Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers - Issue 30 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:

• Coming soon:
• New Tracked Prescription Program (TPP) Alberta paper prescription pad exemptions (September 2)
• Format enhancements for Connect Care prescriptions (September 1)
• Delisting of guaiac based fecal occult blood testing (gFOBT) in Alberta (September 8)
• Upcoming Connect Care–wide scheduled downtime (September 10)
• Connect Care Updates newsletter switching to online tool (September 21)
• Reminder: Change from Second Sign to Cosign for Surgical and GI MOAs
• Day surgery patients and correct patient class
• Patient self-referral for preventative health testing
• Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma nucleic acid testing
• Prescription order entry - electronic vs. scanning
• Using Dragon Medical One to move through smart fields in notes
• September Optimization (a.k.a. Thrive) classes
• Epic's Pediatric Quick Wins SmartUser class
• 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. 

• Newsletter: Between the Charts - August 2026
• Manual: Between the Charts Archive (news.connect-care.ca)
• Feedback: CMIO.Manual@healthsharedservices.ca

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. 

• Bytes (general new items; this channel)
• All User Bulletin - Transfusion Notification in AVS
• Coming Soon: Surgical and GI MOA Role and Workflow Changes (Aug 25)
• Coming Soon: New TPP Alberta Pad Prescribing Exemptions (Sep 2)
• Support (recent/upcoming system updates, optimization training opportunities)
• Update to POCT INR Workflow
• IFT Update - Order Reconciliation Requirements
• Anesthesia/Surgery Update - Change to Anticoagulant OPA
• Update for Interventional Cardiologists
• Tool Tune Up: August 2026 Order Tool Updates
• Manual
• See What's New (updates and additions)
• Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers (current issue and archives)
• Current issue: July 2026
• New issue coming soon!

Coming Soon: New TPP Alberta Pad Prescribing Exemptions

As of September 2, 2026, there will be new Tracked Prescription Program (TPP) Alberta prescription pad exemptions when prescribing TPP-monitored Type 1 medications at applicable facility and clinic types.

• Inpatient discharges from all acute care facilities using Connect Care:
• Prescribers working on-site are exempt from using physical TPP pads to prescribe TPP-monitored Type 1 medications and can use Connect Care to securely eFax prescriptions directly to community pharmacies.
• Note: Connect Care prescribers must use the Discharge Navigator when generating acute care discharge prescriptions in order to enable the eFax option for TPP Type 1 medications.
• Tip: Direct Electronic Fax of Prescriptions from Connect Care to Community Pharmacies 
• Exemptions only apply to inpatient discharges using Connect Care.
• Exemptions only apply when prescribers are discharging patients from acute care facilities using Connect Care.
• Exemptions do not include emergency departments, ambulatory clinics, urgent care sites, or day surgery units using Connect Care.
• Recovery Alberta’s Opioid Dependency Program (ODP) clinics:
• Prescribers working virtually or on-site at Recovery Alberta’s ODP clinics are exempt from using physical TPP pads to prescribe methadone and slow-release oral morphine only and can use Connect Care to securely eFax prescriptions directly to pharmacies.
• Exemptions only apply when prescribers are providing care to patients at Recovery Alberta’s ODP sites, either virtually or on-site, while using Connect Care.
• Exemptions do not apply to prescriptions for other TPP-monitored Type 1 medications or compounded medications.

TPP prescription pad exemptions eliminate duplicate prescription entry and reduce discrepancies between TPP pads and prescriber software systems. By reducing transcription errors and administrative tasks, these exemptions allow healthcare providers to devote more time to patient care and support safer prescribing practices.  

Please note that:

• All prescribers are required to register with TPP Alberta to prescribe TPP-monitored, Type 1 medications. Register with TPP Alberta here.
• All prescribers are required to order their own TPP pad and have it available to use in the event that Connect Care is not available. Order your TPP pad here.

Any questions can be sent to the TPP Alberta team at TPP.Info@cpsa.ab.ca.

