What you need to know
The Connect Care clinical information system needs periodic maintenance. The next scheduled update will occur during downtime on Thursday, May 14, 2026, between 00:30 and 04:30. On this occasion, all Connect Care production systems are affected, including Hyperspace, Transfusion (WellSky), Content (Quanum), Mobility (Haiku and Canto), MUSE and ECG Web, MyChart, and the Link Provider Portal.
- PRD SRO (the read-only copy of the production environment) will be available during this outage; PRD SRO is accessible from any computer regularly used for documenting in Connect Care. Netcare also remains available.
- If you need to view and print patient information during the downtime, please use North BCA Web (try first) or South BCA Web; if both North and South BCA Web access are not available, please call the Provincial Solution Centre at 1-877-311-4300.
- The environment that controls information flow between clinical systems, the Regional Integration Engine (RIE), will also be taking a scheduled downtime on May 14 between 00:30 and 02:00.
- Cogito, the Connect Care Reporting tool, will also be unavailable prior to and during this downtime, from May 13 at 23:30 to May 14 at 05:30.
- Note there are also limitations on managing personalization settings before (and during) this period due to the transparent lockdown, previously posted about here.
Spring 2026 Upgrade
This downtime window is specifically for the Spring 2026 Upgrade, with changes to most Connect Care applications. These changes are primarily enhancements and will affect all prescribers using Connect Care. Information on most of the changes will be summarized in a new “What’s New” feature available directly in Connect Care, and users can preview the upgraded applications in the PLY/PLY2 environment and practice using the exercise booklets starting May 4. A couple of additional changes will be going live at the same time, BPMH optimizations and the ED Downtime Track Board. For more information, see the Connect Care Manual.
What you need to do
BEFORE DOWNTIME
- Complete orders and documentation in the chart before downtime begins.
- Stop using PRD for orders 15 minutes prior to downtime, as they may not be processed.
DURING DOWNTIME
- Check with Unit Clerk/Charge Nurse to confirm processes for ordering, documentation, and patient movement.
- Use paper documents provided in clinics and inpatient units, with forms appropriate for orders and/or charting.
- Postpone, if possible, routine orders or documentation until after downtime. This will limit amount of data entry and reconciliation required post-downtime.
- Orders: Use paper order sheets for essential orders during downtime.
- Documentation: Use paper forms for essential documentation for procedures or intervention results and reports.
AFTER DOWNTIME
- Prescribers are responsible for the following activities for any patient admission, transfer, or discharge:
- Updating the problem list
- Completing medication reconciliation
- Entering admission, discharge, or visit diagnosis
- Prescribers receiving In Basket messages about missing chart elements should follow the link to the missing chart element and, for non-ED prescribers, enter “.DOWNTIME” (SmartPhrase) to complete the chart element, indicating that content is available elsewhere in the chart. For ED prescribers, use the SmartPhrase ".DTNOTE".
Where you can find more information
For essential information on downtime procedures, see the 1-page tip sheet. For additional information, see the Connect Care Manual: