Prescribers were polled about how Connect Care affects the care they provide. The following slideshow summarizes key points...
Health informatics briefs for clinicians; from the Alberta Health Services Chief Medical Information Office (cmio@ahs.ca).
2022-12-19
2022-12-09
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
- CMIO Prescriber Drop-in Now Closed (includes info on post-launch support)
- Results Management for Emergency Departments
- CMIO Optimization Support for Connect Care Users
- Support
- Tips
- COVID-19 and Connect Care
- Manual
- COVID-19 - Connect Care Resources
- See What's New (updates and additions)
2022-12-07
CMIO Optimization Support for Connect Care Users
With 8,779 professionals having completed Chief Medical Information Office (CMIO) training for Connect Care, the CMIO has developed a four-tier optimization training strategy to foster continuous learning for those in previous launches (Waves 1-3 and Launches 4-5).
All Connect Care users who fall under the scope of CMIO training will be able to access optimization support via their local leadership. Users can combine facets of optimization from any tier, in any order, to best address their unique needs.
In Tiers 1 and 3, users can drive their own learning through the available resources and modules; in Tiers 2 and 4, Medical Informatics Leads, Super Users, and Zone Clinical Department Heads will help champion this learning for their colleagues and staff.
For more information, see the Optimization Training page in the Connect Care Manual.
2022-12-05
Results Management for Emergency Departments
2022-12-02
CMIO Prescriber Drop-in Now Closed
As we approach the end of the fourth week of Connect Care at the Launch 5 sites, the CMIO Virtual Drop-in Centre has now closed, and many Super Users have been pulled back. Though the launch support period may have ended at your site, that is not the end of Connect Care support available for prescribers.
It is expected that new users will continue to have questions as they encounter situations perhaps not covered in basic training, or when returning to a workflow they need a refresher on, or when there is an opportunity to dive into some of the more advanced tricks and tools available to get the most out of the Connect Care clinical information system (CIS) and make your user experience smoother. There are a number of post-launch supports in place for these reasons.
- If you are experiencing a problem that has possible immediate patient care impact, call the IT Service Desk & Solution Centre at 1-877-311-4300 (#1 for Connect Care). The Service Desk is able to provide high-level workflow and training support; urgent issues will be escalated to an on-call CMIO training team member.
- For all other issues, take a look at this FAQ to discover the best post-launch resource to use for help.
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
- Dragon Medical One - Launch 5 Personalization Sessions (open to all Connect Care prescribers)
- FAQ
- How did I get that test order wrong?
- How are triplicate (duplicate) prescriptions handled in Connect Care?
- Support
- Tips
- COVID-19 and Connect Care
- Manual
- COVID-19 - Connect Care Resources
- See What's New (updates and additions)
2022-11-29
Dragon Medical One - Launch 5 Personalization Sessions
Personalization sessions for Connect Care's in-system dictation software, Dragon Medical One (DMO), are coming up for Connect Care Launch 5 prescribers. Those in previous launches (Waves/Launches 1-4) are also welcome to attend.
The personalization sessions are scheduled for the following dates/times:
- Tuesday, December 6, 2022: 10:00-11:30
- Monday, December 12, 2022: 18:00-19:30
- Thursday, December 15, 2022: 14:00-15:30
Registration is through MyLearningLink (MLL) (course name: Dragon Medical One (DMO) - Dictation Optimization Sessions), and sessions are via Zoom.
2022-11-25
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:
- Connect Care Launch 5
- Launch 5 Support Hot Topics - Week 3
- CMIO Prescriber Virtual Drop-in Centre - Updated Hours
- CMIO Prescriber Drop-in Support - Update
- FAQ
- Why must all medication prescriptions be entered into Connect Care at discharge?
- How can I share discharge summaries with my patients?
- How can I add patient information or instructions to the After Visit Summary (AVS)?
- Tips
- Informatics
- COVID-19 and Connect Care
- Manual
- COVID-19 - Connect Care Resources
- See What's New (updates and additions)
2022-11-18
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
- Connect Care Launch 5
- Support
- FAQ
- Tips
- COVID-19 and Connect Care
- Manual
- COVID-19 - Connect Care Resources
- See What's New (updates and additions)
2022-11-16
Calgary Zone Bulletin - Ambulatory Results Management Update
Ambulatory Results Management Update
Starting November 16, 2022, some results from outside of the Calgary Zone will be suppressed from In Basket to reduce duplicate reports related to Calgary Zone patients. This is an interim state and will revert at some future date.
