Connect Care anticipates a scheduled downtime in the early hours of November 19, 2026 to implement the Fall Upgrade (post with details to come this week). Connect Care uses a "transparent lockdown" process during upgrades to help prepare the system and reduce the update workload, resulting in a shortened downtime window. The transparent lockdown period for the upcoming downtime is from Friday, November 13, 2026 at 13:00 to Thursday, November 19, 2026 at 04:30.
The lockdown does not affect system performance, existing workflows, or the activities of most users (thus "transparent"). Prescribers will have access to their personalized orders, tools and templates during the lockdown; however, there will be no ability to create new personalizations during the lockdown period. For more details:Connect Care Bytes Blog
Health informatics briefs for clinicians; from the Health Shared Services Chief Medical Information Office (CMIO@hssab.ca).
2026-11-09
For Awareness: EMS CIS Downtime - November 11, 2026, 05:00-07:00
Siren, the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) clinical information system, will be taking a scheduled downtime on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, from 05:00 to 07:00 for the vendor's monthly maintenance. While this will likely have little impact on Connect Care prescribers (and Connect Care will remain available), please be aware that, during this time:
- ePCR (Patient Care Reports) and ECG results from Siren will not be available to view in Connect Care. This information will be queued and transmitted to Connect Care once the downtime is complete.
- EMS will be able to print ePCRs and ECG results, which can be scanned into Connect Care.
2026-11-05
Provincial Electronic Medical Death Information (eMDI) System Downtime, November 6, 2026 22:00-07:00 November 9, 2026
The Alberta provincial Electronic Medical Death Information (eMDI) system will be unavailable from Friday, November 6 at 22:00 until Monday, November 9 at 07:00. During this outage, Medical Certificates of Death (MCoD) entered to Connect Care will not be available electronically to funeral homes. As a result, a "Record of Death Information" must be printed and provided manually. Connect Care will remain available throughout this period and all MCoDs completed in Connect Care during the downtime will flow to eMDI after the downtime.
- Physicians and Nurse Practitioners should continue to complete the electronic Medical Certificate of Death (eMCOD) in Connect Care.
- Facility patient registration (admitting) staff or Unit staff will be able to print the Record of Death Information in most cases.
- In the event that the prescriber needs to do the printing, please see this tip sheet.
- Just-in-time instructions will appear within the Discharge as Deceased Navigator (inpatient and outpatient contexts) in the MCoD section during the downtime.
If further information or assistance is needed, please contact the IT Service Desk and Provincial Solution Centre (1-877-311-4300).
2026-10-30
Transition to Alberta Time November 1, 2026
Beginning November 1, 2026, Alberta will adopt permanent Alberta Time (ABT) and eliminate the practice of semi-annual clock changes. Key Connect Care impacts to be aware of as of November 1:
- Connect Care scheduling should not be affected. However, as unanticipated effects are still possible, please remain vigilant for unintended 1-hour shifts of appointments, timed medication administrations, etc.
- Due to an issue with how the new time zone has been set by some mobile carriers, device manufacturers are needing to fix the time zone to align with Epic’s access requirements for the Haiku mobility app. This fix is unfortunately not expected until after November 1, and will likely be different for each manufacturer. In the meantime, it is recommended that prescribers using Haiku click to accept the time zone warning that may appear on personal (BYOD) devices when logging in to Haiku. This will allow automated time zone updates to continue, and no future action will be needed once the device manufacturer implements the fix. While users can temporarily manually adjust their device’s time zone to “Americas, City: Edmonton”, this would cause issues if travelling into another time zone, and would require future action once the device manufacturer implements the fix.
- Patients may unintentionally arrive for appointments 1 hour off, as a result of unintentional time shift impacts to their own calendar/schedule software.
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.
- Bytes (general new items; this channel)
- Support (recent/upcoming system updates, optimization training opportunities)
- RSV Immunoprophylaxis Added to Newborn Order Sets
- Lumens Update - Cancel Scheduled Procedures from Verify Orders Activity
- Obstetrics Update - New SmartLinks to Document PPROM
- Optimization Training - Classes in November 2026
- Manual
- See What's New (updates and additions)
- Connect Care Fall 2026 Upgrade - Watch this page for information on the upcoming Fall Upgrade, going live Nov 19.
