2023-03-31

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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Countdown Checklist L6, T-minus 35: Meet the Connect Care Concierge

Continuing our list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 6 prescribers readying for launch May 6, 2023...
  • Meet Your Connect Care Concierge! 
A unified intake portal for Connect Care user support, the "Concierge", is at your service!

Check it out and familiarize yourself with methods for seeking help when you need it.

A unified intake process allows user needs to be captured, channeled and tracked. All users, Super Users and helpers can enter requests and suggestions. The Connect Care “Concierge” service offers a single point of capture for help, feedback and requests (help.connect-care.ca is easy to remember).
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2023-03-30

Care Paths - Improving Patient Care

We previously posted about Care Paths, Connect Care's advanced clinical decision-support tools that can help clinicians coordinate evidence-informed care across person, place and time. Care Paths are keyed to specific health conditions. They match relevant patient information to Alberta-validated clinical guidance, while aligning multidisciplinary care with workflow-friendly recommendations. 

The first two Care Paths, Heart Failure (HF) and Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (AECOPD), launched in July 2022. Previously, evidenced-based disease management was only supported through digital order sets derived from paper equivalents. Care Paths add diverse documentation, decision and improvement supports. Upcoming Care Paths include Hip and Knee Arthroplasty, Cirrhosis, Breast Health, and Tracheostomy Management (pediatrics).

Care Paths have been shown to reduce unhelpful practice variation, prescribing errors, length of stay, readmission rates, patient mortality, and healthcare costs. They also improve patient follow-up with primary care providers, specialists, and specialty clinics. 

Uptake of the HF and AECOPD Care Paths at Connect Care sites has been positive, and over 700 prescribers have completed training available through MyLearningLink! 

For prescribers seeking more information:

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2023-03-29

Countdown Checklist L6, T-minus 37: Get Ready for Mobility

Continuing our list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 6 prescribers readying for launch May 6, 2023...
  • Get Ready for Mobility and Speech Recognition
Connect Care mobile apps (Haiku, Limerick and Canto) allow access to the patient chart on personal devices anywhere there is Internet access. Dragon Medical One transforms Android or Apple smartphones into transcription devices for dictation directly into the medical record. 

AHS uses the "Workspace ONE" application to distribute these clinical applications to mobile devices, while ensuring the devices work with Connect Care to protect patient information.
  • Haiku – Connect Care for iPhones or Android smartphones.
  • Limerick – Installs on Apple Watches and works with Haiku alerting functions.
  • Canto – Connect Care on iPad tablets.
  • PowerMic Mobile – Installs to iPhones or Android smartphones for speech recognition (allowing in-system dictation and voice commands to Connect Care).
Mobile apps have proven very popular with prescribers. They simplify anywhere/anytime access to lists, patient information, dictation, notes, orders and communications. Clinicians will want to set these up as soon as basic training is complete:
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2023-03-28

Super User Development Sessions - A chance to learn new skills

Super Users help peers by promoting readiness activities, supporting training and providing “at the elbow” help prior to, during and immediately following launch. Super Users grow their own capacity through supplemental training, self-help resources and participation in a Community of Practice.

A series of Super User development sessions is offered in the weeks leading up to Connect Care Launch 6, beginning March 30, 2023. These 1-hour webinars are offered twice each (12:00 and 16:00) to help with scheduling. The sessions are also open to any interested Connect Care user who might like to pick up some new Connect Care skills.

For more information:

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2023-03-27

Countdown Checklist L6, T-minus 39: Check AHS Security Profile

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 6 prescribers readying for launch May 6, 2023...
  • Update Your AHS Security Profile
This task anticipates future calls to the AHS IT HelpDesk or Connect Care Solution Centre. Among other things, prescribers may need help with login credentials or remote access Tokens.

HelpDesk must confirm the identity of callers. This is done with a security profile, including special questions and answers, that the prescriber can set up independently, as explained in the Connect Care Manual.

