The December 20, 2019, Connect Care Newsletter is available via the link below; covering 1) Connect Care sequencing, 2) Wave 1 Unit Story, 3) Reporting Content Certification, 4) Champions:
2019-12-21
2019-12-20
Connect Care Physician Supports during Holiday Period
Escalations of physician help requests have become relatively rare, which is reassuring as we enter the winter holiday season and reduced support staffing.
The CMIO portfolio has organized to ensure that clinical informatics and medical informatics resources are available on-call over this time. User support methods remain the same (see the Support section of the Connect Care Physician Manual) with the CMIO resources available if Help Desk is not able to resolve a problem.
The CMIO portfolio has organized to ensure that clinical informatics and medical informatics resources are available on-call over this time. User support methods remain the same (see the Support section of the Connect Care Physician Manual) with the CMIO resources available if Help Desk is not able to resolve a problem.
2019-12-19
Connect Care Wave Adjustments
With the launch of Connect Care’s Wave 1 in November almost behind us, we are now looking ahead to the next launches, occurring in waves over the next few years.
Following extensive discussion, senior leaders have adjusted the timing and scope of Connect Care’s Waves 2 and 3, and modified the scope of Waves 4 and 5. Wave 1 launched in November 2019 successfully and we want to align upcoming launch plans with lessons learned.
Patient care and safety, along with the needs of staff and physicians, is at the forefront of all of planning decisions, including this one. While mindful of healthcare funding constraints, the Connect Care initiative continues to be fully resourced to achieve its original completion targets. This includes working to resolve outstanding issues and challenges. We want to optimize timing so that staff and physicians within future waves are ready and supported at their launch dates.
Here is a summary of the modified Connect Care wave sequencing and timing:
The current plan reflects the best information available today. We may need to make future adjustments as we continue to learn from, and adapt to, each Connect Care launch. We’ll also continue to be responsive to the needs of patients, families, staff and physicians.
Following extensive discussion, senior leaders have adjusted the timing and scope of Connect Care’s Waves 2 and 3, and modified the scope of Waves 4 and 5. Wave 1 launched in November 2019 successfully and we want to align upcoming launch plans with lessons learned.
Patient care and safety, along with the needs of staff and physicians, is at the forefront of all of planning decisions, including this one. While mindful of healthcare funding constraints, the Connect Care initiative continues to be fully resourced to achieve its original completion targets. This includes working to resolve outstanding issues and challenges. We want to optimize timing so that staff and physicians within future waves are ready and supported at their launch dates.
Here is a summary of the modified Connect Care wave sequencing and timing:
- Waves 2 and 3 (launching in May 2020) will include Calgary Zone rural and urgent care sites and the clinics and services aligned with those, and Edmonton Zone suburban sites.
- All of the Central Zone rollout, initially planned for Wave 2, will be moved to Wave 4.
- Waves 4 and 5 have scope and timelines recalibrated to ensure they are not too compressed by the delay of Central Zone’s rollout. The wave implementation schedule remains the same.
- Wave 4 (launching November 2020) will include the Royal Alexandra and Glenrose Hospitals in Edmonton Zone, all of Central Zone and Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary Zone.
- Wave 5 (launching May 2021) includes Peace Country and Grande Prairie hospitals) in North Zone, the Foothills Medical Centre and South Health Campus hospitals in Calgary Zone, cancer programs in the north and south, and the coinciding rural labs.
- The scope and sequencing of Waves 6, 7, 8 and 9 are being reviewed and details about any changes or updates to those waves will be available in the coming weeks.
- The timing for the rollout of Connect Care within Kidney Care North and South is still being determined.
- Wave 1 launched in November, 2019 and included the University, Mazankowski and Stollery hosptials, outpatient clinics across Edmonton Zone, the East Edmonton Health Centre, Pharmacy and Diagnostic Imaging sites in the Edmonton Zone, Alberta Public Labs sites in Edmonton and the North Zone, DynaLIFE sites across Alberta and the lab at the Cross Cancer Institute.
The current plan reflects the best information available today. We may need to make future adjustments as we continue to learn from, and adapt to, each Connect Care launch. We’ll also continue to be responsive to the needs of patients, families, staff and physicians.
2019-12-17
Reminder: Tricky Transitions Tomorrow (optimization clinic)
Complex patient movements can affect how Connect Care orders are placed, when they are activated and how they are approved for action. The second Connect Care Optimization Clinic will seek input from participants about the types of "patient movement" challenges they may have experienced with orders. We will share a flow diagram highlighting key "tricky transitions" and the orders choices that can navigate them successfully.
We continue to experiment with webinar technologies that can serve prescribers joining virtual clinics from inside and outside AHS networks and using different personal computing configurations. Tomorrow, "Zoom" will be the platform in use. Please use the links provided below to try connecting well ahead of time. This will allow for any downloads or other adjustments needed to participate.
Note that there are two (duplicate) sessions. The morning session may better suit surgeon schedules.
Session #1 - December 18, 2019, 0700-0800
- Meeting Link: clinic-a.connect-care.ca
- Meeting ID: 843 908 198
- Audio: can use computer audio or telephone (647 558 0588 then meeting ID or one-click +16475580588,,843908198)
Session #2 - December 18, 2019, 1200-1300
- Meeting Link: clinic-b.connect-care.ca
- Meeting ID: 359 904 795
- Audio: can use computer audio or telephone (647 558 0588 then meeting ID or one-click +16475580588,,359904795
2019-12-15
Connect Care December 2019 Calendar
A summary of key Connect Care happenings in December 2019 has been posted to the Alberta Health Services (AHS) internal Connect Care website, linked below.