- Wisdom Launch - Watch this page for information on the first phase of the Wisdom dental application launch on Nov 23.
- Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers (current issue and archives)
2026-10-29
Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers - Issue 32 Now Available
Our monthly newsletter for prescribers, 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:
- Transition to Alberta Time (November 1)
- Fall Upgrade - Updates, transparent lockdown, scheduled downtime (November 19)
- Transfusion Medicine updates (November 19)
- Changes to image-guided procedure ordering (weeks of October 26, November 2)
- Provincial expansion of AI tools in Connect Care, cohort 1 now live
- Wisdom dental application phase 1 launch (November 23)
- Discharge planning workflow demo
- Blood transfusion consent process reminder
- November Optimization (a.k.a. Thrive) classes
- 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.
2026-10-23
On Other Channels...
Below is a digest of new blog posts across all the Connect Care clinician blog channels in the last 3 weeks. For more info on the blogs, click here.
- Bytes (general new items; this channel)
- Updates to FAST Outgoing Referrals Process
- Provincial Expansion of AI Tools in Connect Care – Inpatient Insights and Draft Hospital Course
- Calgary Zone: New Wisdom Dentistry Functionality in Connect Care
- Calgary and Edmonton Prescribers: Have Feedback on Haiku or Canto? [in-person event Oct 27-28]
- Support (recent/upcoming system updates, optimization training opportunities)
- Change for Clinical View Only Secure Chat Attachments
- Updates to Narcotic Transition Services Adult Order Set
- Lab Results Review Update – Hematology, Coagulation, Immunology, Pathology
- Anesthesia Storyboard Changes
- Changes to Image-Guided Procedure Ordering
- Neurosciences Visit Type Optimization [updated Oct 22]
- Tool Tune Up: October 2026 Order Tool Updates [updated Oct 22]
- Manual
- See What's New (updates and additions)
- Connect Care Fall 2026 Upgrade - Watch this page for information on the upcoming Fall Upgrade, going live Nov 19.
- Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers (current issue and archives)
- Current issue: September 2026
- New issue coming next week!
2026-10-21
Calgary and Edmonton Prescribers: Have Feedback on Haiku or Canto?
Epic representatives will be visiting sites in Calgary and Edmonton on October 27 and 28, 2026, to gather feedback on the Haiku and Canto mobile apps from physicians and nurse practitioners who use them in their clinical workflows.
Interested in providing feedback that can help shape the future of these tools? If you're a Connect Care prescriber working at one of the below sites within the listed time windows, please consider signing up to have an Epic representative shadow you for 1 hour so they can see firsthand how these apps are performing in real clinical workflows. Drop-in rooms will also be open for prescribers to stop by at their convenience to chat about any challenges or ideas regarding the apps.
- Calgary
- Foothills Medical Centre
- Shadowing sessions: October 27, 08:15–11:00, 13:00–15:00
- Drop-in room: Physician Lounge, October 27, 08:15–12:00, 13:00–15:00
- Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
- Shadowing sessions: October 28, 08:15–11:00, 13:00–15:00
- Drop-in room: YC101201, October 28, 08:15–12:00, 13:00–15:00
- Edmonton
- University of Alberta Hospital
- Shadowing sessions: October 27 & 28, 08:15–11:00, 13:00–15:00
- Drop-in room: IJ2.02, October 27 & 28, 08:15–12:00, 13:00–15:00
Sign up for the shadowing sessions is via a QR code on the below linked poster, and is open until the day of the visit. If you're unavailable on these days but still want to share feedback on the apps, please feel free to submit your thoughts using the QR code at the bottom of the poster.
2026-10-20
Calgary Zone: New Wisdom Dentistry Functionality in Connect Care
Beginning October 20, 2026, prescribers who log in to the Calgary Zone Dentistry virtual department will see new "Wisdom" dental tools and activities in Connect Care. However, please do not use these features at this time. These features are being added to Connect Care in preparation for the Wisdom dental application launch with Public Health and Corrections dental clinics on November 23, 2026, and should not be used until launch and required training is complete.
