Connect Care Bytes Blog
Health informatics briefs for clinicians; from the Alberta Health Services Chief Medical Information Office (cmio@ahs.ca).
2023-11-30
Obtaining CPD Credit for Connect Care Training
More information about available credit types and weights, together with procedures for claiming credits, is provided in a tip sheet, included in the Connect Care Manual:
2023-11-24
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:
- Launch 7
- CMIO Prescriber Drop-in Centres - Updated Hours
- Launch 7 Support Hot Topics
- Week 3 (results notifications, interfacility transfers [IFTs], PowerMic Mobile app update, PowerMic 4, prescriber launch supports)
- FAQ
- Support
- Tips
- Tippy - Time-Mark for Results
- Tippy - Email Notification of New In Basket Messages
- Tippy - Copy Test Results for Notification and Delivery
- Manual
- See What's New (updates and additions)
- Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers
2023-11-23
CMIO Prescriber Drop-in Centres - Updated Hours
With the third full week of Connect Care at the Launch 7 sites coming to a close, the Site Drop-in Centres will close after 18:00 today, November 23. The Virtual Drop-in Centre (virtualhelp.connect-care.ca) continues to be open one more week, until December 1, with slightly reduced hours as of this weekend.
- Virtual Drop-in Centre
- November 23–24: Daily support 08:00–20:00
- November 25–December 1: Daily support 10:00–18:00
- Site Drop-in Centres (NLRHC, CRH, MHRH)
- November 23: Open 10:00–18:00
- After November 23: CLOSED
For further information about prescriber launch supports, visit launchhelp.connect-care.ca.
2023-11-17
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:
- General
- Launch 7
- CMIO Prescriber Drop-in Centres - Updated Hours
- Launch 7 Support Hot Topics
- Week 2 (interfacility transfer [IFT] workflow for receiving physician, PowerMic Mobile app, PowerMic 4, prescriber launch supports)
- Support
- Tips
- Manual
- See What's New (updates and additions)
- Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers
2023-11-14
All User Bulletin - PowerMic 4 Issues
PowerMic 4 Not Compatible on Thin Clients
Dragon Medical One (DMO) requires a microphone to function. Connect Care provides the PowerMic Mobile (PMM) application as the default microphone solution for prescribers, but some may prefer to use wired/USB microphones. USB microphones are not a standard offering at AHS, and microphone peripherals are the responsibility of the user to purchase as bring your own device (BYOD).
Prescribers across the zones have reported issues with using their PowerMic 4 with an AHS device. While the PowerMic 4 may work on personal devices and some AHS full clients, PowerMic 4 is not currently fully supported on all AHS devices. In particular, they are not supported on AHS thin clients, which are the more common type of workstation in the North Zone.
The AHS technology teams are currently in the process of testing PowerMic 4. In the meantime, prescribers are encouraged to use other tools such as the PMM app, or a device that is certified as being compatible with all AHS devices, such as PowerMic 3; see the 1-pager for a list of all compatible devices.
2023-11-10
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:
- General
- Launch 7
- Launch 7: We are GO!
- Improving Issue Reports and Help Desk Interactions
- Just-in-Time Learning!
- Tickets, Tickets, Tickets!
- Launch 7 Support Hot Topics
- Day 1 (restarting updated workstations, access issues, login for shared workstations, Computerized Prescriber Order Entry [CPOE])
- Day 2 (troponin results, digital Doctor's Clipboard, incomplete History & Physical [H&P] notices, flagging outstanding labs, CPOE)
- Day 3 (login credential sharing, Android issues - PowerMic Mobile and network access, ED Provider Note as admitting H&P)
- Day 4 (separating "My Patients" lists, add-on labs, interfacility transfers [IFTs], CPOE, logging off/tapping out)
- Day 5 (Secure Chat, Sticky Notes, PowerMic Mobile on iOS)
- Day 6 (printing specimen collection labels, incomplete medical records/legacy charting, prescriber launch supports)
- Launch 7 Supporters
- Support
- Referral Order Pop-up in Personalized Referral Orders
- Trouble-shooting PowerMic Mobile on Android Devices
- Trouble-shooting PowerMic Mobile on iOS Devices
- Support for Linked Admitting History & Physical Notes
- Android 14 OS Users - Unable to Connect to AHSRestrict Wireless Network
- Tips
- Tippy Series
- Tippy - Note to MRHP Replaces "Doctor's Clipboard"
- Tippy - Custom Schedules
- Tippy - Separating "My Patients" Lists for Different Facilities
- Tippy - Provider Name Tweak in Schedule Lists
- Problem Oriented Charting (POC) Series
- Finding POC Tools - Inpatient
- Finding POC Tools - Outpatient
- Using the POC Sidebar
- POC Building Blocks
- POC - Interactive Charting
- POC - Patient Presentation
- POC - Hospital Course
- POC - Specialty Service
- POC - Subjective/Objective Documentation
- POC - Assessment/Plan Documentation
- Generating a POC Progress Note
- POC - Generating Summative Documentation
- Bridges
- Manual
- See What's New (updates and additions)
- Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers
Tickets, Tickets, Tickets!
