take advantage of eScription to facilitate easier Connect Care cutover this weekend!
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2024-10-29

Countdown Checklist L9, T-minus 3: Buddy Up, Team Up

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 9 prescribers readying for launch November 2, 2024...
  • Buddy-Up and Team-Up
Every clinical group will have members who like, and others who dislike, information management. This is a good time to recognize this reality and identify buddies for providers who may struggle.

There are valuable human resources embedded in Launch 9 sites and others flowing in from Zone sites already on Connect Care. Pre-socialize your Super Users, Medical Informatics Leads, Area Trainers and other specialty, ward or clinic informaticians. Create and share a launch contact list that fits your local group needs. Prescriber launch supports (launchhelp.connect-care.ca) link to a Super User schedule - good contacts to start with.

This is also a good time to consider how clinical information system adoption work can be divided and shared. Some personalization tasks, for example, can dramatically improve the user experience but take time to set up. Many can be initiated by a team member who understands the preferences of colleagues then shared for adoption by a larger group. Examples of allocatable personalization tasks are listed in the Connect Care Manual.

Consider devoting group, division, or other business meetings to identifying, and sharing, remaining team readiness tasks.
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2024-10-28

Countdown Checklist L9, T-minus 4: Unburden as Possible

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 9 prescribers readying for launch November 2, 2024...
  • Unburden where and when Possible
Many clinical services have limited abilities to control patient numbers or clinical workloads. However, each Launch 9 zone is implementing strategies to ease launch pressures in ways that befit their units and capabilities. In addition, clinicians can help by:
  • Identifying and flagging complex continuing patients who may need more cutover attention during the pre-launch week (see previous posts on pre-launch cutover tasks here and here). 
  • Printing patient lists the evening before launch to ease populating provider care team lists on launch day.
  • Protecting time before launch to confirm access to the Connect Care production environment for re-familiarization with training activities and high-value personalizations.
See our Byte about workload planning for more information.
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2024-10-27

Countdown Checklist L9, T-minus 5: Find Help at the Virtual Drop-In Centre

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 9 prescribers readying for launch November 2, 2024...
  • Take advantage of the Prescriber Virtual Drop-in Centre
The Virtual Drop-in Centre provides Launch 9 prescribers with support virtually, and is good for troubleshooting issues related to: mobility, personal devices, dictation, personalization and workflows; login, role and access problems; and more complex issues.

The Virtual Drop-in Centre is already open! More information on the Virtual Drop-in Centre – including how to access and a full schedule of hours during the launch support period –  can be found in the Connect Care Manual (launchhelp.connect-care.ca).
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2024-10-26

Countdown Checklist L9, T-minus 6: Follow the Tippies

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 9 prescribers readying for launch November 2, 2024...
  • Follow Connect Care Tippies
With most Launch 9 prescribers having full Connect Care production access, this is prime time for setting up starter personalizations that can streamline Connect Care workflows at launch. This is also a great time to collect simple best practices that colleagues have found most useful. These "Tippy" peer-to-peer tips can be considered within a moment, with many able to speed things up for most users.

Tippies are published on our "Tips" channel (button above or tips.connect-care.ca) and are re-released approximately twice a week in the peri-launch period. Please consider subscribing to the Tips channel.

The entire Tippies collection can be viewed via tippies.connect-care.ca or tippy.connect-care.ca (worth bookmarking).
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2024-10-25

On Other Channels...

Thank you for continuing to check the Connect Care update blog for prescribers (ideally, subscribe to multiple channels; see instructions). Recent additions to this blog and its various channels are listed below. Reminder that a camera icon in a blog post on any of our channels indicates that there is an accompanying screenshot - just click the icon to view. 