Prescribers included in the Wisdom launch on November 23 will receive more information and training prior to launch; no action is currently required. If you prefer to make the Wisdom tools less visible before launch, you can personalize your workspace - see the memo for details.
2026-10-14
UPDATED: Provincial Expansion of AI Tools in Connect Care – Inpatient Insights and Draft Hospital Course
Health Shared Services has been working actively with clinical teams to evaluate the efficacy, safety and impacts of using AI tools in Connect Care. In pilot testing earlier this year, two chart summarization tools from Epic’s “Nebula AI” platform received positive feedback from prescribers, earning praise for improving clinical efficiency. On this basis, these tools will soon be made available to Connect Care prescribers across the province:
- Inpatient Insights – creates summaries of events during an inpatient stay, useful for clinical handover and case review
- Draft Hospital Course – creates a summary “hospital course” for use in discharge summaries
The tools will be rolled out in three phases, spreading out the number of new users over time so that sufficient support for onboarding and safe clinical use can be provided for each cohort. Prescribers have been assigned to implementation cohorts based on their Medical Affairs department specialty designation as identified by the CPSA:
- Cohort One – beginning October 19, 2026
- Included specialties: Critical Care Medicine, Family Medicine, General Internal Medicine
- Cohort Two – beginning January 2027
- Included specialties: Addictions & Mental Health, Medicine subspecialties, Oncology, Pediatrics, Residents and Fellows
- Cohort Three – beginning February 2027
- Included specialties: Anesthesiology, Rural, Surgery & Transplant, Women's Health (Obs/Gyne), Pathology, Nurse Practitioners
When access is available, prescribers will receive an email with instructions for training and onboarding.
We look forward to sharing these new AI tools with prescribers, while providing sufficient training and support to ensure safe and effective use in clinical practice.
More information:
Updates to FAST Outgoing Referrals Process
The Connect Care Electronic Referral Solution project has been working toward integration between Connect Care and the Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment (FAST) program’s electronic record, allowing for the two systems to communicate with each other. As part of this work, as of October 16, 2026, a few enhancements will be made to the process for outgoing referrals to the FAST program, as listed below.
- Prescribers will continue to place the referral order in Connect Care the same way; however, any additional information that needs to be sent with the referral must be indicated in the relevant text box (click the camera icon for a screenshot) to ensure the referral is flagged for clerical review.
- Referral letters will be automatically electronically delivered upon signing the outgoing referral order. Currently, the order is first sent to a workqueue for clerical staff to review and complete.
- Referring providers will now receive status updates on their FAST referral in their In Basket ("Referral Notif Ltr" folder) or by fax, according to their routing preferences.
- For referrals that either are Denied or are Closed with a Status Reason of “Specialist has provided advice/next steps”, prescribers will be able to view the Referral Status and Status Reason from the referral record by navigating to the "Referrals" tab in Chart Review.
For details, see the tip sheet (note, the tip sheet will be updated the day of the change).
2026-10-02
Reminder: iECG Upgrade and Downtime for Edmonton Zone Cardiologists - October 6, 2026
The Intellispace ECG (iECG) application is a third-party system used by Connect Care cardiologists in the Edmonton Zone for ECG review, interpretation workflow, and ECG reconciliation. On Tuesday, October 6, 2026, the iECG application will be upgraded, with enhancements to both the interface and functionality.
To ensure a smooth transition, refresher education is recommended for all current iECG users prior to the upgrade. An Independent Learning Module for prescribers is now available on MyLearningLink - search for "CMIO Cardiology PHILIPS Intellispace ECG (iECG) Prescribers - Edmonton Zone". The estimated completion time for this module is 15 minutes.
Please note that there will be a downtime for the iECG application during the upgrade process, on October 6 from 05:00 to 09:30. During this downtime:
- Connect Care will be available, but any ECG orders entered in Connect Care will not transfer to iECG.
- Netcare can be used to view historical ECGs.
