Today we are pleased to receive official confirmation that the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada has completed its review of the Connect Care physician training program, including its eHealth literacy components. Specialist physicians are eligible for a full 12 hours of continuing professional development hours (at 3 credits per hour for a total of 36 credits) upon completing their assigned training and satisfying the associated competency assessment. This is good recognition, representing a significant portion of the credits specialists need to accrue yearly (90%!).
We await final word from the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
2019-07-09
2019-07-08
Connect Care July 2019 Calendar
A summary of key Connect Care happenings in July 2019 has been posted to the Alberta Health Services (AHS) internal Connect Care website, linked below.
High priority activities continue to advance device interfaces. Business continuity and datacentre failover exercises begin. Super User training is underway.
Clinical content validation activities are top priority so that we can ensure acceptability of documentation, decision and inquiry supports in time for personalization and launch.
High priority activities continue to advance device interfaces. Business continuity and datacentre failover exercises begin. Super User training is underway.
Clinical content validation activities are top priority so that we can ensure acceptability of documentation, decision and inquiry supports in time for personalization and launch.
2019-07-07
Connect Care July 5, 2019 Newsletter Posted
The July 5, 2019, Connect Care Newsletter is available via the link below; covering 1) Timeline Updates, 2) New Connect Care Experience Videos, and 3) Waves 1 anad 3 Workflow Walkthrough.
2019-07-06
Practical Paranoia - Sending Clinical Email
Clinicians should take great care when using electronic mail to communicate about clinical work, especially messages that may contain identifiable patient information.
We look forward to Connect Care launch, as the clinical information system (CIS) has advanced clinical communications tools. These include email, text/chat, image capture and telehealth. Everything that happens within Connect Care stays within Connect Care. The physician and patient portals securely extend these clinical communication channels to those without full CIS access.
But what are we to do before Connect Care deployment is wide enough for all recipients to to receive? Before launch, and during transition periods when some but not all areas have launched, Alberta Health Services (AHS) secure email should be used for clinical communications.
Any email sent from one AHS address (ending with @ahs.ca or @albertahealthservices.ca or @covenanthealth.ca or @albertapubliclabs.ca) to another is automatically encrypted and acceptable for clinical communications.
An additional step is needed to protect email sent from an AHS address to a non-AHS address. It is easy. Just add "!Private" (remember the exclamation mark comes before, with no space, "private") anywhere within the email subject line. The recipient will receive instructions about how to decrypt the protected message. This will work even if there are attachments. And simply adding "!private" to the subject works with any email management software (e.g., Outlook, Apple Mail, Web mail, etc.).
For more information:
We look forward to Connect Care launch, as the clinical information system (CIS) has advanced clinical communications tools. These include email, text/chat, image capture and telehealth. Everything that happens within Connect Care stays within Connect Care. The physician and patient portals securely extend these clinical communication channels to those without full CIS access.
But what are we to do before Connect Care deployment is wide enough for all recipients to to receive? Before launch, and during transition periods when some but not all areas have launched, Alberta Health Services (AHS) secure email should be used for clinical communications.
Any email sent from one AHS address (ending with @ahs.ca or @albertahealthservices.ca or @covenanthealth.ca or @albertapubliclabs.ca) to another is automatically encrypted and acceptable for clinical communications.
An additional step is needed to protect email sent from an AHS address to a non-AHS address. It is easy. Just add "!Private" (remember the exclamation mark comes before, with no space, "private") anywhere within the email subject line. The recipient will receive instructions about how to decrypt the protected message. This will work even if there are attachments. And simply adding "!private" to the subject works with any email management software (e.g., Outlook, Apple Mail, Web mail, etc.).
For more information:
2019-07-05
Privacy Awareness - an Essential Clinical Skill
Privacy awareness is essential to good clinicianship. It does not come naturally and so we all need training. Our digital world presents ever-changing threats to information security, making it hard to know when we may unintentionally weaken the vigilance our patients expect. Breaches harm patients, and can be devastating for clinicians.