All Launch 6 prescribers are asked to check and possibly update their security profile: Upon authenticating to the IAM user section, look for a "Update Security Questions" in the bottom-left column. You will set a secret word and answers to a series of security-prompt questions. Remember the answers! (Note: You must have a Token for external access or do this from within AHS networks.)
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2023-03-24

Countdown Checklist L6, T-minus 42: Complete and Close Legacy Charts

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 6 prescribers readying for launch May 6, 2023...
  • Complete and Close Legacy Charts
Incomplete charts at Launch 6 sites need physician attention pre-launch. Moving to a new clinical information system (CIS) is hard if pre-existing records are not tidied up.

Physicians must attend to ALL incomplete Launch 6 AHS health records by May 5, 2023. This includes outstanding dictations and signatures for inpatient and day surgery health records, not just those that are overdue. (Note: For Calgary Zone, Sunrise Clinical Manager [SCM] PRD will still be available for documentation of encounters preceding conversion to Connect Care.)

After 05:00 on May 6, 2023, records will be completed through the Connect Care CIS rather than external dictation or eScription. Any outstanding incomplete records that exist at cutover will not be transitioned into Connect Care. Any incomplete health records on inpatients discharged on/after May 6, 2023 will be completed in Connect Care. 

Physicians can contact Health Records at the Launch 6 sites Monday to Friday 07:45-16:00 to obtain a list of incomplete charts requiring attention.   
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2023-03-22

Countdown Checklist L6, T-minus 44: Get Ready for Clinical Data Conversion

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 6 prescribers readying for launch May 6, 2023...
  • Anticipate Clinical Data Conversion
Manual Clinical Data Conversion is the process of manually transcribing existing clinical patient information that is required to ensure patient safety or continuity of care into Connect Care, and/or manually reconciling information that was electronically transferred into Connect Care from legacy records. This information may include allergies/adverse reactions, active problem list, past medical history, etc. Ambulatory clinic managers and prescribers collaborate to determine if their area needs to participate in this activity. 

Manual Clinical Data Conversion occurs April 10–May 5. Departments that have decided to participate will have their regulated healthcare professionals manually enter and/or reconcile clinical patient information in Connect Care. If data conversion is not done pre-launch, departments may have regulated healthcare staff enter/reconcile the information during the patient's first appointment after launch. Three essential prescriber actions for Manual Clinical Data Conversion are: 
  1. Collaborate with ambulatory clinic managers to assess which data elements (if any) must be manually converted into Connect Care. 
  2. Assist with manual clinical data conversion activities as needed. 
  3. Provide quality review of converted data as needed.
For more information on Manual Clinical Data Conversion, see below. Information on Manual Clinical Orders Conversion is in an earlier Checklist post. 
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2023-03-20

Countdown Checklist L6, T-minus 46: Get Ready for Clinical Orders Conversion

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 6 prescribers readying for launch May 6, 2023...
  • Anticipate Clinical Orders Conversion
Manual Clinical Orders Conversion is the manual entry into Connect Care of scheduled patients’ recurrent/standing clinical orders in advance of launch. Outpatient clinics (day medicine, MOU) and some ED settings that deliver recurrent, scheduled therapies must complete this activity to ensure orders can be actioned by department staff, blood bank, and pharmacy at launch. 

Four weeks before launch, outpatient treatment departments will begin the process, entering orders from the legacy system into Connect Care for patients scheduled for treatments from launch onwards. Only patients who have been prescribed treatments from prescribers who have completed basic training will be able to have their orders active in Connect Care. This is a system requirement when selecting an ordering prescriber responsible for treatment.

For prescribers who have patients scheduled for treatment as described above, there are two essential actions for Manual Clinical Orders Conversion: 
  • All site privileged prescribers must complete their basic training and EUPA, to ensure they have Connect Care access 4 weeks prior to launch, by April 10. These prerequisites are necessary for clinicians to be able to transcribe your orders. Specific site privileges are necessary to prescribe treatments delivered at an AHS location.
    • Note: Once you have completed your EUPA, you may begin receiving In Basket messages in Connect Care. This is how the departments will send orders to you for clarification and, if necessary, for signing. 
  • If you plan to order recurrent therapy plans, it will be your responsibly to enter these orders directly into Connect Care post-launch. Attend a prescriber-facilitated session for additional training in therapy plans (see earlier post for details).
Information on Manual Clinical Data Conversion will follow in a later Checklist post. 
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2023-03-18