Connect Care Launch 7 has gone well, credit to the clinicians, leaders, trainers, Super Users and many others who have worked so hard to prepare.
Launch success is less about absence of problems and more about rapid attention to problems. In this, Launch 7 is doing extraordinarily well. Most issues are resolved quickly. Many stimulate improvements that benefit entire Connect Care community.
What's left are a few tricky problems. These are context-dependent. When a specific print fails, for example, the fault can be device-specific or, sometimes, an intersect of device, department, function and location.
Cleaning up tricky problems is a group effort. Our technical specialists need users to:
- Not ignore problems, even those that seem minor. Report by one means or another (if too busy to submit a helpdesk ticket, jot down the particulars in a secure message or In Basket note to a Super User).
- Reported problems get "ticketed", which means that they are tracked and resolved as fast as possible.
- When reporting printer problems, always include any relevant order number.
2023-11-09
Issues with eScription
Some users have reported issues using the provincial eScription services. The in-system dictation system, Dragon Medical One, is strongly recommended for optimal user experience, and the eScription service will be decommissioned in the near future.
If a clinician has to use eScription and experiences issues, refer to the Insite page for help, or contact IT Solution Center at 1-877-311-4300.
Just-in-Time Learning!
Our new Connect Care Launch 7 prescribers are on the steeper part of their learning curve. Help is available!
A powerful way to reinforce basic training, while busy with clinical work, is to consider one or two high-impact tips per day. To that end, we regularly post "Tippies" on the Connect Care Tips channel (tips.connect-care.ca), which contain some simple but impactful suggestions as well as some more advanced tips.
The easiest way to follow these postings is to subscribe to the Tips blog channel. Also consider subscribing to both the FAQ (questions.connect-care.ca) and the Support (support.connect-care.ca) channels. We answer common questions on the former and provide important news about fixes and enhancements on the latter.
2023-11-08
Improving Issue Reports and Help Desk Interactions
Problem reports (help.connect-care.ca "tickets") have been well within expectations so far with Connect Care Launch 7. Of course, more tickets are expected as clinical volumes ramp up with more outpatient activity. The good news is that tickets are resolved quickly, with critical tickets resolved within minutes to hours.
Helpdesk tickets route most efficiently when the user provides clear information at the right level of detail. See our tips for impactful issue reports:
2023-11-05
Launch 7: We are GO!
All Connect Care systems activated on time at 05:00!
Today, Connect Care welcomes 79 sites from across the province into the family; with this launch, all acute care AHS sites are now on Connect Care! The first few days will be intense, but with lots of help at hand we are confident that progress will be fast.
Prescribers, please make use of the drop-in centres and other launch supports (launchhelp.connect-care.ca). Watch this channel for any updates, as well as the Support channel for information on "hot topic" common issues that have been flagged for Launch 7 prescribers.
2023-11-04
Countdown Checklist L7: Drop In
- Drop In
Of course that's only the start. We'll have a working system but we'll need to grow it, and grow with it, to fulfill its potential.
- Site Drop-in Centre schedules are updated at launchhelp.connect-care.ca.
- Virtual Drop-in Centre help is available via virtualhelp.connect-care.ca.
- HelpDesk is always open via help.connect-care.ca.
Countdown Checklist L7, T-minus 0: Share and Learn
- Share and Learn
Super Users are widely distributed. Look for yellow and orange lanyards (prescriber supports; pink caps in the OR). Don't struggle. Ask for help.
- Late breaking tips and gap-fillers will be added to the Connect Care Manual.
- The Connect Care Prescriber Updates will focus on pointers to new material, key developments, tips, tricks and FAQs. Use the buttons at the top, especially Tips, FAQ and Support.
- Ask a Super User or call the IT Service Desk with urgent needs: 1-877-311-4300.
- Request non-urgent (not addressed by peers and Super Users) needs, ideas and suggestions at help.connect-care.ca.
- Use the Site Drop-in Centres (see launchhelp.connect-care.ca).
- Use the 24/7 Virtual Drop-in Centre (virtualhelp.connect-care.ca).