- A hard copy (paper or fax) of results may be sent. Prescribers must regularly monitor Connect Care In Basket AND hard copy reports, and follow-up on results as needed.
- All results are available in Netcare and the Connect Care patient chart.
- To improve the reliability of result delivery to In Basket and reduce hard copy reports, be sure to use Connect Care requisitions when arranging for patients' laboratory testing.
For more information, see the memo.
2022-11-11
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
- Prescriber Ordering Norms - Are Verbal Orders Allowed?
- Connect Care Communication Norms
- No More Tweets
- Connect Care Launch 5
- Launch 5: We are GO!
- CMIO Prescriber In-Person Drop-In Centres - Updated Hours
- Improving Issue Reports and Help Desk Interactions
- Just-in-Time Learning!
- Tickets, Tickets, Tickets!
- Hot Topics
- Launch 5 Support Hot Topics - Day 1
- Launch 5 Support Hot Topics - Day 2
- Launch 5 Support Hot Topics - Day 3
- Launch 5 Support Hot Topics - Day 4
- Launch 5 Support Hot Topics - Day 5
- Launch 5 Supporters
- Support
- Problems with Citrix Workspace on Personal Computers
- New Interventional Radiology and Bedside Order Sets
- Tips
- COVID-19 and Connect Care
- Manual
- COVID-19 - Connect Care Resources
- See What's New (updates and additions)
Tickets, Tickets, Tickets!
Connect Care Launch 5 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 5 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.
2022-11-10
Just-in-Time Learning!
Our new Connect Care Launch 5 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.
2022-11-09
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 5. 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:
No More Tweets
Although these Connect Care blog postings have been linked to Twitter notifications for a number of years, few of our target viewers use those feeds for following Bytes and related CMIO blogging channels.
The time seems right to leave the Twitter platform. Accordingly, all repostings are stopped and the associated Twitter accounts have been deleted.
Connect Care Communication Norms
Connect Care supports a wide range of communication tools, including voice, facsimile, commenting and secure messaging. Clinicians may wonder which tool to use for different communication needs, and how to use each to advantage.
Communication Norms are about what Connect Care users expect of one another for effective, efficient, safe and respectful information sharing within and between groups. Healthcare teams are encouraged to develop their own "communication compacts", clarifying how they will use different tools for different purposes.
- Chart "Sticky Note to Most Responsible Provider" can function like a "Doctor's To-Do clipboard" listing things to take care of on rounds.
- Secure messaging can be used for non-urgent reminders, such as the place and time of an upcoming team conference, that can be attended to within the next half-day (or so).
2022-11-07
Prescriber Ordering Norms - Are Verbal Orders Allowed?
Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) refers to the process of a medical prescriber entering orders electronically via a digital health record.
CPOE involves much more than simply transcribing an order. The ordering process activates decision supports, patient safety protections and other aids to quality improvement. With a little practice, the CPOE process can also be much faster than written or verbal equivalents, as favourites, panels, personalizations and other automations come into play. In addition, Connect Care mobile apps make order entry immediately accessible from certain mobile devices, any time, anywhere.
It is a Minimum Use expectation for all prescribers that all tests, interventions and medications that can be ordered in Connect Care are ordered in Connect Care. Compliance is tracked in prescriber performance metrics.
Very few exceptions to CPOE are acceptable, as summarized in Connect Care Ordering Norms.
2022-11-06
Launch 5: We are GO!
All Connect Care systems activated on time at 05:00!
Today, Connect Care welcomes 135 sites from across the province into the family, including Cancer Care Alberta and Alberta Kidney Care South. 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 5 prescribers.
2022-11-04
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
- Connect Care Launch 5
- Prescriber Drop-In Centres Now Open - Virtual and On-Site
- 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!