All User Bulletin - Alberta Netcare Portal

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

Alberta Netcare Portal - Applications Not Available
Netcare, Alberta's electronic health record, is currently experiencing an issue where several systems accessed through the portal are unavailable due to Alberta Health Network issues. 
The following systems are being impacted: Delivery Site Registry, Provincial Provider Registry, Immunization History, Pharmaceutical Information, Person Directory, Medication Profile, Pharmacy Care Plan, BPMH Medication Reconciliation, and IAM. Netcare users also cannot access specific Netcare functionality via Connect Care. Community results routing is not affected.
Technical teams and Alberta Health are engaged. Updates will be provided as information becomes available.
Update (2023-03-20 08:36): All functionality has been restored and services are working as expected.
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2023-03-17

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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2023-03-16

MyAHS Connect - Empowering More Albertans for Health Care

We've reached another exciting milestone for better connecting patients with their health care: more than 200,000 Albertans now have access to their Connect Care health record through MyAHS Connect! A big thank you to prescribers at Connect Care sites who have encouraged their patients to “get connected”. MyAHS Connect gives patients the opportunity to be a more active member of their healthcare team using their smartphone, tablet or computer – it’s a win-win for patients and care teams.

As previously posted, there is an initiative that enables Connect Care prescribers to activate their own MyAHS Connect account and experience firsthand the benefits of a full-feature patient portal. Personal access can also help clinicians help patients who ask questions about patient portal functions. Nearly 3,200 AHS staff and prescribers have completed the self sign-up process to activate their own MyAHS Connect account!

For more information about MyAHS Connect, including how to complete a self sign-up request, see the below resources:

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2023-03-15

Webinar: Optimizing Dragon Medical One for Epic

Are you already a user of Connect Care's in-system dictation solution, Dragon Medical One (DMO), or a Launch 6 prescriber wondering whether DMO could work for you?

A free webinar on DMO is being hosted next week by a fellow Epic client, the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), and is open to all DMO users. The webinar will focus on the following topics:

  • Increasing accuracy
  • Adoption, efficiency, and use of commands
  • Keyboard shortcuts in Epic
  • Step-by-step commands to optimize workflow
  • PowerMic and PowerMic Mobile button configurations

The webinar will take place Tuesday, March 21, 18:00-18:45 and all Connect Care prescribers (previous and upcoming launches) are welcome to attend. To register, click the link below (note you will need an Epic UserWeb account to access):

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Countdown Checklist L6, T-minus 51: Complete Basic Training

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 6 prescribers readying for launch May 6, 2023...
  • Complete Basic Training
All Connect Care users must demonstrate basic proficiency (based on basic training) before gaining access to the Connect Care clinical information system (CIS) and undertaking personalization and mobility training.

The EUPA ("End User Proficiency Assessment") is used to assess basic proficiency. It becomes available in MyLearningLink (MLL) with basic training registration, and is to be completed after basic training is complete. The assessment is done online. It is not hard and is "open book" alongside a Connect Care environment (practice in PLY, check EXAM while assessment is in progress) with access to training guides. To prepare, practice in addition to basic training is recommended.

Don't procrastinate! It is better to take the EUPA, not get the needed 80%, and then re-take. Delaying only keeps one from progressing to personalization. And there is no access to the full production CIS unless both On Our Best Behaviours (OOBB; Privacy & Confidentiality Training, InfoCare) and EUPA are complete (note that it may take up to 12 hours after passing the EUPA to gain access).

After completing the EUPA, check to see if it shows under your "Completed" tab in MLL. If not, don't worry! Use the following link to affirm that you have completed, and you will be moved to pass.
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2023-03-13

Webinar: Real Time Release of DI Results to Patient Portals

As previously posted, this week AHS will be hosting two sessions to provide information and answer prescriber questions regarding patient access to diagnostic imaging results. Below is the Zoom meeting information for the sessions, being held today and Thursday. 