On the eve of Connect Care implementation, Alberta Health Services has overhauled its universal privacy awareness training. A new online elearning module, called "InfoCare - On Our Best Behaviors" is now available on MyLearningLink.ahs.ca (MLL). This privacy awareness training is required of all physicians prior to gaining access to Connect Care. The module is engaging, case-based, and easy to complete. It highlights a series of behaviors that physicians can promote for patient care, professionalism and Connect Care readiness.
InfoCare is delivered through MLL, which is most commonly used on AHS computers in AHS facilities. As physicians are more likely to complete the course on personal devices outside AHS facilities, we have prepared a summary of tips that can help those using personal devices. To complete privacy awareness training:
On the eve of Connect Care implementation, Alberta Health Services has overhauled its universal privacy awareness training. A new online elearning module, called "InfoCare - On Our Best Behaviors" is now available on MyLearningLink.ahs.ca (MLL). This privacy awareness training is required of all physicians prior to gaining access to Connect Care. The module is engaging, case-based, and easy to complete. It highlights a series of behaviors that physicians can promote for patient care, professionalism and Connect Care readiness.
InfoCare is delivered through MLL, which is most commonly used on AHS computers in AHS facilities. As physicians are more likely to complete the course on personal devices outside AHS facilities, we have prepared a summary of tips that can help those using personal devices. To complete privacy awareness training:
- Go to MyLearningLink.ahs.ca (we recommend the Chrome Internet browser for those who do not have access to Internet Explorer 11 on Windows 7 or 10).
- Sign on with your usual AHS credentials (same as those for email)
- Search the Course Catalogue for courses containing the word "InfoCare"
- Register for and complete the course online
- Verify that your confidentiality and user agreement is accepted and the course is marked as complete.
- Tips: Using MyLearningLink
2019-07-04
Compensation for Connect Care Physician Training
Training registration emails and scheduling surveys have gone out to almost 2,000 physicians touched by Connect Care's Wave 1 launch later this year. This makes clinician training real and immediate.
A dedicated team of physicians, educators and technical experts have collaborated to develop customized learning pathways for Alberta’s physicians. A mix of in-person, self-directed and case-based modules will take between 8-12 hours to complete, varying with users’ needs. Basic training is as brief as possible, with progress to personalization and optimization contingent upon satisfactory completion of privacy awareness training and a competency assessment.
There are no fees for Connect Care courses, certification, resources or supports. As with other Alberta informatics initiatives, financial compensation is not provided for time lost to training. However, we expect that physicians will receive continuing medical education (CME) credits and be eligible for Alberta Medical Association continuing medical education program funding. Connect Care training resources are invested in building informatics capacity in physician communities. This allows physicians to train physicians, peers to help peers, and builders to express physician needs.
Physician training slots open well in advance of Connect Care launch in each zone, program or facility. Participating physicians are notified by email and encouraged to respond promptly with scheduling preferences. Once training track(s) are assigned, physicians should complete basic training as soon as possible, allowing more time for personalization pre-launch. Effective personalization makes transitions easier.
Physicians can direct questions or concerns to zone medical leaders and their associate chief medical information officer. The following resources can help:
A dedicated team of physicians, educators and technical experts have collaborated to develop customized learning pathways for Alberta’s physicians. A mix of in-person, self-directed and case-based modules will take between 8-12 hours to complete, varying with users’ needs. Basic training is as brief as possible, with progress to personalization and optimization contingent upon satisfactory completion of privacy awareness training and a competency assessment.
There are no fees for Connect Care courses, certification, resources or supports. As with other Alberta informatics initiatives, financial compensation is not provided for time lost to training. However, we expect that physicians will receive continuing medical education (CME) credits and be eligible for Alberta Medical Association continuing medical education program funding. Connect Care training resources are invested in building informatics capacity in physician communities. This allows physicians to train physicians, peers to help peers, and builders to express physician needs.
Physician training slots open well in advance of Connect Care launch in each zone, program or facility. Participating physicians are notified by email and encouraged to respond promptly with scheduling preferences. Once training track(s) are assigned, physicians should complete basic training as soon as possible, allowing more time for personalization pre-launch. Effective personalization makes transitions easier.
