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

Provincial Enterprise Imaging (PACS) Scheduled Downtime (Calgary and South Zones) - August 11, 2026, 00:00-04:00

AGFA Provincial Enterprise Imaging (PEI) is the Provincial Archive and Communication System (PACS) whereby many medical staff can view diagnostic images and reports via the Xero Viewer in Connect Care. PEI will be taking a scheduled downtime on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, from 00:00 to 04:00, affecting Calgary and South Zone Connect Care users only. Connect Care will be available during this downtime; however, image links for exams performed during the downtime will not be available. 

• To view imaging during the downtime, log in to XERO via XERO Direct or Citrix MyApps and select "South PEI Downtime" (see the tip sheet for details). Please verify your access to XERO prior to the outage. Operating room staff, log into "AUX South" via the Downtime tab in SwitchPACS (see the OR tip sheet for details).
• Tip: Provincial Enterprise Imaging - Clinician Downtime Workflow
• Tip: Provincial Enterprise Imaging - Clinician OR Downtime Workflow 
• Images will be sent to Connect Care and other downstream applications once PACS servers are up and running.

Note the other zones run on a separate instance of PEI, and will not be impacted by this downtime.

If you require further information or assistance, please contact the IT Service Desk and Provincial Solution Centre (1-877-311-4300). 

More information:

• Manual: Downtime Procedures
• Insite: Connect Care Systems Up/Down Status (status.connect-care.ca)

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.

Connect Care Transparent Lockdown - August 10, 2026 10:00-01:30 August 13, 2026

Connect Care anticipates a brief scheduled pause in the early hours of August 13, 2026 (starting at 00:30) for application updates (post with details to come next week). Connect Care uses a "transparent lockdown" process during upgrades to help prepare the system and reduce the update workload, resulting in a shortened pause window. The transparent lockdown period for the upcoming pause is from Monday, August 10, 2026 at 10:00 to Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 01:30.  

The lockdown does not affect system performance, existing workflows, or the activities of most users (thus "transparent"). Prescribers will have access to their personalized orders, tools and templates during the lockdown; however, there will be no ability to create new personalizations during the lockdown period. For more details:

• Alert: Workflow Limitations During the Transparent Lockdown

Netcare Scheduled Downtime - August 6, 2026 21:00-04:00 August 7, 2026

The Alberta Netcare Portal will be unavailable from Thursday, August 6, 2026 at 21:00 to 04:00 on Friday, August 7, 2026 in order to accommodate system maintenance and a software upgrade. Connect Care will still be available, but Connect Care users will not be able to launch the Alberta Netcare Portal during this time. 

Users who are logged in during this time will be disconnected and will need to re-authenticate following the outage period. Those anticipating need for urgent result access during that period should refer to and complete the ANP Downtime Contingency Kit in advance of the maintenance. 

If you require further information or assistance in preparing for the downtime, please contact the IT Service Desk and Provincial Solution Centre (1-877-311-4300).