2023-11-03
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:
- General
- Launch 7
- Key Resource for Launch 7 Supporters
- Connect Care Launch 7 Countdown Checklist
- T-minus 7: Support Cutover Activities
- T-minus 6: Follow the Tippies
- T-minus 5: Find Drop-In Centres
- T-minus 4: Unburden as Possible
- T-minus 3: Buddy Up, Team Up
- T-minus 2: Catch Up Dictations
- T-minus 1: You've Got This!
- Super User Development Series
- Session #11 - User Support Tools (all-day webinar November 3)
- Tips
- Tippy Series
- Problem Power Series
- Problem Power - Finding the Problem List
- Problem Power - Recognizing Symbols
- Problem Power - Problem List Layout
- Problem Power - Personalized Selections
- Problem Power - Prioritization
- Problem Power - Sidebar Editing
- Problem Power - Right-Click Problem Management
- Problem Power - Problem-based Clinical Guidance
- Problem Power - Problem Properties and Descriptions
- Problem Power - Problems vs. Historical Conditions
- Problem Power - Deleting, Inactivating or Resolving Problems
- Problem Power - Problem Reconciliation
- Problem Power - Using Standardized Problem Overviews
- Problem Power - Problem SmartStuff
- Manual
- See What's New (updates and additions)
- Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers
Countdown Checklist L7, T-minus 1: You've Got This!
- You've Got This -- And We've Got Your Back
- There are approximately 1,300 CMIO end users across the North and South Zones who are part of Launch 7: physicians, nurse practitioners, clinical assistants, physician assistants, dentists, residents, medical learners, and nurse practitioner students.
- 137 CMIO Super Users are deployed across the North and South Zones, for at-the-elbow support totalling over 5,433 hours of scheduled availability.
- 1,696 hours of on-site drop-in support and 1,294 hours of virtual drop-in support are scheduled for prescribers during the pre- and post-launch period.
2023-11-02
Countdown Checklist L7, T-minus 2: Catch Up Dictations
- Dictate any pre-launch admission or transfer notes
Succinct initial progress notes become possible in Connect Care if they can refer to an existing digital admission or transfer record and simply note any changes since. The same applies for Consults performed in the coming week for patients expected to still be in-hospital post-launch.
- Take advantage of eScription to facilitate easier Connect Care cutover this weekend!
2023-11-01
Countdown Checklist L7, T-minus 3: Buddy Up, Team Up
- Buddy-Up and Team-Up
There are valuable human resources embedded in Launch 7 sites and others flowing in from Zone sites already on Connect Care. Pre-socialize your Super Users, Medical Informatics Leads, Area Trainers and other specialty, ward or clinic informaticians. Create and share a launch contact list that fits your local group needs. Prescriber launch supports (launchhelp.connect-care.ca) link to a Super User schedule - good contacts to start with.
This is also a good time to consider how clinical information system adoption work can be divided and shared. Some personalization tasks, for example, can dramatically improve the user experience but take time to set up. Many can be initiated by a team member who understands the preferences of colleagues then shared for adoption by a larger group. Examples of allocatable personalization tasks are listed in the Connect Care Manual.
Consider devoting group, division, or other business meetings to identifying, and sharing, remaining team readiness tasks.
2023-10-31
Countdown Checklist L7, T-minus 4: Unburden as Possible
- Unburden where and when Possible
- Identifying and flagging complex continuing patients who may need more cutover attention during the pre-launch week (see previous posts on pre-launch cutover tasks here and here).
- Printing patient lists the evening before launch to ease populating provider care team lists on launch day.
- Protecting time before launch to confirm access to the Connect Care production environment for re-familiarization with training activities and high-value personalizations.
2023-10-30
Countdown Checklist L7, T-minus 5: Find Drop-In Centres
- Take advantage of the Prescriber Drop-in Centres
Schedules for the drop-in centres (including dates, times, and rooms) can be found in the Connect Care Manual. Note that locations and times can change. Late-breaking information about the drop-in centres will be posted in the Connect Care Manual (launchhelp.connect-care.ca).
2023-10-29
Countdown Checklist L7, T-minus 6: Follow the Tippies
- Follow Connect Care Tippies
Tippies are published on our "Tips" channel (button above or tips.connect-care.ca) and are re-released approximately twice a week in the peri-launch period. Please consider subscribing to the Tips channel.
The entire Tippies collection can be viewed via tippies.connect-care.ca or tippy.connect-care.ca (worth bookmarking).
2023-10-28
Countdown Checklist L7, T-minus 7: Support Cutover Activities
- Support Cutover Activities
- General inpatient: Make sure that all dictations are complete and signed; use dictation (eScription) for all admissions, transfers and consults between now and launch, if possible, so that transition notes at launch can refer to recent documentation in Netcare.
