2024-03-29

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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2024-03-28

Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers - Issue 5 Now Available

We previously posted about our new monthly newsletter for prescribers, called "Between the Charts". This newsletter 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.

Our next issue is now out, available at the below link! This issue includes information on:

  • Optimization Training classes in April
  • Webinars on billing in Connect Care (April 10, 16, 23)
  • Administration revisions and chart completion
  • An upcoming initiative that can help meet your CPSA requirements
  • How to schedule an immediate first dose when ordering a new medication
  • Interval H&P notes
  • 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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2024-03-26

Chart Correction - Completion of Administrative Revisions on Behalf of Healthcare Providers

As of April 1, 2024, the Alberta Health Services (AHS) Health Information Management (HIM) Chart Correction team will be able to revise some Connect Care clinical documentation errors on behalf of healthcare providers. Previously, providers were prompted via In Basket messages to do this work. The new initiative (see AHS Clinical Documentation Policy and Procedure 1173-01; Section 7.2a) will decrease In Basket and administrative burdens for healthcare providers for 10 categories of revisions:

  • Revise spelling of patient name (e.g., "Shawn" vs. "Shaun" or "Sean")
  • Revise incorrect patient name (e.g., report states "Ralph" but patient’s name is "Zach")
  • Revise left vs. right, and vice versa
  • Revise incorrect ULI 
  • Revise incorrect Out of Province Health Care Number
  • Revise patient age
  • Revise date of:
    • Admission
    • Discharge
    • Deceased
    • Birth

The Chart Correction team will continue to notify the authoring provider, as needed, for other types of errors (e.g., selections within SmartLists).

For more information:

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2024-03-25

Countdown Checklist L8, T-minus 39: Check AHS Security Profile

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 8 prescribers readying for launch May 4, 2024...
  • 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 8 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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2024-03-22

Countdown Checklist L8, T-minus 42: Complete and Close Legacy Charts

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 8 prescribers readying for launch May 4, 2024...
  • Complete and Close Legacy Charts
Incomplete charts at Launch 8 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 8 AHS health records by May 3, 2024. This includes outstanding dictations and signatures for inpatient and day surgery health records, not just those that are overdue. 

After 05:00 on May 4, 2024, 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 4, 2024 will be completed in Connect Care. 

Physicians can contact Health Records at the Launch 8 sites Monday to Friday 07:45–16:00 to obtain a list of incomplete charts requiring attention.   
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2024-03-19

Optimization Training - March/April Sessions Available

We previously posted that the CMIO Training team is now offering Optimization classes (previously called Thrive classes), where Connect Care prescribers can learn how to take full advantage of the features of the clinical information system, to help maximize their productivity and spend more time with patients. The Optimization classes are 30 to 60 minutes in length each, and focus on completing common workflows more efficiently. 

We have added a few additional sessions on In Basket management, and have expanded our selection of classes. Edit (Mar 19): As some sessions have already filled up and additional dates have been added, the information below has been updated.

  • Orders
    • April 10, 2024, 09:00–10:00
    • April 11, 2024, 12:00–13:00
    • New: April 15, 2024, 12:30–13:30
    • New: April 17, 2024, 11:00–12:00
    • New: April 25, 2024, 09:00–10:00
  • Notes
    • March 27, 2024, 12:00–13:00
    • April 2, 2024, 12:00–13:00
    • April 10, 2024, 12:00–13:00
    • New: April 16, 2024, 10:00–11:00
    • New: April 24, 2024, 12:00–13:00
  • In Basket Management
    • New: April 8, 2024, 09:00–10:00
    • New: April 15, 2024, 11:00–12:00
  • Therapy Plans
    • April 29, 2024, 12:00–13:00
  • New: Letters to Netcare
    • April 8, 2024, 10:30–11:00

Prescribers can register for these Optimization classes at the below link. Spots are limited in order to ensure trainers can address individual questions. Please ensure that you review your confirmation email from "Bookings CMIO Thrive" for the class link, and requirements for the session.

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2024-03-18

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 8, beginning March 19, 2024. Each of these 1-hour webinars occur at 12:00-13:00. 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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Countdown Checklist L8, T-minus 46: Get Ready for Mobility

Continuing our list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 8 prescribers readying for launch May 4, 2024...
  • 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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2024-03-15

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 L8, T-minus 49: Complete Basic Training

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 8 prescribers readying for launch May 4, 2024...
  • 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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2024-03-11

Countdown Checklist L8, T-minus 53: Consider UserWeb Access

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 8 prescribers readying for launch May 4, 2024...
  • (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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2024-03-08

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 10, 2024, 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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Countdown Checklist L8, T-minus 56: Get Ready for Billing

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 8 prescribers readying for launch May 4, 2024...
  • 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 prov.npservices@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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2024-03-06

Countdown Checklist L8, T-minus 58: Register for Personalization Training

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 8 prescribers readying for launch May 4, 2024...
  • 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 18. 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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2024-03-04

Countdown Checklist L8, T-minus 60: Get Ready for Patient Movement

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 8 prescribers readying for launch May 4, 2024...
  • (Optional) Register for the Patient Movement Fundamentals
Patient movement, or how to move a patient from one location to another using Connect Care as a tool, is cited as one of the most confusing concepts to grasp at launch.

The week of March 11–15 includes 1-hour Patient Movement Fundamentals readiness sessions, offered on three separate days. Each session will cover the same content, including Admission to Long-Term Care/Continuing Care, Offsite Dialysis Appointments, and Leave of Absence to Acute Care with Return. Click the relevant link below to register for a session, or email the Patient Movement team.
Further patient movement resources are linked below.
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2024-03-01

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:

Categories:

Countdown Checklist L8, T-minus 63: Plan Meeting Adjustments

Continuing a list of essential actions for Connect Care Launch 8 prescribers readying for launch May 4, 2024...
  • 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 29–May 29 and identify sessions that could be cancelled or rescheduled.
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