- Launch 5 Supporters
- Support
- Second Sign Updates - Requisition Printout
- Repatriation and Consultation/Transfer Update - New RAAPID Service Request Order
- Connect Care Mobility Install Issues
- FAQ
- Tips
- Tippy Series
- Tippy - MD Notifications in Patient Lists
- Tippy - Edit Multiple Orders
- Tippy - Attaching Files to Charts
- Problem Power Series
- Bridges
- COVID-19 and Connect Care
- Manual
- COVID-19 - Connect Care Resources
- See What's New (updates and additions)
2022-10-28
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
- Connect Care Fall Upgrade
- Building a Better Health Record (BBHR) series
- Connect Care Launch 5
- Ambulatory Tips, Tricks, and Traps - Launch 5 Prescriber Support Sessions
- Prescriber Drop-In Centres Now Open - Virtual and On-Site
- Ordering Therapy Plans - Launch 5 Prescriber-Led Support Sessions
- 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
- Launch 5 Supporters
- Support
- Tips
- Tippy Series
- Tippy - Quick Launch Dragon Medical One
- Tippy - Easy Dictation within Mobile Apps
- Tippy - Undo
- Tippy - Keep Important Information to Hand in the Sidebar
- Problem Power Series
- Informatics
- Builder - New EAP (Test Orders) Resource
- Builders - New Style and Content Resources for Patient Lists
- Bridges
- COVID-19 and Connect Care
- Manual
- COVID-19 - Connect Care Resources
- See What's New (updates and additions)
BBHR: Interactive Patient Lists
As part of our documentation quality improvement initiative, we promote practical ways for clinicians to comply with minimum use norms.
The Connect Care clinical information system (CIS) includes powerful tools for accessing, personalizing, building and sharing patient lists.
Those working on inpatient ward, consult or service teams can benefit from the creation of one or more personalized lists. Unfortunately, it can be daunting to know which columns (often with many similarly named options to choose from) to line up for a specific clinical need.
A clinician-led working group has established standards for Patient List design and has used those to produce a growing set of high-performing, validated and clinician-recommended list columns (easy to recognize as descriptors start with "[AHS]"). In addition, a set of 6 patient list templates can help users initiate personal lists with preferred columns.
To start or adapt a "My List" personal list:
- Use the "Edit List" menu (top left of Patient Lists activity) to pick the "Properties" submenu.
- Look for a "Copy" button at the bottom left of the "Available Columns" section in the list editor. Click this.
- Note the list templates with names that start with "++AHS IP MD..." (near the top of the pick-list) and select a template fitting the clinical workflow (e.g., ward rounds, ward consults, emergency consults).
- Either use the patient list configuration as is, or add/remove columns to personalize. Columns that have descriptors starting with "[AHS]" are preferred.
A number of enhancements respond to user requests:
- Content - Columns display succinct information that is formatted to comply with AHS standards.
- Hover - Hovering over columns within patient rows triggers pop-up displays of relevant information.
- Double-click - Activating a column within a patient row will either open a relevant editing tool within the list or will open the patient chart to a relevant activity.
- Sorting - This is optimized for clinical use case.
- Report - Again defaulted to best fit the clinical use case.
2022-10-27
BBHR: RAPID Rounds Report Consolidates Transition Planning Information
As part of our documentation quality improvement initiative, we promote practical ways for clinicians to provide clear and actionable communication at transitions of care.
When a patient (row) is selected in a Rapid Rounds patient list, a "report" displays either below or to the side of the list (user preference). The default report for Rapid Rounds is a transition planning report. The same report can be viewed as a pop-up by double-clicking within the Room/Bed or Length of Stay (LOS) columns in the patient list. And the report is always available from inpatient chart sidebars.
The new report functions like a planning dashboard. It gathers in one place all information that might be needed when preparing for discharge or transfer. More importantly, the report is interactive. The displayed information can be selected (click or tap) to view deeper layers of related information. And the data (e.g., pre-admission community supports) can be edited in-place, allowing work to be done in patient lists without having to open individual charts.
2022-10-26
BBHR: RAPID Rounds Patient List Supports Multidisciplinary Discharge Planning
As part of our documentation quality improvement initiative, we promote practical ways for clinicians to provide clear and actionable communication at transitions of care.
"RAPID" (Review, Assess, Plan for Imminent Discharge) Rounds is a CoACT Collaborative Care activity that fosters communication within and between care team members, including patients and families. It facilitates timely coordination of care and decreases overall lengths of stay.
Connect Care provides a number of informational supports for Rapid Rounds, including:
- Rapid Rounds Patient List - For use during multidisciplinary discharge planning rounds, this allows quick information access and documentation while reviewing a panel of inpatients.