2019-07-02
A deep look at Connect Care
After years of planning, consultation and development, Connect Care stakeholders were given a full day to delve into the emerging clinical information system last week.
Representatives from sites and programs in launch Waves 1 and 3 gathered from across the Edmonton Zone for our first "Workflow Walkthrough" event. This provided was a chance for users to see how the Connect Care system will be used in a number of important workflows, with priority given to high-volume, high-complexity or high-risk contexts. A preliminary big-picture overview, used demonstrations of the new Connect Care build to illustrate a full patient journey through the health care system.
Attendees watched videos and live demonstrations, and had opportunities to ask questions and log issues or change requests. Workflow walkthroughs are an important part of readiness preparations for each of the many Connect Care launch waves.
Representatives from sites and programs in launch Waves 1 and 3 gathered from across the Edmonton Zone for our first "Workflow Walkthrough" event. This provided was a chance for users to see how the Connect Care system will be used in a number of important workflows, with priority given to high-volume, high-complexity or high-risk contexts. A preliminary big-picture overview, used demonstrations of the new Connect Care build to illustrate a full patient journey through the health care system.
Attendees watched videos and live demonstrations, and had opportunities to ask questions and log issues or change requests. Workflow walkthroughs are an important part of readiness preparations for each of the many Connect Care launch waves.
2019-07-01
MyLearningLink for Connect Care Physician Training
“MyLearningLink” (mylearninglink.ahs.ca, or “MLL”) is Alberta Health Services’ (AHS) online learning management platform. It is used to deliver courses offered to all AHS stakeholders in all areas. It is also used to facilitate the registration, scheduling, delivery, completion tracking and assessments for Connect Care training. Users can find, access and complete any self-directed e-learning courses or assessments that can be completed online. MyLearningLink is important to Connect Care.
Before Connect Care, MLL focused on education needs of AHS staff working in AHS facilities on AHS-provisioned systems. Courses are optimized for Internet Explorer or Edge browsers running under Windows 10 on AHS desktop computers. But Connect Care users need to train at non-AHS locations on non-AHS computers.
Fortunately, MLL presently works on networks both inside and outside of the AHS “intranet”. Testing and support for users of Apple operating systems is adapted by the CMIO portfolio for prescribers.
A tip offers advice for clinicians who may have difficulty replicating the standard AHS computer set-up. Please try this out and send any feedback, questions or suggestions to cmio-manual@ahs.ca.
Before Connect Care, MLL focused on education needs of AHS staff working in AHS facilities on AHS-provisioned systems. Courses are optimized for Internet Explorer or Edge browsers running under Windows 10 on AHS desktop computers. But Connect Care users need to train at non-AHS locations on non-AHS computers.
Fortunately, MLL presently works on networks both inside and outside of the AHS “intranet”. Testing and support for users of Apple operating systems is adapted by the CMIO portfolio for prescribers.
A tip offers advice for clinicians who may have difficulty replicating the standard AHS computer set-up. Please try this out and send any feedback, questions or suggestions to cmio-manual@ahs.ca.
2019-06-29
First Workflow Walkthrough Successful
We previously posted about the nature and importance of Workflow Walkthroughs before each wave of Connect Care implementation.
Waves 1 and 3 shared a Workflow Walkthrough for the Edmonton Zone for most of the day on June 26. A comprehensive patient journey was illustrated using the emergent Connect Care clinical information system. This gave a tangible view of how all phases and settings of care relate. There followed deeper dives into information flows associated with complex multidisciplinary collaborative care. Participants were able to ask questions and point out areas requiring more attention.
Similar Workflow Walkthroughs will be repeated for other implementation waves, allowing local workflow adaptations to be explored.
Key demonstrations are available for viewing online (note that an AHS username and password are required):
Waves 1 and 3 shared a Workflow Walkthrough for the Edmonton Zone for most of the day on June 26. A comprehensive patient journey was illustrated using the emergent Connect Care clinical information system. This gave a tangible view of how all phases and settings of care relate. There followed deeper dives into information flows associated with complex multidisciplinary collaborative care. Participants were able to ask questions and point out areas requiring more attention.