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Countdown Checklist L9, T-minus 7: Support Cutover Activities

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 9 prescribers readying for launch November 2, 2024...
  • Support Cutover Activities
Key for attending physicians, nurse practitioners and trainees anticipating Launch 9 inpatient and/or outpatient launch is work to make sure that essential information is ready for loading or linking into the Connect Care clinical information system before launch... and that legacy systems are tidied up so that they can be retired. Related preparations include: 
  • General inpatient: Make sure that all dictations are complete and signed; use dictation (eScription) for all admissions, transfers and consults between now and launch, if possible, so that transition notes at launch can refer to recent documentation in Netcare. 
  • Outpatient: Make sure that all clinic documentation is complete, signed and routed, while also taking care to close any charts still open in legacy systems.
  • Long-term care (LTC): Review orders entered into Connect Care for LTC residents to ensure accuracy of medication and non-medication orders. 
    • Complex patients: Consider pre-launch problem list documentation to support easy transition note generation at launch. Please be aware that clinical teams may still be entering information up until November 1 at 23:30.
  • Post-acute: Please ensure all forms are reviewed and signed by October 30. All new patients admitted from October 31 to November 1 will need cutover forms signed. 
Reminder: All team members should be logged out of the legacy and Connect Care systems by November 1 at 23:30, and remain out of the system until November 2 at 05:00.
Key resources:
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2024-10-24

Countdown Checklist L9, T-minus 8: Complete Login Lab

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 9 prescribers readying for launch November 2, 2024...
  • Complete CMIO Login Lab
It is essential that all Launch 9 prescribers confirm access to the AHS Network (insite.ahs.ca), to the Unified Access Portal (myapps.ahs.ca) and to Production (PRD) Connect Care.

In addition, all prescribers are required to complete a "CMIO Login Lab" found within Connect Care Hyperspace. This checks that the right tools are assigned to the user in the right way. 

Step-by-step instructions are provided in a tip:
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2024-10-23

Countdown Checklist L9, T-minus 9: Check In Basket

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 9 prescribers readying for launch November 2, 2024...
  • Check In Basket
Launch 9 prescribers who have completed basic training and the associated proficiency assessment gain access to the Connect Care production environment (PRD), where they can complete personalizations and otherwise get ready for launch. As soon as a prescriber gains access to PRD, they also have an active "In Basket", with immediate implications to the routing of patient test results and communication.

Some prescribers participate in or are affected by early cutover and conversion activities; they can line up orders that need to be ready in the system at launch. There may be communications that relate to setting up surgical cases or outpatient encounters that will occur post-launch. In addition, once a prescriber's account is activated in PRD, new test results will start to automatically route to the prescriber's In Basket, and other Connect Care users can send messages to the prescriber via In Basket.

More information on managing results and reports is available in the Connect Care Manual. A Results Management Toolkit has been prepared (and is continually enhanced) to help prescribers hone effective and efficient results management habits. Prescribers with "mixed-context" practices need to be aware of situations where results might route to both their Connect Care and external EMR systems.

For these and other reasons, it is best to start regular In Basket checks now. A useful In Basket personalization sends alerts to an email of one's choice when there is new In Basket content.
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2024-10-22

Countdown Checklist L9, T-minus 10: Anticipate Computerized Prescriber Order Entry (CPOE)

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 9 prescribers readying for launch November 2, 2024...
  • Anticipate CPOE
Computerized Prescriber Order Entry (CPOE) refers to the process of a medical prescriber entering orders electronically via a digital health record instead of using paper-based processes. 

CPOE offers an important means by which health processes and outcomes can improve. Entered orders trigger clinical decision supports that can help avoid unsafe medications, promote best practices and improve system performance. Studies show that the move from paper to CPOE decreases common medication errors by 50% or more.

Accordingly, it is a Minimum Use expectation that all tests, interventions and medications that can be ordered in Connect Care must be ordered in Connect Care. Very few exceptions are acceptable.