- Rapid Rounds Report - Provides a compressed summary of discharge planning information together with interactive tools for updating key data and multidisciplinary discharge readiness "traffic lights".
- Transition Planning Sidebar - For use when a chart is opened to an inpatient encounter, replicating much of the information found in the Rapid Rounds report while speeding access to information best updated during day-to-day care.
2022-10-24
BBHR: Introducing the Connect Care Transition Planning Package
As part of our documentation quality improvement initiative, we promote practical ways for clinicians to provide clear and actionable communication at transitions of care.
Preparing for discharge begins at admission. Some admissions are straightforward, with dates and dispositions unfolding as expected. Others are complex and require coordinated multidisciplinary planning to facilitate safe transitions.
Connect Care provides a new set of integrated supports that can help clinicians with complex discharges, while improving communication with healthcare providers for all discharges. These tools comprise a "transitions planning package" that includes:
- Improved Admission and Discharge Navigators
- Expected Discharge Date (EDD Management) tools
- Daily Checklists
- Rapid Rounds Lists and Reports
- Transition Planning Sidebars
- Transition Planning Documentation blocks
- LACE Readmission Index calculations and recommendations
- Provincial Standardized Discharge and Transfer Summaries
- Communications to Electronic Health Record (Netcare) and Electronic Medical Records (eDelivery)
The next series of BBHR postings will focus on transition planning tools, highlighting how they work with tips, guides and demonstrations.
Ordering Therapy Plans - Launch 5 Prescriber-Led Support Sessions
Edit: New session added.
Physicians and other prescribers who order recurrent, ongoing therapies (IVIG, blood, antimicrobials, etc.) known as Therapy Plans (pre-defined collection of related/standing orders that can apply to multiple/recurrent encounters over time) are invited to attend orientation sessions. The sessions explain the process of ordering Therapy Plans and will assist you when converting legacy orders and paper-based orders prior to Launch 5. There will be demonstrations of Therapy Plan workflows and an opportunity to address questions.
The following sessions provide background information and context, focusing on workflows with demonstrations. Although important for Launch 5 prescribers who anticipate Therapy Plan use, all Connect Care prescribers are welcome, as many may benefit from a refresher.
Clicking on the hyperlinked date for a session will open a calendar invite for that session, which you can then respond to and receive the meeting information.
- Thursday October 13, 2022, 07:00
- Monday October 17, 2022, 12:00
- Tuesday October 18, 2022, 07:00
- Tuesday October 25, 2022, 12:00
- Thursday October 27, 2022, 07:00
- Monday October 31, 2022, 12:00
- New: Monday October 31, 2022, 16:00
For more information, please see the below resources:
Prescriber Drop-In Centres Now Open - Virtual and On-Site
The Connect Care Launch 5 prescriber drop-in centres are now open!
These centres are good for troubleshooting issues related to mobility, personal devices, dictation, personalization and workflows, as well as login, role and access problems.
More information on the drop-in centres and their hours can be found at launchhelp.connect-care.ca. This link can also be accessed from the banner found at the top of each page of the Connect Care Manual.
A summary of "hot topics" or key issues being identified and addressed through the drop-in centres and other launch supports will be posted on our Support channel, with daily summaries starting launch day.
- Calgary Zone:
- Central Zone (note the in-person drop-in location changes during the first week of launch support):
- Poster: Central Zone (Wetaskiwin Hospital) Drop-In Support (in-person drop-in Oct 24-25)
- Poster: Central Zone (CCMHBI) Drop-In Support (in-person drop-in Oct 26-27)
- Poster: Central Zone (RDRH) Drop-In Support (in-person drop-in Oct 27 onward)
- Other sites:
2022-10-20
Ambulatory Tips, Tricks, and Traps - Launch 5 Prescriber Support Sessions
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 additional ambulatory support sessions.
These 1-hour sessions are 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 register for a session, click on the hyperlinked date for the session that works for you (the sessions are all the same). It will download and open a calendar invite for that session, which you can then respond to and receive the meeting information.