Coming Soon: Surgical and GI MOA Role and Workflow Changes

Effective August 25, 2026, there will be Connect Care role/workflow changes for GI and/or Surgical Medical Office Assistants (MOAs): 

1. Change from Second Sign to Cosign: GI and Surgical MOAs will use the “Per protocol: cosign required” ordering mode for procedural ordering when using a personalized order set, instead of Second Sign.
2. Case Cancellation: Surgical MOAs will be able to cancel unscheduled surgical case requests at the direction of their surgeon or ACATs/PCATs Surgery Care Alberta Lead.

For more details on how the Second Sign to Cosign change impacts prescriber workflows, see the following resources:

• Tip: Working with a Medical Office Assistant (MOA)
• Demo: Working with a MOA
• Tip: Communicating to Your MOA What Case to Book and What Order Set to Use

All User Bulletin - Transfusion Notification in AVS

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

Transfusion Notification in AVS

Patients who receive blood components or blood products during their stay must be provided with written notification of the transfusion and provided with guidance on recognizing and responding to potential transfusion reaction symptoms. This is provided through the "Notification of Transfusion/Infusion" section that should display on the patient’s After Visit Summary (AVS). A review has identified that this print group is not mapping to all applicable AVS reports. Patients may not be receiving this information. IT teams are actively identifying and remediating AVS reports with incorrectly mapped Transfusion Notification print groups. Work is ongoing, but the timeline for full resolution is currently unknown.

What You Can Do

Verify that the "Notification of Transfusion/Infusion" print group appears on your department’s AVS for patients who received blood components or products during their encounter. If this print group is missing from the AVS, please:

• print the Notification of Transfusion/Infusion form and provide it to the patient at discharge; and
• submit a ticket through the IT Service Desk & Solution Centre (1-877-311-4300) indicating your department and the AVS report being used.

The complete Digital Health Bulletin can be found here.

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. 

• Bytes (general new items; this channel)
• Indigenous Health Documentation Sprint - Highlights of 2-Month Evaluation
• Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers - Issue 29 Now Available
• Connect Care Transparent Lockdown - August 10, 2026 10:00-01:30 August 13, 2026
• Patient Choice and Self-Referral for Preventative Health Testing
• Provincial Enterprise Imaging (PACS) Scheduled Downtime (Calgary and South Zones) - August 11, 2026, 00:00-04:00
• Support (recent/upcoming system updates, optimization training opportunities)
• Endoscopy Update - Trauma Informed Care
• Lumens Update - Verify Orders Change
• Outgoing Referral Update - New Field for Unknown Provider/Location
• Optimization Training - Classes in August 2026
• Manual
• See What's New (updates and additions)
• Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers (current issue and archives)
• Current issue: July 2026

Patient Choice and Self-Referral for Preventative Health Testing

Starting July 31, 2026, Albertans can start booking preventative health tests at participating private diagnostic clinics without a doctor referral. Albertans pay for this test up front. With this, prescribers may see a new ordering/authorizing provider when viewing imaging results. 

Imaging tests (such as ultrasound, X-ray, CT, and MRI) that do not have a prescriber referral or order will be reported/displayed with a “Self-Referral, Imaging” ordering/authorizing provider. Self-referred mammography screening performed by the Alberta Screen Test Program will also be displayed with “Self-Referral, Imaging” as the ordering/authorizing provider. Sample screenshots from Connect Care Hyperspace, My Chart, and the Image Link (Xero Viewer) are available here. The PDF report for the exam will also display the ‘Self-Referral, Imaging’ ordering/authorizing provider.

The performing imaging service provider is responsible for any necessary follow-up care for this preventative health testing and must ensure handover is done in accordance with standards of practice.

Additional Information

For more information, visit: Alberta.ca - Preventative Health Testing (prescriber-specific information is available under “Resources”). Any questions about reimbursement or the patient choice and self-referral initiative should be directed to PPHS.PHTreimb@gov.ab.ca.