Connect Care provides tools that make CPOE as easy as possible. Indeed, with the convenience of ordering personalized favourites on any computer or mobile device, anywhere, anytime, ordering is easier to do, and do well, than when constrained by paper. Still, Launch 9 will bring significant change for many providers at facilities moving from paper to computerized order entry. This is a good time to anticipate and prepare for CPOE. Launch 9 prescribers should discuss with their medical leadership about expectations of CPOE as well as their department’s non-urgent communication tools pact.
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2024-10-21

Countdown Checklist L9, T-minus 11: Anticipate Post-Acute Cutover

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 9 prescribers readying for launch November 2, 2024...
  • Anticipate Post-Acute Cutover
Cutover for post-acute care is a process through which key pieces of information about admitted patients are entered into Connect Care prior to launch. The primary concern for prescribers will be the management of medication and non-medication orders, and the translation of important information about patients’ clinical status from a paper record to Connect Care.

Prescribers facilitate six key tasks as part of post-acute cutover processes:
  • Pre-Launch (October 23–November 1)
    1. Clean up medication orders in legacy systems. Remove unnecessary orders or unused PRNs.
    2. Fill out or review and sign Non-Medication Order Forms for each admitted patient. Should be found on the front of charts. Deadline is end of day October 30 for post-acute care teams. Ensure the orders are predictive of the patient needs as of November 2 at 05:00.
    3. If Best Possible Medication History (BPMH) was NOT done on the legacy BPMH form at admission, it will have to be done. Prescribers must review/complete and sign an AHS-approved BPMH form. (If BPMH was done on admission, there is nothing to do for this step.)
    4. Optional: Create list of all patients the team is following by November 1 at 23:30, to ensure smooth creation of provider specific and specialty lists.
    5. Optional: Summary Migration and Problem List entry can occur October 31–November 1 if teams wish to do this work ahead of time. 
    • Reminder: All team members should be logged out of the legacy and Connect Care systems by November 1 at 23:30, and remain out of the system until November 2 at 05:00.
  • Post-Launch (November 2)
    1. Compare legacy Medication and Non-Medication orders to Connect Care orders. Orders that will be missing include but are not limited to: 
      • Ongoing lab orders, only the first 24 hours worth of lab are being brought over.
      • Reoccurring medications that were ordered after pharmacy closure time. 
      • Wound Care orders. 
      • Area specific orders.
      • Orders that have changed since cutover occurred for patient.
    2. Optional: If teams have decided to utilize patient lists, create provider specific and specialty lists by finding their patients on the individual units throughout the site. Once patients are located, attach your service provider team to the patients’ Current Encounter Treatment Team.
The following resources can help prescribers prepare for post-acute cutover activities (for long-term care/Continuing Care activities, see this post):
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2024-10-20

Countdown Checklist L9, T-minus 12: Know Where to Get Downtime Help

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 9 prescribers readying for launch November 2, 2024...
  • Know where to get Downtime Help
The Connect Care clinical information system (CIS) needs periodic maintenance. Scheduled downtimes can happen as often as monthly, usually in the early hours of a weekday (e.g., between 00:30 and 04:30), avoiding peak patient care times. Downtimes can affect CIS parts (e.g., linked WellSky transfusion system) and/or the entire digital health record. Details about affected sub-systems are posted in advance of a planned downtime, and a variety of backup systems ensure that things like test results, order sets, documentation and other key tools remain accessible. During downtime, a CIS environment that provides a read-only view of chart information is available.

Most clinicians rarely, if ever, experience a scheduled downtime, and unscheduled downtimes are even rarer. The key is to know where to find just-in-time information and support.

