2026-02-20

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. 

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2026-02-19

All User Bulletin - Rover Alert for Held by Provider Medications

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

Rover Alert for Held by Provider Medications

An issue has been found where the alert for held medication administrations is not appearing as expected when nursing staff are administering medications using Rover. While this does not impact prescriber workflows, prescribers should be aware that this issue may result in Held by Provider medications being inadvertently administered to patients. 

Epic is working on a fix for this issue to be released in an upcoming patch version for Rover (date yet to be determined). In the meantime, more information can be found in the bulletin and tip sheet (for nursing staff).

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2026-02-17

New Inpatient Bridging Medications Ordering Workflow

"Bridging medications" are intended to provide a limited supply of required medications at discharge/care transition in exceptional circumstances when a patient does not have supply at home or adequate, timely access to the medication(s) from a community or specialty pharmacy. They are provided only when necessary to meet the immediate needs of patients or vulnerable populations, and the amount provided are the minimum needed for the patient's health, safety, and ongoing treatment requirements (maximum 72 hours supply). 

There are certain legislative and scope of practice requirements for dispensing these medications. As of March 3, 2026, inpatient unit prescribers will be required to enter a “Bridging Medications Supply” order to facilitate preparation, notification, and safe dispensing of these medications in accordance with appropriate legislation and scope of practice requirements. 
  • Bridging medications must be ordered AFTER interfacility orders have been signed or discharge home medications have been fully reconciled. 
  • Pharmacy is responsible for preparing bridging medications; however, if pharmacy is unavailable or not given enough notice, then an appropriate healthcare professional (typically a nursing team member) is able to do so.
  • Note: This change does not impact the existing workflow for Emergency Room providers (and their existing bridging supply orders via the “Dispo” tab remains the same). 
For inpatient workflow details, see the Manual, tip sheet, and demo:
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2026-02-13

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. 

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2026-02-11

In Basket Help is Here – Book a Class or 1:1 Session Now

Want to shave time off from your Connect Care In Basket/messaging workflows? Want to clean up your In Basket? The CMIO Prescriber Experience team has some great online classes and one-on-one sessions where we share small changes that will streamline your documentation and reduce unnecessary clicks.

If you have 15, 30, or 60 minutes, we can find a time to meet your needs:

  • 15-min 1:1 session: Virtually meet with a trainer to learn how using the “Quick Action” feature can help you – click here and select “In Basket Quick Actions 1:1” to see available times and register.
  • 30-min 1:1 session: Virtually meet with a trainer to help work through your current In Basket backlog – click here and select “In Basket Clean Up 1:1” to see available times and register.
  • 1-hr class: Join an online class to learn multiple tips and tricks to help work through your messages efficiently – click here and select “In Basket” to see available times and register.
  • Can’t see a date/time that fits your schedule? Email help.cmio@healthsharedservices.ca with some options what would work for you.

Prefer to learn on your own? Check out our new/updated resources: 

Let us know at help.cmio@healthsharedservices.ca if you have questions – we're happy to help. Interested in other classes we offer? Monthly schedules are posted on the Connect Care Support Blog, with more information here.

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2026-02-06

Autopsy Workflow in Connect Care

The Autopsy Consent and Consultation Request form is now available in Connect Care via completion of the following two components:

  • Autopsy Consent eForm
  • Autopsy Request Order (deceased patient) order set

Both the consent and ordering steps are highlighted in the "Eligibility Criteria" section of the Discharge as Deceased navigator (found via the Discharge Transfer Gateway), and both must be completed for an autopsy to proceed. The Discharge as Deceased navigator provides all instructions for these workflows, simply follow the steps as guided. The Autopsy Consent eForm can also be accessed via the Consent & eForms navigator.

Note that, as with the Medical Certificate of Death, prescribers should now only use the digital workflow; paper forms will soon be phased out. 

For more information, see:

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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. 

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2026-02-02

MyChart Proxy Access Changes

There have been important changes to parent and guardian access to their child’s online health records. The changes impact MyChart functionality, and bring workflow changes for regulated healthcare providers using Connect Care, including prescribers. 

A recording of a Virtual Office Hours session with information and tips is available, and the Connect Care Manual and relevant resources linked there have been updated to reflect these changes.

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2026-01-30

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. 