Similar Workflow Walkthroughs will be repeated for other implementation waves, allowing local workflow adaptations to be explored.
Key demonstrations are available for viewing online (note that an AHS username and password are required):
2019-06-28
Connie and Carey - Our Virtual Connect Care Team
Connect Care will change the way we work. A series of short workflow-oriented videos highlight strategies for navigating the change, and leveraging features that can ease the way. Connie and Carey, are our virtual guides, are introduced together with some early insights about transformation challenges.
This short (4 min) video is of broad relevance:
This short (4 min) video is of broad relevance:
2019-06-27
Honest Conversations: 1. Setting the Stage
Unfortunate timing. The academic and popular press brims with testimonials about physician Electronic Health Record (EHR) dissatisfaction, just as we rally physicians for Connect Care launch.
Fortunate timing. The products of our collaborative design are emerging, bringing our stakeholders fully into review and validation. We have our eyes on Connect Care well before its first use; and we are totally committed to making the toolkit as helpful as possible for clinicians.
So, this is exactly the right time for us to confront EHR angst. We won't get things precisely right, but we can ensure that we are on the best pathway to continuing improvement. And take time for honest conversations about where things have gone wrong with large EHR initiatives elsewhere.
An excellent starter read gives insight into the American experience. Please take a look and give the Fortune magazine article some thought. We will work our way through its harms inventory and re-affirm our own commitment to harms-avoidance and harms-reduction.
Fortunate timing. The products of our collaborative design are emerging, bringing our stakeholders fully into review and validation. We have our eyes on Connect Care well before its first use; and we are totally committed to making the toolkit as helpful as possible for clinicians.
So, this is exactly the right time for us to confront EHR angst. We won't get things precisely right, but we can ensure that we are on the best pathway to continuing improvement. And take time for honest conversations about where things have gone wrong with large EHR initiatives elsewhere.
An excellent starter read gives insight into the American experience. Please take a look and give the Fortune magazine article some thought. We will work our way through its harms inventory and re-affirm our own commitment to harms-avoidance and harms-reduction.
2019-06-26
What is CII?
Alberta's physicians are inundated with health informatics acronyms. A relative newcomer is "CII", which stands for Community Information Integration. This references both new technology and information services.
The technology joins the Alberta Netcare Portal suite. It enables exchange of certain types of summative health information between electronic medical records (EMR) and the Netcare electronic health record (EHR). Standards-aware, it could also exchange health information with the Connect Care clinical information system (CIS).
The associated information service initially focuses on private, group and networked physician offices that use compatible EMRs. An early priority is to capture care synopses, including lists of visit diagnoses, allergies and other key information, for patients served by those clinics. The synopsis is added to the patient's Netcare record. In addition, specialty consults documented with compatible EMRs are captured and added to Netcare.
The technology joins the Alberta Netcare Portal suite. It enables exchange of certain types of summative health information between electronic medical records (EMR) and the Netcare electronic health record (EHR). Standards-aware, it could also exchange health information with the Connect Care clinical information system (CIS).
The associated information service initially focuses on private, group and networked physician offices that use compatible EMRs. An early priority is to capture care synopses, including lists of visit diagnoses, allergies and other key information, for patients served by those clinics. The synopsis is added to the patient's Netcare record. In addition, specialty consults documented with compatible EMRs are captured and added to Netcare.
2019-06-25
Connect Care Implementation Timeline Tweaks
As Connect Care continues to unfold, implementation details are smoothed out. Recent adjustments to Waves 1 through 6 affect when some sites and programs launch.
We've already posted about the need to move Wave 1 launch from November 2 to November 3 in order to accommodate the switch from daylight to standard mountain time.
Other changes accommodate clinical services that need to co-deploy:
Other changes accommodate clinical services that need to co-deploy:
- Provincial Tuberculosis (TB) services will be included in Waves 1 and 2.