- Follow the Cardiology Downtime Resources as needed.
During the upgrade/downtime, prescribers can submit support tickets or contact the IT Service Desk and Solution Centre for assistance, including after-hours support: 1-877-311-4300 (press 1 for Connect Care).
On Other Channels...
Below is a digest of new blog posts across all the Connect Care clinician blog channels in the last 2 weeks. For more info on the blogs, click here. Please note the next digest will be published October 23.
- Bytes (general new items; this channel)
- Delay for Launch of Connect Care Updates App
- New Coronary Cath Diagram Tool Now Available
- Coming Soon: iECG Upgrade and Downtime for Edmonton Zone Cardiologists - October 6, 2026 (action recommended)
- Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers - Issue 31 Now Available
- All User Bulletin - Medication Hold Period Reduced
- FAQ (answers to common questions on Connect Care workflows)
- Support (recent/upcoming system updates, optimization training opportunities)
- Anesthesia Update - New Record Deletion Activity
- Postpartum Hemorrhage Order Set Changes
- Neurosciences Visit Type Optimization
- Tool Tune Up: October 2026 Order Tool Updates
- Optimization Training - Classes in October 2026
- Manual
- See What's New (updates and additions)
- Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers (current issue and archives)
2026-10-01
All User Bulletin - Medication Hold Period Reduced
Medication Hold Period Temporarily Reduced to 7 Days
Medication holds can typically be scheduled up to 30 days in advance. To prepare for the upcoming time zone change, from October 1, 2026 to November 1, 2026 the maximum medication hold period will be temporarily reduced to 7 days. Following the time zone change on November 1, it will return to the 30-day hold maximum.
If you require assistance regarding this change, please contact the IT Service Desk and Provincial Solution Centre (1-877-311-4300).
2026-09-29
Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers - Issue 31 Now Available
Our monthly newsletter for prescribers, 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:
- New Coronary Cath Diagram Tool now available
- Enhancements to discharge planning tools
- Delay for prescriber launch of Connect Care Updates app
- Reminder: New Tracked Prescription Program (TPP) Alberta pad prescribing exemptions
- Coming soon:
- Postpartum Hemorrhage Order Set changes (October 1)
- iECG upgrade for Edmonton Zone Cardiologists (October 6) - action recommended
- Connect Care scheduled downtime (October 8)
- Updates to Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment (FAST) outgoing referrals (October 16)
- Give Life Alberta iReferral launch (date TBD)
- Documenting adverse reactions
- Medical Readiness for Discharge (MRD) vs. Alternate Level of Care (ALC)
- "Discharge by 11 a.m." initiative and conditional discharge
- October Optimization (a.k.a. Thrive) classes
- 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.
2026-09-24
New Coronary Cath Diagram Tool Now Available
2026-09-18
Delay for Launch of Connect Care Updates App
We previously communicated that the current Connect Care Updates (CC Updates) newsletter would soon be changing from a newsletter format to an online application that would allow users to directly sign up and receive only the updates relevant to them. Please note that the rollout date for the new tool will be delayed for prescribers until later this autumn, due to some additional work needed to address issues discovered in the testing phase. The app will go live next week as scheduled for clinical operations users.
Please also note that prescribers already on the CC Updates distribution list will continue to receive automatically generated emails from “Connect Care Updates” for a few weeks that summarize all updates entered into the new tool for the clinical operations users. Prescribers can disregard these emails until the new launch date.
We will communicate details on when the tool will be available to prescribers for sign up, via this blog and our Between the Charts newsletter.
On Other Channels...
Below is a digest of new blog posts across all the Connect Care clinician blog channels in the last 2 weeks. For more info on the blogs, click here.