2022-10-14
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
- Super User Development Sessions - A chance to learn new skills (open to all Connect Care prescribers)
- eCLINICIAN Viewer Launching October 7, 2022
- Connect Care Transparent Lockdown - October 14, 2022 12:00-04:30 October 20, 2022
- Connect Care Launch 5
- Countdown Checklist
- T-minus 33: Meet the Connect Care Concierge
- T-minus 31: Get Ready for Billing Workflows
- T-minus 29: Get Ready for OBIX (Perinatal Interface Software)
- T-minus 26: Confirm Connect Care Access and Login Role
- T-minus 24: Use CCIDs
- T-minus 22: Confirm PRD Access
- Launch 5 Supporters
- Tips
- Tippy Series
- Tippy - Equals Sign in Lookups
- Tippy - Set Start-up Activity
- Tippy - Personalized Toolbar
- Tippy - Fast Menu Buttons
- Problem Power Series
- Informatics
- COVID-19 and Connect Care
- Manual
- COVID-19 - Connect Care Resources
- See What's New (updates and additions)
Countdown Checklist L5, T-minus 22: Confirm PRD Access
- Check your PRD (Production) Access
Please do the following from within an AHS network (AHSRESTRICT) or from outside with the aid of an RSA security token:
- Go to myapps.ahs.ca and log in with your AHS username and password. Can't get in? See "Access Problems" in the Connect Care Manual.
- Once logged in to myapps.ahs.ca, ensure that the PRD (production) Connect Care icon is available. If not, see "CIS Access" in the Manual.
- Open PRD and log in with your AHS username and password. Can't get in? Contact AHS IT Service Desk or ConnectCare.SupportTeam.Security@ahs.ca.
2022-10-05
eCLINICIAN Viewer Launching October 7, 2022
With the launch of Connect Care in November 2019, the eCLINICIAN clinical information system has been maintained in read-only state to ensure that legacy clinical information remained accessible while plans for full decommissioning were being developed. As of October 7, 2022, the eCLINICIAN patient record access in Connect Care (via the “Other Clinical Systems” link in Storyboard or Sidebar) will be removed and replaced by an eCLINICIAN "Viewer." This will continue to provide access to key clinical information from the legacy system.
How does this impact me?
The ability to access legacy clinical information will continue, but the access method may change:
- Key clinical information required for continuity of care will be available in real time via the eCLINICIAN Viewer. Connect Care prescribers will be able to access this Viewer.
- eCLINICIAN Letters, Notes and Communications (encounters before July 1, 2017) can be found in the Viewer, but not in the original formatting. Images that were embedded in Progress Notes will not display in the Viewer.
- The entire eCLINICIAN database has been added to the AHS Enterprise content management system ("Solix") which can recover and generate reports from legacy data.
Requests by Connect Care prescribers for information not available in the eCLINICIAN Viewer, or for purposes outside of continuity of care, can be submitted as follows:
- Health Record Disclosure Help Line (disclosure@ahs.ca; 1-855-935-0646).
- Local Health Information Management department (Health Information - Access and Disclosure).
2022-09-30
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
- Super User Development Sessions - A chance to learn new skills (open to all Connect Care prescribers)
- Connect Care Launch 5
- Countdown Checklist
- T-minus 47: Complete Basic Training
- T-minus 45: Get Ready for Clinical Orders Conversion
- T-minus 43: Get Ready for Clinical Data Conversion
- T-minus 40: Complete and Close Legacy Charts
- T-minus 38: Check AHS Security Profile
- T-minus 36: Get Ready for Mobility
- Launch 5 Supporters
- Tips
- Tippy Series
- Tippy - Hover to Discover
- Tippy - Time-Mark for Results
- Tippy - Time-Mark from Storyboard
- Tippy - Time-Mark for Notes
- Problem Power Series
- Support
- COVID-19 and Connect Care
- Manual
- COVID-19 - Connect Care Resources
- See What's New (updates and additions)
2022-09-16
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:
- Connect Care Launch 5
- Countdown Checklist
- T-minus 61: Get Ready for Billing
- T-minus 59: Get Ready for LTC Cutover
- T-minus 57: Get Ready for Oncology Conversion
- T-minus 54: Register for Personalization Training
- T-minus 50: Consider UserWeb Access
- Launch 5 Supporters
- Tips
- Tippy Series
- Tippy - Simple Patient List Reports
- Tippy - Custom Schedules
- Tippy - Provider Name Tweak in Schedule Lists
- Tippy - Right-Click Powers
- Problem Power Series
- COVID-19 and Connect Care
- Manual
- COVID-19 - Connect Care Resources
- See What's New (updates and additions)
2022-09-02
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 - Cognitive Assessment Tools
- LACE Index for Readmission Risk
- Connect Care Transparent Lockdown - September 2, 2022 12:00-04:30 September 8, 2022
- Connect Care Launch 5
- Countdown Checklist L5, T-minus 68: Get Ready for Patient Movement
- Countdown Checklist L5, T-minus 66: Plan Workload Adjustments
- Countdown Checklist L5, T-minus 64: Plan Meeting Adjustments
- Tips
- Informatics
- COVID-19 and Connect Care
- Manual
- COVID-19 - Connect Care Resources
- See What's New (updates and additions)
2022-08-31
LACE Index for Readmission Risk
Plentiful evidence shows that patients with multiple comorbidities, frequent emergency room visits or other frailty indicators are more likely to present for readmission to hospital within a short time following their last discharge. Many of these readmissions are preventable, mostly through anticipation, communication and provision of post-discharge supports.