More information:

Countdown Checklist L6, T-minus 53: Consider UserWeb Access

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 6 prescribers readying for launch May 6, 2023...
  • (Optional) Register for UserWeb Access
While Epic Systems software is but one part of the Connect Care clinical information system, it provides essential database, integration, and all user interface functions. 

Understanding the Epic ecosystem can make a difference to Connect Care users who wish to become a resource to their peers (e.g., Super User). A wealth of information is available through Epic's "UserWeb". 

Connect Care Manual and blog postings may reference UserWeb resources, available only to those with UserWeb login credentials. These are easy to obtain (be sure to use your AHS email when registering):
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2023-03-10

All User Bulletin - Daylight Savings Time

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

Daylight Savings Time

On March 12, 2023, clocks turn forward 1 hour at 02:00 to become 03:00.

While ambulatory care is little affected by what happens in the early hours of the morning, emergent, inpatient, surgical and critical care contexts can be sensitive to the loss or gain of small time intervals. A 1-pager lists key considerations, with more information available in the Connect Care Manual and DST guide:
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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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Countdown Checklist L6, T-minus 56: Get Ready for Billing

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 6 prescribers readying for launch May 6, 2023...
  • Get Ready for Billing with Connect Care
In getting ready to launch, you have likely heard that Connect Care can do billing. While true, access to full billing management in Connect Care, i.e., Resolute Professional Billing, is limited to the cohort of physicians who have a pre-existing billing arrangement, as well as all nurse practitioners (NPs), once their site launches Connect Care. Most prescribers then will not use Resolute, but can use the "Service Code Capture" activity in Hyperspace to assemble the information needed to support a billing claim.

The table below highlights the difference between billing from within Connect Care (i.e., using Resolute) and using Service Code Capture to submit claims from outside of Connect Care, just like you do now. Contact servicecodecapture@ahs.ca with questions; for NP-specific billing questions, contact Provincial NP Services at advancedpracticenursing@ahs.ca.

Submitting Claims Outside of Connect Care with Service Code Capture (SCC)

Submitting Claims Through Connect Care with Resolute Professional Billing

Available to any prescriber documenting in Connect Care.

Not an option for most prescribers who use Connect Care due to Alberta Health directive. Includes all NPs.

No change to the billing software prescribers or their billers use. No change in who prescribers engage to assist with billing for their services.

The Professional Billing Office (PBO) has full-time billing specialists.

Several Alberta billing software vendors and private billing services have built functionality to support importing of SCC data into their systems.

AHS will send bills to all third-party payers and collect payments.

Payments flow directly to prescribers’ bank accounts.

Any payments billed by AHS are payable to AHS, so there is a delay in payment disbursement.

Prescribers have full control over billing decisions and effort taken to collect payments.

All self-pay patients are billed by AHS and decisions about payment collection are according to AHS Finance policy.
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2023-03-08

Countdown Checklist L6, T-minus 58: Plan Meeting Adjustments

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 6 prescribers readying for launch May 6, 2023...
  • Adjust Meeting Schedules in your Clinical Area
A prior item encouraged advance planning for clinical service impacts at the time of Connect Care launch. Similar planning is needed to adjust clinical business and other meetings to fit with launch needs.

Many Connect Care launch-related meetings fill the weeks just before and after launch. Some of these are prescriber-focused, including daily meetings to capture emerging issues, assign resources and review remedies. There are lots of opportunities for prescribers to have input.

Given inevitable launch demands, it is recommended that all non-essential other meetings be deferred to protect the week before and at least 3 weeks after the launch date.

This is a good time to look ahead at meeting schedules for April 30–May 30 and identify sessions that could be cancelled or rescheduled.
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2023-03-06

Countdown Checklist L6, T-minus 60: Register for Personalization Training

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 6 prescribers readying for launch May 6, 2023...
  • Confirm REGISTRATION for PERSONALIZATION
Successful personalization of the Connect Care clinical information system has a big impact on prescriber success at launch. It is very important to take advantage of personalization workshops pre-launch. Among other things, these introduce many tips that make Connect Care use both efficient and enjoyable.