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2026-01-29

Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers - Issue 24 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:

  • Overdue endoscopy/bronchoscopy reports
  • Scheduled Connect Care downtime (Feb 12) and transparent lockdown (Feb 9-12)
  • Digital Medical Certificate of Death, Autopsy Consent, and Autopsy request order
  • Measles history in Connect Care
  • New inpatient cirrhosis care support tools
  • New blood restrictions documentation workflow
  • Taming In Basket - more In Basket message types to auto-expire, plus messages being permanently purged Feb 1
  • Upcoming changes to display of glucometer results (Feb 3)
  • New workflow for requesting bridging medications coming soon
  • RNs/RPNs as authorizing providers in Connect Care coming soon
  • Requesting external sendout (referred) lab tests, plus upcoming new cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) external send out test order
  • Finding inpatient consult orders
  • Keeping contact information up-to-date
  • February 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. 

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2026-01-26

New Blood Restrictions Documentation Workflow [Updated]

As of January 29, 2026, a new blood restrictions workflow in Connect Care will be in place to ensure clear, consistent documentation of patients’ blood preferences.

Key changes include:

  • A dedicated place to document blood restrictions (including specific blood components and/or products) called the "Blood Restrictions Assessment" worksheet, to be found in the Consent & eForms Navigator.
  • Documented blood restrictions will flow into the applicable Consent eForms, Consent to Surgery or Invasive Procedure and Consent to Treatment Plan or Procedure.
  • Alerts about blood restrictions will be improved to support more automated and streamlined workflows when ordering blood.
    • FYI Flags
      • The existing FYI Flag (Blood Refusals) is renamed to "Blood Restrictions".
      • The FYI Flag now triggers automatically upon documenting blood restrictions.
      • When blood restrictions are updated, the user is prompted to review whether or not to remove the FYI Flag.
    • Our Practice Advisories (OPAs)
      • An OPA appears when a blood product/component (or related) is ordered, but the patient has documented blood restrictions.
      • An OPA appears when a blood product/component (or related) is ordered, but the patient has documented beliefs that require a review of restrictions.
      • When blood restrictions are updated, the user is prompted to review whether or not to remove the FYI Flag.
  • A net new workflow and form will be available when a patient has blood restrictions but there is no upcoming treatment, procedure, or blood transfusion planned. The new Advanced Expressed Wishes and Instructions – Blood Components and Products consent form will be found in the Consent & eForms Navigator.

Please note that workflows for informed consent process are not changing. The new features standardize the ability to document blood restrictions and increase visibility in the system for patients with blood restrictions.

Updated resources are linked below. An upcoming Virtual Office Hour will be held on this topic for those interested, with additional post-launch dates:

For questions not addressed by the above resources, please contact ConnectCare.Consent@healthsharedservices.ca.

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2026-01-23

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. 

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2026-01-21

Measles History in Connect Care

Effective January 22, 2026 at 08:30, Connect Care users will see new clinical information related to the ongoing measles outbreak in Alberta reflected in the "Medical History" section of the patient chart. This information will display as “History of measles”.

The comment field will provide additional detail indicating whether the case was confirmed through epidemiological (epi) linking (Public Health investigation) or laboratory confirmation. The comment will also clearly identify that the Medical History entry was updated via an automated import, rather than through manual clinician entry (click the camera icon to see a screenshot).

Data has been provided by the Public Health Surveillance & Informatics team and was extracted from the Communicable Disease/Outbreak Management system. Lab data has been extracted from Connect Care. 

Imported data includes all confirmed measles cases from March 1, 2025 up to and including December 9, 2025. The Population and Public Health Communicable Disease Control Notifiable Disease team will enter any new measles outbreak data from the December 9 import date. 

This enhancement is intended to improve clarity, consistency, and situational awareness for care teams during the ongoing measles response.

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2026-01-14

Overdue Endoscopy/Bronchoscopy Reports

Starting January 20, 2026, Lumens reports for endoscopy/bronchoscopy will be formally tracked with active due date reminders and will be monitored by Health Information Management (HIM), Medical Affairs and medical leadership to ensure timely report completion. This means:

  • A procedure report is due in Connect Care 24 hours after it was performed (a reminder appears in your In Basket).
  • A procedure report becomes overdue/delinquent 29 days after it was performed (the reminder turns red in your In Basket; daily pop-up reminders appear in Connect Care starting 7 days before the delinquency date).

As with other report types such as discharge summaries or operative reports, physicians with 10 or more delinquent Lumens reports (older than 29 days), or 4 or more outstanding for 90 days will have a report sent to Medical Affairs and/or medical leadership to ensure completion, and could lead to further penalties up to and including curtailment.

For further details, please see the memo from Dr. Peter Jamieson, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of AHS.

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2026-01-09

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. 

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