- Bytes (general new items; this channel)
- New and Revised Transfusion Medicine Resources Now Available
- Connect Care Mobile Apps Outage - September 21, 2026, 20:00-22:00
- Provincial Enterprise Imaging (PACS) Scheduled Downtime (North, Edmonton, Central Zones) - September 22, 2026, 01:00-05:00
- FAQ (answers to common questions on Connect Care workflows)
- Support (recent/upcoming system updates, optimization training opportunities)
- New Goserelin Complex Therapy Plan Now Available
- Conditional After Visit Summary for Aprepitant and Sugammadex
- Changes to Gynecological Cytology and HPV Test of Cure Orders
- Enhancements to Discharge Planning Tools
- Tool Tune Up: September 2026 Order Tool Updates [updated Sep 17]
- Manual
- See What's New (updates and additions)
- Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers (current issue and archives)
2026-09-14
New and Revised Transfusion Medicine Resources Now Available
New and revised Transfusion Medicine resources are now available on www.ahs.ca/labtransfusion. These resources provide information to support safe and appropriate transfusion practice in alignment with the AHS Transfusion of Blood Components and Blood Products Policy.
A list of the new/revised resources can be found in the Lab Bulletin linked below. Please review the most current version of the applicable Blood Component or Product Information/Monograph before transfusion and review the new resources for changes that impact your zones.
2026-09-04
On Other Channels...
Below is a digest of new blog posts across all the Connect Care clinician blog channels in the last 2 weeks. For more info on the blogs, click here.
- Bytes (general new items; this channel)
- Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers - Issue 30 Now Available
- All User Bulletin - Outage of Communication Between POCT Devices and Connect Care - September 8, 2026, 10:00-13:00
- Connect Care Scheduled Downtime - September 10, 2026, 00:30-04:30
- For Awareness: EMS CIS Downtime - September 9, 2026, 04:00-06:00
- Reminder: New TPP Alberta Pad Prescribing Exemptions
- Support (recent/upcoming system updates, optimization training opportunities)
- Lab Update - Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma Nucleic Acid Testing
- Lab Update - gFOBT To Be Delisted in Alberta
- Format Enhancements for Connect Care Prescriptions
- Optimization Training - Classes in September 2026
- Tool Tune Up: September 2026 Order Tool Updates
- Manual
- See What's New (updates and additions)
- Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers (current issue and archives)
2026-08-28
Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers - Issue 30 Now Available
Our monthly newsletter for prescribers, 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:
- Coming soon:
- New Tracked Prescription Program (TPP) Alberta paper prescription pad exemptions (September 2)
- Format enhancements for Connect Care prescriptions (September 1)
- Delisting of guaiac based fecal occult blood testing (gFOBT) in Alberta (September 8)
- Upcoming Connect Care–wide scheduled downtime (September 10)
- Connect Care Updates newsletter switching to online tool (September 21)
- Reminder: Change from Second Sign to Cosign for Surgical and GI MOAs
- Day surgery patients and correct patient class
- Patient self-referral for preventative health testing
- Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma nucleic acid testing
- Prescription order entry - electronic vs. scanning
- Using Dragon Medical One to move through smart fields in notes
- September Optimization (a.k.a. Thrive) classes
- Epic's Pediatric Quick Wins SmartUser class
- 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.
2026-08-21
On Other Channels...
Below is a digest of new blog posts across all the Connect Care clinician blog channels in the last 2 weeks. For more info on the blogs, click here.
- Bytes (general new items; this channel)
- All User Bulletin - Transfusion Notification in AVS
- Coming Soon: Surgical and GI MOA Role and Workflow Changes (Aug 25)
- Coming Soon: New TPP Alberta Pad Prescribing Exemptions (Sep 2)
- Support (recent/upcoming system updates, optimization training opportunities)
- Update to POCT INR Workflow
- IFT Update - Order Reconciliation Requirements
- Anesthesia/Surgery Update - Change to Anticoagulant OPA
- Update for Interventional Cardiologists
- Tool Tune Up: August 2026 Order Tool Updates
- Manual
- See What's New (updates and additions)
- Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers (current issue and archives)
- Current issue: July 2026
- New issue coming soon!
2026-08-18
Coming Soon: New TPP Alberta Pad Prescribing Exemptions
As of September 2, 2026, there will be new Tracked Prescription Program (TPP) Alberta prescription pad exemptions when prescribing TPP-monitored Type 1 medications at applicable facility and clinic types.