AHS uses the "LACE readmission risk index" to stratify patients into those who are at low, moderate or high risk for early readmission. The index considers the patient's length of stay, admission type, comorbidities and frequency of emergency room visits.
Most of the information needed to calculate a LACE Index is available to Connect Care in-system, and does not need to be entered by prescribers. An automatically calculated LACE Index has been developed for Connect Care and has been tested during summer 2022. It is now in production, continually updated for all inpatients.
2022-08-30
All User Bulletin - Cognitive Assessment Tools
Change in Embedded Cognitive Assessment Tools
Connect Care provides access to a wide range of clinical scores, scales, calculations and assessment tools. These are described in the Clinician Manual.
2022-08-26
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:
- Connect Care Launch 5
- Countdown Checklist L5, T-minus 82: Complete InfoCare (On Our Best Behaviours) Training
- Countdown Checklist L5, T-minus 80: Confirm AHS Network Access
- Countdown Checklist L5, T-minus 78: Choose Personal Device(s)
- Countdown Checklist L5, T-minus 75: Confirm Remote Access
- Countdown Checklist L5, T-minus 73: Report Wireless Gaps
- Tips
- Tippy Series
- Tippy - Time Shortcuts
- Tippy - Changing Jobs
- Tippy - Changing Context
- Tippy - Linking Personal to System Patient Lists
- Problem Power Series
- Informatics
- COVID-19 and Connect Care
- Manual
- COVID-19 - Connect Care Resources
- See What's New (updates and additions)
2022-08-12
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:
- Connect Care Launch 5
- Countdown Checklist L5, T-minus 96: Are you in?
- Countdown Checklist L5, T-minus 94: Get Training
- Countdown Checklist L5, T-minus 92: Consider Training Options
- Countdown Checklist L5, T-minus 89: Check Alberta Referral Directory
- Countdown Checklist L5, T-minus 87: Bookmark Prescriber Resources
- Countdown Checklist L5, T-minus 85: Bookmark Manual and Updates
- Tips
- COVID-19 and Connect Care
- Manual
- COVID-19 - Connect Care Resources
- See What's New (updates and additions)
2022-07-29
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:
- General
- All User Bulletin - Update: Ultrasound Reports for Referring Providers
- All User Bulletin: ED Provider Note Not Auto-copied to Author EMRs
- Problem Power - A Renewed Tips Series
- Ordering Therapy Plans - Launch 5 Prescriber-Led Support Sessions (all waves welcome)
- Connect Care to Netcare: Summative Document Sharing Update
- Connect Care Summative Documents - Mindful Signing
- Unique Workflows During Interim States
- Connect Care Launch 5
- Support
- Tips
- Informatics
- Bridges
- COVID-19 and Connect Care
- Manual
- COVID-19 - Connect Care Resources
- See What's New (updates and additions)
Unique Workflows During Interim States
Connect Care is a fully integrated clinical information system. Nonetheless, it may depend upon other health information systems for core data while implementation progresses, launch-by-launch, across Alberta.
Interim states occur when Connect Care interoperates with an external health information system (e.g., laboratory services, pharmacy services) that will be replaced by Connect Care functionality later. The (temporary) dependency may require workflows different from where Connect Care is fully deployed.
