2023-01-30

Countdown Checklist L6, T-minus 95: Get Training

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 6 prescribers readying for launch May 6, 2023...
  • Get Basic Training! 
  • Reach out to colleagues who may not be registered
Prescribers will not be allowed access to the Connect Care clinical information system (CIS) unless they have completed basic training. There are no exceptions. Lack of access to the legal record of care means being unable to practice. Privileges are contingent on use of the implemented CIS. 

So, this is important. Colleagues will be inconvenienced if forced to cover for a prescriber who does not have CIS access.

First-time users of the CIS must complete an instructor-led basic training session. Launch 6 instructor-led basic training begins February 6, and registrations are filling fast.

If practicing at a Launch 6 site and still lacking information about how to register or complete basic training, contact:
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2023-01-27

Countdown Checklist L6, T-minus 98: Are you in?

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 6 prescribers readying for launch May 6, 2023...
  • Are you in Connect Care Launch 6? 
An obvious first checklist task is to determine whether Launch 6 tasks even apply!

For most physicians, that determination is made by Medical Affairs. Lists of clinic physicians, those with hospital privileges, visiting specialists and on-call contributors are used to generate invitations to Launch 6 physicians. Despite this, it is possible that some physicians with new site responsibilities -- and some physicians who have already trained in earlier waves -- might be missed. Physicians should check the clinics and hospitals slated for Launch 6 and be sure that they have been invited to participate if they expect to work at those sites:
For nurse practitioners (NPs), Provincial NP Services makes the determination based on HR lists. However, it is recognized that many NPs cover cross-site/-zone programs or have multiple "casual" positions; Provincial NP Services contacts all NPs and their managers directly to confirm. NPs expecting to work at a Launch 6 site who have not been contacted should email Provincial NP Services.

Other online resources can be checked for the latest information:
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2023-01-25

Connect Care Launch 6, T-minus 100: Countdown Checklist

Starting a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 6 prescribers readying for launch May 6, 2023...
  • Bookmark Connect Care Countdown Checklist 
A countdown checklist can help prescribers to get ready for their Connect Care launch by breaking a complex undertaking into a series of simple tasks. The order is important, starting with the actions needed to do future work without hassle.

Each checklist item includes brief explanatory notes plus links to relevant tips, demonstrations, resources or guides.

Please subscribe to this blogging channel, where all checklist items are posted. You can also bookmark the checklist-only link and check in periodically.
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2023-01-23

ALERT! January 23, 2023 18:00 Systems Restored - Recovery Processes

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

Network Outage: Recovery from Downtime Procedures

Update (17:00): All AHS clinical information systems, including Connect Care, will be accessible as of 18:00 (January 23, 2023) and can be used for patient care.

Please follow standard Downtime and Recovery Procedures and be attentive to data update needs as downtime information is captured. Prescribers should be sure to check the following:

  • Downtime documents (scanned to media manager by designated staff), and medication administration documentation (again by designated staff).
  • Problem list updates for new, changed or resolved items.
  • Entering or updating admission diagnoses (principal problem) and discharge or visit diagnoses for transitions occurring during downtime.
  • Reviewing best possible medication histories and associated medication reconciliation for admissions or discharges occurring during downtime.
  • Check downtime orders captured and entered by nursing and pharmacy team members and enter key missing orders (e.g., goals of care designation, mental health status orders).
  • Attend to In Basket messages with links to missing chart elements and use ".DOWNTIME" SmartPhrase (non-Emergency prescribers) or ".DTNOTE" (for emergency prescribers) to complete the chart element and indicate that content is available elsewhere in the chart.

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UPDATE (14:00): The technical issue causing the provincial network outage has been resolved and teams are working quickly to restore all clinical systems.

This work will take a few hours. Services are carefully being restored with priority being given to critical patient care areas, such as emergency departments. Please continue to use downtime procedures for now.

Further updates will be provided with instructions on when and how to log back into clinical systems and update information as needed.

We are reviewing the cause of the technical issue to learn how we can prevent this from happening in the future.

Thank you again for your support and understanding.  

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UPDATE (12:30): The network problem has been solved and clinical systems will return to full functionality shortly. However, users are not able to log on to Connect Care until a careful and orderly process for restarting all the systems that Connect Care depends upon. Until then, the "SRO" read-only version of Connect Care is available now (same Connect Care logon credentials) and can provide patient information up till 07:30.

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Attention all Connect Care users! 

AHS is experiencing a provincial network outage, which is impacting many IT and clinical systems, including Connect Care. 