- Some community Addiction & Mental Health clinics need to launch with parent sites in Waves 2 through 6.
- Wildfire impacts delay some North Zone plans.
- Grande Prairie Hospital launch depends upon an unconfirmed opening date.
- Calgary Zone tweaks reflect careful sequence process analysis.
- Alberta Kidney Care, Alberta Screen Test and Cancer Control Alberta provincial programs launch in Waves 4 and 5.
- Details continue to firm up for some programs outside core AHS sites in Waves 7-9.
2019-06-24
Made it - Specialty Clinical System Design Build
Re-doubled Congratulations to the Connect Care team!
We are now 100% complete for build of clinical content (decision, documentation and inquiry supports) in the specialty clinical system design stream. This meets our June 24 milestone.
A big thanks to our build team, partnering with operations, CMIO, human factors, safety, training and clinician builders.
We are now 100% complete for build of clinical content (decision, documentation and inquiry supports) in the specialty clinical system design stream. This meets our June 24 milestone.
A big thanks to our build team, partnering with operations, CMIO, human factors, safety, training and clinician builders.
2019-06-23
Just-in-time Communications
We’ve all been feeling the summer heat… more Connect Care intensity than nice weather!
As validation, training, readiness and implementation activities accelerate, clear communication can minimize chaos and confusion. There are way too many newsletters, SharePoint sites and Insite pages, agendas and minutes to follow.
We are redoubling efforts to maintain a steady, but concise, feed of clinical content updates through blogging channels. All channels are listed in ahs-cis.ca/mdresources.
All physicians interested in Connect Care should subscribe to the general-interest physician blog (bytes.connect-care.ca). Any clinician involved in Connect Care design, validation, training or readiness activities should follow the blog for informaticians (informatics.connect-care.ca). Those directly involved in clinical content validation should also follow the internal Clinical System Design blog (csd.connect-care.ca).
Please skim our blog tips for instructions about how to subscribe. This way you can get digests to your email and not worry about visiting the sites.
Thanks for attending to this advice. We’ll keep the blogs going and rely upon the communications team to use them as source material for more formal Connect Care communications.
As validation, training, readiness and implementation activities accelerate, clear communication can minimize chaos and confusion. There are way too many newsletters, SharePoint sites and Insite pages, agendas and minutes to follow.
We are redoubling efforts to maintain a steady, but concise, feed of clinical content updates through blogging channels. All channels are listed in ahs-cis.ca/mdresources.
All physicians interested in Connect Care should subscribe to the general-interest physician blog (bytes.connect-care.ca). Any clinician involved in Connect Care design, validation, training or readiness activities should follow the blog for informaticians (informatics.connect-care.ca). Those directly involved in clinical content validation should also follow the internal Clinical System Design blog (csd.connect-care.ca).
Please skim our blog tips for instructions about how to subscribe. This way you can get digests to your email and not worry about visiting the sites.
Thanks for attending to this advice. We’ll keep the blogs going and rely upon the communications team to use them as source material for more formal Connect Care communications.
2019-06-21
Getting There - Specialty Clinical System Design Build
Congratulations to the Connect Care team!
We are tracking 97% complete for build of clinical content (decision, documentation and inquiry supports) in the specialty clinical system design stream. This is a massive accomplishment, given the thousands of decisions to be tracked, translated, built and configured. This also ensures that we can move forward with testing, clinical validation and training.
A big thanks to our build team, partnering with operations, CMIO, human factors, safety, training and clinician builders.
We are tracking 97% complete for build of clinical content (decision, documentation and inquiry supports) in the specialty clinical system design stream. This is a massive accomplishment, given the thousands of decisions to be tracked, translated, built and configured. This also ensures that we can move forward with testing, clinical validation and training.
A big thanks to our build team, partnering with operations, CMIO, human factors, safety, training and clinician builders.
2019-06-20
Connect Care June 21, 2019 Newsletter Posted
The June 21, 2019, Connect Care Newsletter is available via the link below; covering 1) Uses of Barcoding Technology, and 2) Upcoming Readiness Events.