The Connect Care Manual is hosted on separate servers not affected by AHS infrastructure, and so remains available during downtimes. In preparation for launch, check out the following link to see what the Manual covers. Essential information on downtime procedures is covered in a 1-page tip sheet, worth bookmarking. The first downtime scheduled after launch will be in February 2025, so there will be plenty of time to prepare.
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2024-10-19

Countdown Checklist L9, T-minus 13: Get Ready for RAAPID

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 9 prescribers readying for launch November 2, 2024...
  • Get Ready for RAAPID
Transferring admitted patients between facilities may seem a confusing process, particularly when the receiving facility is not on Connect Care. But there's help! 
  • RAAPID: The RAAPID (Referral, Access, Advice, Placement, Information & Destination) service manages all consultation requests within Connect Care, streamlining the process into a single "Intake Encounter". If transferring a patient to an alternate level of care or to emergency care, call RAAPID first.
  • Leave of Absence (LOA): Once RAAPID is involved in the process, a Leave of Absence order should be entered to communicate the unit to start the transfer process in Connect Care.
For additional information on RAAPID and LOA workflows, see the Connect Care Manual. 
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2024-10-18

Countdown Checklist L9, T-minus 14: Confirm Dual Roles

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 9 prescribers readying for launch November 2, 2024...
  • Ambidextrous? Let us know!
Most physicians work within a primary care or specialty service and are well served by the Connect Care department, role and user template initially assigned to them. Some prescribers work in multiple facilities or specialties (e.g., Critical Care and Medicine), still served well by their Connect Care toolset and the ability to change departments (contexts) on the fly.

Some prescribers work in two or more clinical areas that require quite different clinical information system (CIS) modules. The emergency module (ASAP), for example, is not like the critical care user interface. If one needs to switch between different modules for different roles (e.g., ER physician and Critical Care physician), then more than one "job" needs to be added to one's Connect Care prescriber record.

Connect Care has made these configuration changes for dual-role prescribers who are already known. If you think you may have been missed, likely because you do not see a module you need in PRD, get in touch with Medical Affairs or Provincial NP Services to request adjustments to your profile.
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2024-10-16

Countdown Checklist L9, T-minus 16: Check Provider Registry Entry

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 9 prescribers readying for launch November 2, 2024...
  • Confirm PROVIDER REGISTRY Information
The Connect Care clinical information system (CIS) draws from a “provider registry” to store information about clinicians in the CIS. The registry is also a source of information that can affect how CIS user roles and permissions are set up, how providers can find and communicate with one another, and how things like preference lists and referrals work. 

It is important that this information be correct, and getting ready for Connect Care launch is a perfect time to validate information about oneself. Specific instructions are provided in: 
Access and identity essentials are described in the Connect Care Manual.
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2024-10-15

CMIO Prescriber Virtual Drop-In Centre Now Open

The CMIO Connect Care Launch 9 Prescriber Virtual Drop-in Centre is now open! 

The Virtual Drop-in Centre provides Launch 9 prescribers with support virtually, and is good for troubleshooting issues related to: mobility, personal devices, dictation, personalization and workflows; login, role and access problems; and more complex issues. 

The Virtual Drop-in is open Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 16:00, from October 15 to November 1 (closed Saturdays and Sundays). Hours then increase once the Launch 9 sites are live on Connect Care, and the Virtual Drop-in will remain open into December.

More information on the Virtual Drop-in Centre (including how to access and a full schedule of hours during the launch support period) can be found at launchhelp.connect-care.ca.

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2024-10-14

Countdown Checklist L9, T-minus 18: Identify Launch Supports

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 9 prescribers readying for launch November 2, 2024...
  • Identify Launch Supports
This is a good time to check that you and your colleagues know who the Super Users, Medical Informatics Leads or other peer-resources are for your clinical site, group, area or clinic. They can facilitate pre-launch personalization activities. They will be present and a great resource during the weeks around launch. 

Clinical groups may plan for their own start and end-of-day check-ins to flag issues to forward to twice daily launch support meetings.

Note where Launch Supports are described in the Connect Care Manual. This information is frequently updated with specifics about how to find and use in-person, online and telephone supports for help with Connect Care on-boarding, including the daily Super User schedule and details about the Launch 9 Virtual Drop-in Centre (which opens tomorrow, October 15).
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2024-10-11

On Other Channels...