2019-12-13
Pharmacy Information Network Connect Care Interface Update
We previously posted about early efforts to interface Alberta's Pharmacy Information Network (PIN) with Connect Care medication reconciliation workflows, including an "outside information" function for PIN medication reconciliation.
This did not work as well as hoped. The function was removed so that PIN reconciliation reminders would not interfere with workflows. Of safety concern, the laborious task of importing medications from PIN did not benefit from clinical decision supports.
Connect Care users may not appreciate that it remains possible to review PIN dispensing information, even though one is no longer prompted to reconcile "outside" PIN medications. A full PIN list remains available in Netcare. This can be displayed in-context and allows a full history of (eligible) medication dispenses to be reviewed.
Some confusion may relate to orphan PIN medication reconciliation flags "left over" from the early Connect Care launch period. These should not be relied upon. No updates have occurred since early November. It is wise, and easy, to remove these flags:
This did not work as well as hoped. The function was removed so that PIN reconciliation reminders would not interfere with workflows. Of safety concern, the laborious task of importing medications from PIN did not benefit from clinical decision supports.
Connect Care users may not appreciate that it remains possible to review PIN dispensing information, even though one is no longer prompted to reconcile "outside" PIN medications. A full PIN list remains available in Netcare. This can be displayed in-context and allows a full history of (eligible) medication dispenses to be reviewed.
Some confusion may relate to orphan PIN medication reconciliation flags "left over" from the early Connect Care launch period. These should not be relied upon. No updates have occurred since early November. It is wise, and easy, to remove these flags:
2019-12-12
New Inpatient Consults: Spiritual Care, Indigenous Health
Inpatient referrals to spiritual care and indigenous health services are now supported in Connect Care. Search for "Inpatient Consult to Spiritual Care" or "Inpatient Consult to Indigenous Health" to complete a request, entering contextual information in the usual fashion.
Connect Care Optimization Clinic #2 - Tricky Transitions
Optimization clinics are delivered by peers, usually a clinician informatician or super user, with focus on challenging use cases. A short presentation is followed by questions, discussion and suggestions from participants. Any new tips are posted to the Physician Manual or Physician Updates.
A second Connect Care Optimization Clinic is offered a two times of day (duplicate clinics) to better fit physician schedules. All are welcome. Please try the meeting link ahead of time to ensure that your computer is ready before the session.
A second Connect Care Optimization Clinic is offered a two times of day (duplicate clinics) to better fit physician schedules. All are welcome. Please try the meeting link ahead of time to ensure that your computer is ready before the session.
- Topic: Tricky Transitions
- Facilitators: Rob Hayward, Alan Sobey
- Date: December 18, 2019
- Time #1: 0700-0800
- Meeting Link: clinic-a.connect-care.ca
- Meeting ID: 843 908 198
- Audio: can use computer audio or telephone
- Canada +1 647 558 0588 (then meeting ID)
- One click: +16475580588,,843908198
- Time #2: 1200-1300
- Meeting Link: clinic-b.connect-care.ca
- Meeting ID: 359 904 795
- Audio: can use computer audio or telephone
- Canada +1 647 558 0588 (then meeting ID)
- One click: +16475580588,,359904795
- Description:
- Complex patient movements can affect how Connect Care orders are placed, when they are activated and how they are approved. Our focus will be on the sorts of problems that may arise when patients transition to settings or phases along a care pathway.
- We’ll demonstrate and discuss how Connect Care physicians can take corrective action, with a focus on Orders clean-up.
2019-12-07
Connect Care December 6, 2019, Newsletter Posted
The December 6, 2019, Connect Care Newsletter is available via the link below; covering 1) Connect Care's first month, 2) eHealth, 3) Champions:
2019-12-06
2019-12-03
One Month of Connect Care
A Message from Dr. Verna Yiu, AHS President and CEO
Dear staff, physicians and volunteers,
We now have one
month officially behind us in our Wave 1 Connect Care journey.
Congratulations to all of our sites and teams across AHS who
have provided strong support for our Wave 1 colleagues as they
pave the way for Connect Care across the
province. For the past 30 days, teams have been
working around the clock to provide support and help
resolve issues. We are so proud of your collaborative
spirit.
As we work together to
become more comfortable and confident using Connect Care, we
know there will be challenges along the way. Learning
new systems and work flows can be difficult, and there have
been issues as we figure it out. It is good to remember the
long-term goals.
Connect Care will:
- House all AHS, partner and affiliate medical records to support care wherever Connect Care is in place.
- Provide common decision-making tools and resources for clinicians, to ensure all our physicians and staff have access to the same clinical standards and best healthcare practices.
- Eventually allow all patients across Alberta to have access to their health information through the patient portal, MyAHS Connect.
Ultimately, Connect
Care means the whole healthcare team, including patients, will have
the best possible information throughout their care journey.
Our healthcare providers and supporting teams
are at the heart of all we do. We’ve taken some time to talk to
several staff, physicians and patients involved in Wave 1 about what this
month-long experience has meant to them.
Thank you for such a successful launch. Thank
you for your patience and resilience. Because of you, we
have accomplished so much in these last 30 days. I also
want to thank and encourage those working on the combined Waves 2 and 3. There
is much to learn from the first implementation and I appreciate all
your efforts to get us ready for the next step.
Sincerely,
Dr. Verna Yiu
AHS President and CEO
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