All impacted systems should move to downtime procedures. The IT Solution Centre and Service Desk cannot be reached at this time.  IT teams are working to identify a resolution as quickly as possible.

Due to the provincial scale of the network outage, some services are immediately affected:

  • As a precaution, elective surgeries are being postponed at some sites and all impacted patients will be contacted directly. Procedures are being rescheduled as soon as possible. Emergency and urgent surgeries are continuing across the province.
  • Community lab services are impacted and will be reduced at some sites. 
  • Please do not call the labs for results as they have no further information at this point: critical results for inpatients, AHS outpatients and community lab patients are being communicated by telephone and fax.
  • EMS dispatch is functioning with back-up procedures and calls to 911 are not affected. In an emergency, 911 should continue to be used.
  • Health Link (811) continues to be available, with some limits to capacity. Wait times will be longer than usual.
  • MyHealth Alberta and MyAHS Connect are not currently available.
  • Netcare is affected in many locations. 

For Connect Care users, please refer to : Connect Care Manual - Downtime Support (connect-care.ca)

If inpatient prescribers need information about AHS inpatients, go to the nursing station where the majority of your patients are located and ask for assistance from a team member able to log into the back up computers (BCA) to see patient information (current as of start of downtime 07:30).

AHS continues intensive work to restore full network services as soon as possible.

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2023-01-20

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:

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2023-01-06

All User Bulletin - eDelivery of Shared Outpatient Letters

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

eDelivery of Shared Outpatient Letters

The majority of community electronic medical records (EMRs) are now enabled for eDelivery of shared outpatient letters. If you would like a letter sent to a recipient's primary eDelivery location, a “Shared Externally” letter template must be used.

What has changed: Recipient(s) of any letter written using a “Shared Externally” template will receive a copy to their EMR via eDelivery, provided they are registered for that service. Please note:

  • Providers with multiple EMRs will only receive the letter by eDelivery to their primary EMR.
  • If a patient’s primary care provider (PCP) identified at the time of registration is on eDelivery, they will also receive a copy of the letter to their primary EMR, whether they are designated as a recipient or not.
  • In addition to eDelivery, recipients registered as Connect Care users will also receive a copy of the letter via their Connect Care communications preference (In Basket, mail or fax).

For further information, see the memo, tip sheet, and other linked resources:

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2023-01-05

Ordering Therapy Plans - Launch 6 Prescriber-Led Support Sessions

Prescribers who order recurrent, ongoing therapies (IVIG, blood, antimicrobials, procedures, etc.) known as Therapy Plans (pre-defined collection of related/standing orders that apply to multiple/recurrent encounters over time) are invited to attend a prescriber-led demonstration of the workflow. The sessions demonstrate the process of ordering Therapy Plans, and will prepare you for entering orders post-launch and when asked to review converted legacy orders prior to launch.  

The following sessions are scheduled prior to Launch 6. Although important for Launch 6 prescribers who have current patients with scheduled therapies, it is recommended for any prescriber who anticipates using these ordering tools. All Connect Care prescribers and clinicians who order or action Therapy Plans are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Clicking on the hyperlinked date for a session will open a calendar invite for that session, which you can then respond to and receive the meeting information.

For more information, please see the below resources:

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2023-01-04

Connect Care Launch 6 Countdown

Our countdown timer has reappeared again (see top of left column, just above the Search box)! 

The Connect Care Launch 6 date is set for the early hours of Saturday, May 6, 2023. This wave will bring many sites into the Connect Care fold, including the following:

  • Calgary Zone: Rockyview General Hospital; South Health Campus Hospital; AMH Ambulatory sites
  • Edmonton Zone: Alberta Hospital Edmonton; Grey Nuns Hospital; Misericordia Community Hospital; Villa Caritas
  • Central Zone: Acute and combined acute and long-term care sites encompassing the former East Central Health Region, including AMH Ambulatory sites
  • Pharmacy and diagnostic imaging: Sites in Edmonton; Calgary including Outpatient MRI At South Calgary Health Centre; former East Central Health Region
  • Alberta Precision Laboratories: Sites in former East Central Health Region; Provincial Lab; all Calgary Zone
We are within 125 days from Launch 6.

Having learned how important it is to avoid a last minute rush, our Countdown Checklist (checklist.connect-care.ca) will restart around 100 days prior to Launch 6. This checklist allows prescribers to ensure that requirements are met as they progress from registration through training, proficiency, personalization and launch-readiness. A convenient option is to subscribe to this blog so each Countdown Checklist post is sent directly to your preferred email.
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