- Surgical inpatient: Make sure that work is underway to enter upcoming surgical cases into Connect Care.
- Outpatient: Make sure that all clinic documentation is complete, signed and routed, while also taking care to close any charts still open in legacy systems.
- Complex patients: Consider pre-launch problem list documentation to support easy transition note generation at launch. Please reach out to your Cutover Team at cc.cutover@ahs.ca for the timing of this activity.
- Long-term care (LTC):
- October 30–November 4 - Review orders entered into Connect Care for LTC residents to ensure accuracy of medication and non-medication orders.
- LTC clinical teams may still be entering care plan information and other clinical documentation, but the majority of orders will be entered by October 28.
- FAQ: Acute Care Prescriber Role at Cutover - Launch 7 (Oct 31 edit: Updated pharmacy closure times for Medicine Hat and Chinook Regional Hospitals)
- FAQ: Prescriber Role at Cutover – Launch 7 LTC
- FAQ: Prescriber Role at Cutover – Launch 7 DSL and LTC with Contracted Pharmacy
- Presentation: Prescriber Roles at Cutover - Launch 7
- Checklist: Prescriber Checklist for Cutover - Launch 7
- Manual: Cutover
2023-10-27
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:
- General
- All User Bulletin - Internet Security Certificate Update
- Important Updates to Referral Workflows
- All User Bulletin - PowerMic Mobile App Issue
- Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers
- Problem Power - Tips and Training about Problem Lists
- Launch 7
- Ambulatory Tips, Tricks, and Traps - Launch 7 Prescriber Support Session (webinar November 2)
- Handout Reminder for Launch 7 Supports
- Connect Care Launch 7 Countdown Checklist
- T-minus 19: Check Provider Registry Entry
- T-minus 17: Confirm Dual Roles
- T-minus 15: Get Ready for Interfacility Transfers
- T-minus 13: Identify Launch Supports
- T-minus 12: Know Where to Get Downtime Help
- T-minus 11: Anticipate Acute Cutover
- T-minus 10: Anticipate Computerized Prescriber Order Entry (CPOE)
- T-minus 9: Check In Basket
- T-minus 8: Complete Login Lab
- Super User Development Series
- Support
- In Basket Update - Co-Sign and Incomplete Notes Folders
- Workflow Updates for Transferring Patients to Continuing Care
- Referral Workflow Updates
- Tips
- Tippy Series
- Tippy - Time Shortcuts
- Tippy - Changing Jobs
- Tippy - Changing Context
- Tippy - Linking Personal to System Patient Lists
- Problem Power Series
- Manual
- See What's New (updates and additions)
Countdown Checklist L7, T-minus 8: Complete Login Lab
- Complete CMIO Login Lab
In addition, all prescribers are required to complete a "CMIO Login Lab" found within Connect Care Hyperspace. This checks that the right tools are assigned to the user in the right way.
Step-by-step instructions are provided in a tip:
2023-10-26
Problem Power - Tips and Training about Problem Lists
Connect Care Problem List management can seem daunting at first. With a little familiarity, however, problem skills can improve the Connect Care user experience, while reducing information burdens and increasing patient safety.
Consistent problem list management is a Connect Care minimum use norm. It is also a prerequisite for problem-oriented charting, which further promotes efficient and effective clinical documentation.
In tandem with Launch 7, the "Problem Power" tips series (problemlists.connect-care.ca) will re-post daily. Short tips illustrate little things that can make problem list management easier and more impactful.
- Tips: Problem Power (consider subscribing to tips.connect-care.ca)
- Blogs: Building a Better Health Record
- Manual: Problem List Management
- Manual: Problem List Norms
Between the Charts: CMIO Newsletter for Prescribers
We're happy to announce that we have started a monthly newsletter for prescribers, called "Between the Charts". This newsletter will summarize 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 first issue is now out, available at the below link. Each new issue will be announced here, and an archive will be made available 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.
Countdown Checklist L7, T-minus 9: Check In Basket
- Check In Basket
Some prescribers participate in or are affected by early cutover and conversion activities; they can line up orders that need to be ready in the system at launch. There may be communications that relate to setting up surgical cases or outpatient encounters that will occur post-launch. In addition, once a prescriber's account is activated in PRD, new test results will start to automatically route to the prescriber's In Basket, and other Connect Care users can send messages to the prescriber via In Basket.
More information on managing results and reports is available in the Connect Care Manual. A Results Management Toolkit has been prepared (and is continually enhanced) to help prescribers hone effective and efficient results management habits. Prescribers with "mixed-context" practices need to be aware of situations where results might route to both their Connect Care and external EMR systems.