- Inpatient discharges from all acute care facilities using Connect Care:
- Prescribers working on-site are exempt from using physical TPP pads to prescribe TPP-monitored Type 1 medications and can use Connect Care to securely eFax prescriptions directly to community pharmacies.
- Note: Connect Care prescribers must use the Discharge Navigator when generating acute care discharge prescriptions in order to enable the eFax option for TPP Type 1 medications.
- Exemptions only apply to inpatient discharges using Connect Care.
- Exemptions only apply when prescribers are discharging patients from acute care facilities using Connect Care.
- Exemptions do not include emergency departments, ambulatory clinics, urgent care sites, or day surgery units using Connect Care.
- Recovery Alberta’s Opioid Dependency Program (ODP) clinics:
- Prescribers working virtually or on-site at Recovery Alberta’s ODP clinics are exempt from using physical TPP pads to prescribe methadone and slow-release oral morphine only and can use Connect Care to securely eFax prescriptions directly to pharmacies.
- Exemptions only apply when prescribers are providing care to patients at Recovery Alberta’s ODP sites, either virtually or on-site, while using Connect Care.
- Exemptions do not apply to prescriptions for other TPP-monitored Type 1 medications or compounded medications.
TPP prescription pad exemptions eliminate duplicate prescription entry and reduce discrepancies between TPP pads and prescriber software systems. By reducing transcription errors and administrative tasks, these exemptions allow healthcare providers to devote more time to patient care and support safer prescribing practices.
Please note that:
- All prescribers are required to register with TPP Alberta to prescribe TPP-monitored, Type 1 medications. Register with TPP Alberta here.
- All prescribers are required to order their own TPP pad and have it available to use in the event that Connect Care is not available. Order your TPP pad here.
2026-08-17
Coming Soon: Surgical and GI MOA Role and Workflow Changes
Effective August 25, 2026, there will be Connect Care role/workflow changes for GI and/or Surgical Medical Office Assistants (MOAs):
- Change from Second Sign to Cosign: GI and Surgical MOAs will use the “Per protocol: cosign required” ordering mode for procedural ordering when using a personalized order set, instead of Second Sign.
- Case Cancellation: Surgical MOAs will be able to cancel unscheduled surgical case requests at the direction of their surgeon or ACATs/PCATs Surgery Care Alberta Lead.
2026-08-07
On Other Channels...
Below is a digest of new blog posts across all the Connect Care clinician blog channels in the last 2 weeks. For more info on the blogs, click here.
- Bytes (general new items; this channel)
- Indigenous Health Documentation Sprint - Highlights of 2-Month Evaluation
- Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers - Issue 29 Now Available
- Connect Care Transparent Lockdown - August 10, 2026 10:00-01:30 August 13, 2026
- Patient Choice and Self-Referral for Preventative Health Testing
- Provincial Enterprise Imaging (PACS) Scheduled Downtime (Calgary and South Zones) - August 11, 2026, 00:00-04:00
- Support (recent/upcoming system updates, optimization training opportunities)
- Endoscopy Update - Trauma Informed Care
- Lumens Update - Verify Orders Change
- Outgoing Referral Update - New Field for Unknown Provider/Location
- Optimization Training - Classes in August 2026
- Manual
- See What's New (updates and additions)
- Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers (current issue and archives)
2026-08-06
Patient Choice and Self-Referral for Preventative Health Testing
2026-07-30
Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers - Issue 29 Now Available
Our monthly newsletter for prescribers, 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:
- Changes to the Associate Chief Medical Officer (ACMIO) program
- Indigenous Health Documentation Sprint
- Telehealth software update - RealPresence Desktop app replaced with Pexip web app
- AVS BYOD printing routing change in select EDs
- Dexcom G7 CGM data integration with Connect Care
- New Transfusion Appointment Request order available for PRN blood transfusions
- Initiative to clean up SmartLink Library
- Upcoming transparent lockdown impacting new personalizations (August 10-13)
- Coming soon: GI and/or Surgical MOA role/workflow changes - second sign, case cancellation (August 25)
- August Optimization (a.k.a. Thrive) classes
- 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.