Personalization training begins March 13. Make sure that you are already registered or take advantage of self-registration via MyLearningLink (supported on a first-come-first-scheduled basis).

Personalization objectives, prerequisites and preparation are all described in the Connect Care Manual.
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2023-03-05

All User Bulletin - Update Dragon Medical One Mobile App

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

Dragon Medical One - Update

Dragon Medical One (mobile dictation, DMO) users are experiencing intermittent issues with the pairing of PowerMic Mobile (PMM) for both iPhone and Android devices.  AHS is actively working with the vendor on a resolution. 
If you are encountering issues with your PMM please upgrade both your PMM and iOS/OS  to the most current versions.  If this does not resolve the issue, please note the time the issue occurred and contact the IT Service Desk (1-877-311-4300) as soon as possible. 
Additionally, you may try use of a tethered microphone/headset if one is available to you, otherwise please follow downtime processes as outlined in the downtime manual.  Updates will be provided as information becomes available.
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2023-03-03

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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Countdown Checklist L6, T-minus 63: Get Ready for LTC Cutover

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 6 prescribers readying for launch May 6, 2023...
  • Anticipate LTC Cutover
Cutover for long-term care (LTC) is a process through which key pieces of information about LTC residents 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 an electronic one.

Prescribers should anticipate, and mobilize resources for, two key tasks as part of LTC cutover processes near launch:
  1. March 20–April 4: Please support the LTC teams by signing non-medication orders forms and Facility Living medication order forms (replaces standing orders) when requested. This information which will be entered by the cutover nurses and dieticians April 17–28.
  2. April 30–May 5: Validate entered orders the week before launch.
The following LTC FAQ can help prescribers prepare for LTC cutover activities:
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2023-03-01

Changes to Available DI Results in Patient Portals

What is changing

Beginning March 20, 2023, Albertans will be able to view diagnostic imaging (DI) results immediately upon release by the DI testing provider, through Alberta Health’s MyHealth Records (MHR) in the My Personal Records (MPR) application. This will include DI test results from all sites and locations in Alberta, including most community providers, inpatient, ambulatory and emergency departments. This means that DI results will be available in MPR to patients at the same time they are made available to the ordering provider. 

To align with this change, starting March 20, 2023, DI test results will also be immediately available in MyAHS Connect, for patients who have visited a site using Connect Care and who have access to the MyAHS Connect patient portal. Currently, in MyAHS Connect, DI results are already available to patients, however there is a five-day delay from the time ordering providers receive the results to when those results are released to patients. With this change, the five-day delay will be removed, and results will be immediately available both to patients and the ordering provider. Having access to DI results in both the MyAHS Connect and My Personal Records will improve access and consistency of health information for providers and patients. 

Physicians and other providers will continue to have access to results through their usual delivery channels.

What to do

Given this change, providers may want to consider giving patients more information about the implications of different results at the time of ordering a DI test. 

To provide support and information to all AHS staff and prescribers, AHS is hosting two identical internal webinars on this topic. The Alberta Medical Association and AHS will also be co-hosting a webinar, which will be made available to prescribers both inside AHS and those in the community; a recording of that webinar will be made available after on the AMA website.

More information

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Countdown Checklist L6, T-minus 65: Plan Workload Adjustments

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 6 prescribers readying for launch May 6, 2023...
  • Understand Prescriber Workload Adjustments for your Area
It is not a given, or often possible, that clinical service levels decrease at Connect Care launch. A number of strategies can maximize prescriber productivity, clinical service resilience and capacity for change.

Be sure to ask your clinical leaders (division, department, section, specialty, clinic, ward, NP manager, etc.) about plans to adjust prescriber availability and support in your area at launch. Discuss and confirm understandings at planning meetings.

Also anticipate your role in making things better for your team. Usually your best contribution is to take training seriously, especially personalization training, and to take the time to practice in the system after training. This decreases the likelihood that you will burden colleagues or slow clinical service around the time of launch.

See our Byte about workload planning for more information.
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