2019-06-19
Getting to know Enterprise Content Services
The Connect Care clinical information system (CIS) will improve continuity of care by promoting "One Person, One Record, One System". This does not mean that the CIS databases contain anything and everything that could be important to a patient or population.
The CIS interoperates with an Enterprise Content Management (ECM) system, which can capture, manage, store, preserve, link and deliver a wide range of information objects that might relate to a patient's chart, but not constitute core content. ECM tools and processes allow for unstructured information to be managed wherever that information exists, while still preserving meaningful links to the health record.
Enterprise Content Services (ECS) enable users to digitize, store, manage and retrieve documents and images in association with Connect Care workflows. Connect Care ECM systems deploy as Connect Care deploys. Accordingly we'll be hearing more about ECM as workflow testing, validation, training and readiness activities ramp up.
The CIS interoperates with an Enterprise Content Management (ECM) system, which can capture, manage, store, preserve, link and deliver a wide range of information objects that might relate to a patient's chart, but not constitute core content. ECM tools and processes allow for unstructured information to be managed wherever that information exists, while still preserving meaningful links to the health record.
Enterprise Content Services (ECS) enable users to digitize, store, manage and retrieve documents and images in association with Connect Care workflows. Connect Care ECM systems deploy as Connect Care deploys. Accordingly we'll be hearing more about ECM as workflow testing, validation, training and readiness activities ramp up.
2019-06-18
Barcoding in Connect Care - Getting to HIMSS 6
Barcodes are graphic compositions of lines, symbols or shapes organized in ways that convey information to optical devices. Barcodes can be incorporated into identity cards, patient wristbands, medication labels, laboratory test collection tubes or scannable documents.
We know from the experience of others that good barcoding aligns with best practice. The connection is so strong that the Health Information and Management System Society (HIMSS) looks for this as a marker of organizations that have achieved advanced use of digital health records. Indeed, good barcoding for patient identification, medication management, blood product administration, medical imaging and supply management merits Stage 6 (out of 7) HIMSS certification.
We aspire to this level of digitally enabled transformation at AHS and will seek HIMSS stage 6 within 6 months of each Connect Care implementation wave.
We know from the experience of others that good barcoding aligns with best practice. The connection is so strong that the Health Information and Management System Society (HIMSS) looks for this as a marker of organizations that have achieved advanced use of digital health records. Indeed, good barcoding for patient identification, medication management, blood product administration, medical imaging and supply management merits Stage 6 (out of 7) HIMSS certification.
We aspire to this level of digitally enabled transformation at AHS and will seek HIMSS stage 6 within 6 months of each Connect Care implementation wave.
2019-06-17
Thinking ahead - Barcoding Technology
A core Connect Care strategy is avoidance of hybrid (mixed paper and digital) workflows. This is particularly important where data re-entry is error-prone and puts patients at risk. An important example relates to medication administration. Mistakes involving just a character or two can make the difference between intended or unintended person, medication, dose, route or frequency.
Accordingly, Alberta Health Services (AHS) takes the opportunity of Connect Care to implement barcoding technology in medication workflows. A unique identifier will appear on all medications dispensed by AHS pharmacies. When medications are administered, providers scan the patient wristband as well as the medication. This simplifies data entry, safety checks and documentation.
Another core Connect Care strategy is to "close the loop" on as many workflows as possible. In the case of medication administration, this means workflow-attuned tracking so that there is an unbroken informational chain from plan, reconciliation, adverse reaction check, order, pharmacy receipt, decision support, dispensing, administration, documentation and effect monitoring. Barcoding locks down one more step in closed-loop medication management.
Physicians will be less affected by medication barcode scanning than other members of the multidisciplinary team. Still, it is important to understand an important change to team workflows that affect us. Questions can be directed to connectcare@ahs.ca.
Accordingly, Alberta Health Services (AHS) takes the opportunity of Connect Care to implement barcoding technology in medication workflows. A unique identifier will appear on all medications dispensed by AHS pharmacies. When medications are administered, providers scan the patient wristband as well as the medication. This simplifies data entry, safety checks and documentation.