Indigenous Health Documentation Sprint - Highlights of 2-Month Evaluation
In a coordinated effort between Indigenous Health subject matter experts and the Digital Health team, a Documentation Sprint for the Indigenous Health space took place between September 2025 and April 2026. As part of this initiative, several key changes were implemented:
- The Indigenous Health flowsheet was updated to better represent the work being done by Indigenous Health staff.
- New SmartText was developed that pulls data from the Indigenous Health flowsheet.
- A new Indigenous Health Navigator was developed to streamline workflow and improve usability.
- Use of Indigenous Health Provider Teams was implemented.
A 2-month post-implementation evaluation looked at several measures related to these changes and highlighted early indicators of the positive impact these changes have already made:
- Comprehensive documentation and increased tool usage - Usage of the Indigenous Health flowsheet more than doubled, and there was clear uptake of the new SmartText tool.
- Reduced documentation time - The average active time spent documenting in the flowsheet decreased by approximately 30%.
- Reduced cancelled consults - There was a 26% decrease in the number of cancelled consults.
- Improved timeliness in documentation - There was a significant reduction in documentation latency, i.e., the time between the patient encounter and documentation.
- Improved efficiency in consult completion - There was nearly a 70% reduction in time between consult and completion of encounter.
All together, these early indicators demonstrate that giving providers access to culturally inclusive documentation tools makes it easier to document care, reduces the time they spend doing so, lets them finish consults faster, and targets the right care to the right patient. Next steps in this initiative will include continued monitoring, gathering user feedback, and further refinement of the tools and workflow.
Congratulations to all who were involved in this excellent work!
2026-07-24
On Other Channels...
Below is a digest of new blog posts across all the Connect Care clinician blog channels in the last 2 weeks. For more info on the blogs, click here.
- Bytes (general new items; this channel)
- Support (recent/upcoming system updates, optimization training opportunities)
- Taming In Basket Reminder - Removal of Results Messages Older Than 180 Days
- Home Care Update - CAM Phase of Care for Medication Administration Program
- APS Prescribers - Dual Signoff Summary Not Functioning As Expected
- Continuing Care Update - Renaming of LTC Admission Order Sets
- Anesthesia Updates:
- Tool Tune Up: July 2026 Order Tool Updates [updated July 23]
- Manual
- See What's New (updates and additions)
- Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers (current issue and archives)
- Current issue: May/June 2026
- Note: The next issue will be published next week.
2026-07-15
Seeking PHA-Aligned Associate Chief Medical Information Officers
The Associate Chief Medical Information Officer (ACMIO) program within the Chief Medical Information Office (CMIO) team at Health Shared Services (HSS) was originally structured to fit the zone-based model from when Alberta Health Services (AHS) was the Alberta provincial health authority, with each of the five ACMIO positions tied to a specific zone-oriented appointment. With the refocusing of Alberta's health system, including the creation of the new Provincial Health Agencies (PHAs) and transition away from zonal decision-making, the ACMIO program is being restructured to better align.
- The previous five zonal ACMIO positions, which currently represent only acute care due to the change in scope of AHS, are being revised to two ACMIO positions, both reporting to the Acute Care Alberta PHA:
- ACMIO, Acute Care - Medical Specialties
- ACMIO, Acute Care - Procedural Specialties
- Three new ACMIO positions are being introduced, each to represent a particular PHA:
- ACMIO, Assisted Living Alberta
- ACMIO, Primary Care Alberta
- ACMIO, Recovery Alberta
For a full description of the positions and to apply, see the relevant posting:
- Posting: Doctor Jobs Alberta – ACMIO, Acute Care - Medical Specialties
- Posting: Doctor Jobs Alberta – ACMIO, Acute Care - Procedural Specialties
- Posting: Doctor Jobs Alberta – ACMIO, Assisted Living Alberta
- Posting: Doctor Jobs Alberta – ACMIO, Primary Care Alberta
- Posting: Doctor Jobs Alberta – ACMIO, Recovery Alberta
- Contact: David.Pincock@healthsharedservices.ca