Considerations for prescribers are now linked in the Connect Care Clinician Manual:
2022-07-28
Connect Care Summative Documents - Mindful Signing
Mindful Signing of Summative Documents
Connect Care automatically shares key summative documents with the Alberta Netcare Portal electronic health record and with eDelivery-compatible electronic medical records (EMRs).
Automated sharing is triggered when an eligible note is signed (co-signed in the case of trainee-authored notes). If the same note is later edited and re-signed, a new copy is distributed to external systems. This can create a lot of work for providers using external EMRs. It is especially disruptive for community practices to sort through multiple copies of shared documents to determine which is definitive and what has changed.
Summative document contributors should “pend” or “share” their work, saving "signing" for the most responsible prescriber after all reviews are complete. A document should be signed just once; and so shared just once.
2022-07-27
Connect Care to Netcare: Summative Document Sharing Update
2022-07-18
Problem Power - A Renewed Tips Series
Problem List management can seem daunting to new (and established!) clinicians. With a little effort, however, problem management can dramatically improve the Connect Care user experience, while significantly reducing personal and shared information burdens.
Consistent problem list management is among Connect Care's minimum use norms. It is also a prerequisite for problem-oriented charting, in turn necessary for efficient and effective clinical documentation.
In tandem with Launch 4, the "Problem Power" Connect Care tips series will post daily, emphasizing little things that can make problem list management easier while having a big impact on health record quality.
2022-07-11
All User Bulletin: ED Provider Note Not Auto-copied to Author EMRs
ED Provider Notes No Longer Automatically Copied to External EMR of Authoring Providers
Connect Care prescribers may provide services where Connect Care is the record of care, and additionally provide follow-up services where a community electronic medical record (EMR) is the record of care. Physicians working in emergency departments, for example, may find themselves subject to "mixed-context" workflows. When these prescribers author summative documentation in Connect Care, copies are sent to their external EMR if it supports this type of eDelivery.
Emergency Department Provider Notes are an exception. These are no longer copied to compatible external EMRs of authoring prescribers. Mixed-context prescribers who use these reports as part of externally managed (non-Connect Care) billing workflows can adopt other strategies for tracking billable ED events, as described in the following bulletin:
2022-07-05
All User Bulletin - Update: Ultrasound Reports for Referring Providers
Ultrasound Reports for Referring Providers via Astraia
[This post originally appeared in June, with subsequent updates indicated with strikeout and dark red font below.]
Astraia, a third-party specialized perinatal documentation system that is used in conjunction with Connect Care to provide comprehensive Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) assessment and consultation, provides highly specialized, in-depth MFM ultrasound reporting. Astraia generates detailed ultrasound reports for referring healthcare providers; these reports are available in Connect Care in text-only and full PDF versions:
- Text-only: The text portion of the ultrasound report contains the consulting MFM physician’s summary,
recommendations but does NOT contain the specific ultrasound measurements, anatomical assessments and graphswhich includes fetal and maternal assessments.Currently the text-only report does not provide all fetal measurements and assessments.Critical results will be communicated to referring providers via a telephone call and facsimile of the full report. The text-only portion is displayed in Connect Care, and is also faxed to the referring healthcare provider. - Full report: The complete report that includes specific ultrasound measurements, anatomical assessments and graphs is available as a PDF. Referring providers can find the PDF in the Chart Review activity:
- Click the "Imaging" section. Select the target ultrasound, scroll down below the text to the section entitled "Order-Level Documents", and click on the hyperlink.
- Tip: To move the "Order-Level Documents" section to the top of your viewing screen, use the wrench tools on the top-right corner of the report window and drag this section to the top of the list.

- Note: The complete report PDF can also be found in Netcare (click the diagnostic imaging section and find the target ultrasound report by date).
As of June 7, 2022, all text-only reports issued by Connect Care will contain the following statement to direct healthcare providers to the full PDF report:
“This is the text portion (Consultation) of the Maternal Fetal Medicine ultrasound report. At the present time, Connect Care, Millennium, SCM and Impax are unable to accept the graphics portion of the report. For the entire report including graphs, please view this ultrasound report through the Alberta Netcare Portal (for access go to http://www.albertanetcare.ca/) or view through Connect Care by clicking on the Order-Level Documents PDF link found in the section below the imaging text result.”