For these and other reasons, it is best to start regular In Basket checks now. A useful In Basket personalization sends alerts to an email of one's choice when there is new In Basket content.
2023-10-25
Countdown Checklist L7, T-minus 10: Anticipate Computerized Prescriber Order Entry (CPOE)
- Anticipate CPOE
CPOE offers an important means by which health processes and outcomes can improve. Entered orders trigger clinical decision supports that can help avoid unsafe medications, promote best practices and improve system performance. Studies show that the move from paper to CPOE decreases common medication errors by 50% or more.
Accordingly, it is a Minimum Use expectation that all tests, interventions and medications that can be ordered in Connect Care must be ordered in Connect Care. Very few exceptions are acceptable.
Connect Care provides tools that make CPOE as easy as possible. Indeed, with the convenience of ordering personalized favourites on any computer or mobile device, anywhere, anytime, ordering is easier to do, and do well, than when constrained by paper. Still, Launch 7 will bring significant change for many providers at facilities moving from paper to computerized order entry. This is a good time to anticipate and prepare for CPOE:
2023-10-24
All User Bulletin - PowerMic Mobile App Issue
PowerMic Mobile App Issue
We are currently experiencing issues with the Android version of the PowerMic Mobile (PMM) app. Android users are reporting that they are unable to successfully connect their PMM to Dragon Medical One (DMO).
A workaround has been developed - see the Support post for more details. If you continue to experience this issue, please contact the Service Desk (1-877-311-4300) for support.
Ambulatory Tips, Tricks, and Traps - Launch 7 Prescriber Support Session
The ambulatory component of basic Connect Care training for prescribers who also provide acute care is necessarily streamlined. However, some prescribers with a significant ambulatory workload may feel like they have not had sufficient exposure to the ambulatory tools and workflows in Connect Care via basic training to be comfortable navigating the Connect Care clinical information system during a busy clinic come launch. To help these users, the CMIO will be hosting an additional ambulatory support session.
This 1-hour Zoom session is an opportunity to see ambulatory workflows in action, to hear advice from providers who have been using Connect Care in busy outpatient practices, and to ask questions – all in anticipation of your first day in clinic on Connect Care. To join, click the Zoom link below; if you are unable to attend, a recording will be posted here.
- Thursday November 2, 2023, 12:00-13:00
Countdown Checklist L7, T-minus 11: Anticipate Acute Cutover
- Anticipate Acute Cutover
Prescribers should anticipate, and mobilize resources for, seven key tasks as part of cutover processes:
- Pre-Launch (October 31–November 4)
- Clean up medication orders in legacy systems. Remove unnecessary orders or unused PRNs.
- Fill out or review and sign Non-Medication Order Forms for each admitted patient. Should be found on the front of charts. Deadline is end of day November 2 for acute care teams, November 3 for critical care and rural teams. Ensure the orders are predictive of the patient needs as of November 5 at 05:00.
- If Best Possible Medication History (BPMH) was NOT done on the legacy BPMH form at admission, it will have to be done; prescribers must review/complete and sign an AHS-approved BPMH form. If BPMH was done on admission, nothing is needed for this step.
- Create list of all patients the team is following by November 4 at 23:00, to ensure smooth creation of provider specific and specialty lists.
- Summary Migration to the Hospital Course field and Problem List entry on November 3 and 4. Note this step can also be done post-launch, if teams are not able to do ahead of launch.
- Reminder: All team members should be logged out of the legacy and Connect Care systems by November 4 at 23:30, and remain out of the system until November 5 at 05:00.
- Post-Launch (November 5)
- Create provider specific and specialty lists by finding their patients on the individual units throughout the hospital. Once patients are located, attach your service provider team to the patients Current Encounter Treatment Team.
- Compare legacy Medication and Non-Medication orders to Connect Care orders. Orders that will be missing include but are not limited to:
- Ongoing lab orders, only the first 24 hours worth of lab are being brought over.
- Reoccurring medications that were ordered after pharmacy closure time.
- Wound Care orders.
- Area specific orders.
- Orders that have changed since cutover occurred for patient.
- FAQ: Acute Care Prescriber Role at Cutover - Launch 7 (Oct 31 edit: Updated pharmacy closure times for Medicine Hat and Chinook Regional Hospitals)
- Presentation: Prescriber Roles at Cutover - Launch 7
- Form: Cutover Non-Medication Orders (example)
- Checklist: Prescriber Checklist for Cutover – Launch 7
- Manual: Cutover
- Tip: Medication Reconciliation at Cutover