Thank you for continuing to check the Connect Care update blog for prescribers (ideally, subscribe to multiple channels; see instructions). Recent additions to this blog and its various channels are listed below. Reminder that a camera icon in a blog post on any of our channels indicates that there is an accompanying screenshot - just click the icon to view. 

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Countdown Checklist L9, T-minus 21: Confirm PRD Access

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 9 prescribers readying for launch November 2, 2024...
  • Check your PRD (Production) Access
All prescribers who have completed their On Our Best Behaviours (InfoCare) training and Connect Care Proficiency Assessment (EUPA) should be able to log in to the full production version of Connect Care (PRD) by now.

Please do the following from within an AHS network (AHSRESTRICT) or from outside with the aid of an RSA security Token:
  1. Go to myapps.ahs.ca and log in with your AHS username and password. Can't get in? See "Access Problems" in the Connect Care Manual.
  2. Once logged in to myapps.ahs.ca, ensure that the PRD (production) Connect Care icon is available. If not, see "Access to Connect Care Clinical Applications" in the Manual.


  3. Open PRD and log in with your AHS username and password. Can't get in? Contact AHS IT Service Desk or ConnectCare.SupportTeam.Security@ahs.ca. 
We are trying to identify Launch 9 users who somehow got missed in access provisioning. Do not expect access if OOBB (InfoCare) or EUPA is not complete.
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2024-10-10

MyAHS Connect - Access Update

As of October 4, 2024, Connect Care's patient portal, MyAHS Connect, is now available to all Albertans with an Alberta Health MyHealth Records account.

  • Prescribers and staff no longer need to complete the previous activation steps for patients, and can instead provide patients with access information for MyHealth Records.
  • The previous activation workflow has been updated to reflect the new access requirements.
  • The self sign-up workflow is no longer required for prescribers and staff to get access to their own MyAHS Connect account. Prescribers who would like to access their MyAHS Connect account can do so by logging in to their MyHealth Records account.
  • With this update, MyAHS Connect users (and their proxies) can also now view their Connect Care referrals information within MyAHS Connect.
  • Proxy access workflows have not changed.

We are currently working to update all our existing prescriber resources to reflect this change.
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2024-10-09

Seeking Digital Health Provincial Medical Informatics Leads

Alberta Health Services is seeking passionate leaders to fill multiple available positions as Digital Health Provincial Medical Informatics Leads (PMILs). The PMILs will be at the forefront of driving digital transformation in health care across the province. This pivotal role combines clinical expertise with digital health leadership to shape the future of clinical information systems through:

  • maintenance and improvement of knowledge and workflows in clinical information systems, with a goal to improve quality, efficiency, and safety of patient care;
  • engagement with prescribers to gather input and advice on clinical information system improvements, as well as to act as a champion for system adoption; and
  • development of communications and education materials for prescribers, to drive optimal system use and improve user satisfaction. 

In these capacities, each PMIL will be the key Digital Health medical lead on the provincial Clinical Systems Improvement (CSI) Team for a given clinical program. The available PMIL positions are for the following specialties: Emergency & EMS, Critical Care, Neuroscience & Stroke, Medicine, Surgery, Cardiovascular, Women's Health, Children's Health, Cancer, Population and Public Health, Indigenous Health, Mental Health & Addiction, Continuing Care, Primary Care, Lab, and DI.

The PMILs will be seasoned physicians within the province of Alberta who understand the complexities of large-scale transformational change, are committed to continuous quality improvement, and can contribute to the innovation, integration, and consistency of patient-centered clinical care. The successful candidates would report to the assigned Physician Design Leads for their clinical program and the Chief Medical Information Officer, and will work closely with a number of teams within the Chief Medical Information Office, Clinical Operations Informatics Office, and Information Technology.

The posting will remain open until suitable candidates are found. 

For a full description of the position and to apply:

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