Another core Connect Care strategy is to "close the loop" on as many workflows as possible. In the case of medication administration, this means workflow-attuned tracking so that there is an unbroken informational chain from plan, reconciliation, adverse reaction check, order, pharmacy receipt, decision support, dispensing, administration, documentation and effect monitoring. Barcoding locks down one more step in closed-loop medication management.
Physicians will be less affected by medication barcode scanning than other members of the multidisciplinary team. Still, it is important to understand an important change to team workflows that affect us. Questions can be directed to connectcare@ahs.ca.
2019-06-16
Getting Ready - Implementation Stream Activities
This is a busy time! While we have done well to design the clinical content to be used at Wave 1 launch, there are growing demands for stakeholder contributions to the testing and validation of that content. In parallel, demand grows for physician participation in a wide range of launch readiness activities.
We've already heard about Launch Readiness Assessments and Workflow Walkthroughs. In addition, implementation stream activities include a number of other practical tasks. Watch for more information about the following:
We've already heard about Launch Readiness Assessments and Workflow Walkthroughs. In addition, implementation stream activities include a number of other practical tasks. Watch for more information about the following:
- Launch Readiness assessments: Structured comprehensive reviews of each Connect Care project stream, identifying risks and mitigation plans. These occur at 150, 129, 90, 60, and 30 days pre-launch.
- Shadow Charting: Relevant to a limited number of complex or high-risk workflows and applications, users document cases in both legacy and Connect Care environments, providing an invaluable opportunity to check devices, interfaces, multi-disciplinary workflows, and information flows.
- Appointment conversion: The conversion of appointments, referrals, cases, and waitlists from legacy systems into Connect Care.
- Abstraction: Patient information not converted may be manually entered into outpatient charts ahead of launch.
- Cutover: Key information and orders for admitted patients is entered into Connect Care in the 24-48 hours prior to launch. Cutover includes both technical and clinical elements.
- Protocol Conversion: Many complex or timed protocols, primarily in Oncology and Research, will be converted for continuation in Connect Care.
- Command Centre: Safe and well-coordinated surveillance, leadership and trouble-shooting support rapid, efficient and responsive issues detection and resolution while deploying assets like Super Users to areas of greatest need.
To learn more about readiness activities, visit the Connect Care Readiness page on Insite (AHS login required).
2019-06-15
Launch Readiness Assessments
Among many preparations for the first Connect Care launch later this year are Launch Readiness Assessments (LRA). These bring together all participants in the Connect Care initiative to report on progress and problem-solve impediments. Each LRA spans the better part of a day, with rapid updates from diverse groups. This taking-the-temperature is invaluable for nimble adjustment and collaborative coordination.
LRAs are scheduled for 150, 120, 90, 60 and 30 days pre-launch. Our 120 day LRA occurs next week. Participants from across the province will meet to review each stream of work for their current state of readiness, identify potential risks and share ideas on how to mitigate those risks.
To learn more about readiness activities, visit the Connect Care Readiness page on Insite.
LRAs are scheduled for 150, 120, 90, 60 and 30 days pre-launch. Our 120 day LRA occurs next week. Participants from across the province will meet to review each stream of work for their current state of readiness, identify potential risks and share ideas on how to mitigate those risks.
To learn more about readiness activities, visit the Connect Care Readiness page on Insite.
2019-06-14
Workflow Walkthrough
With the Connect Care Wave 1 launch (November 3, 2019) getting closer, there are more opportunities to view and validate the emerging clinical information system. We can see and influence how information tools will affect and be affected by our work and workplace.
"Workflow Walkthroughs" allow street-smart clinicians to review exactly how Connect Care can support complex clinical activities. A Walkthrough event includes detailed demonstration of one or more high-risk, high-complexity, multidisciplinary or high-volume workflows. Patient journey videos are interspersed with feedback and discussion opportunities. The goal is to discover what more we need to do to get the system attuned to our biggest challenges.
The first Walkthrough event will be held June 26, 2019, at the Bernard Snell auditorium in the Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre (Edmonton) with options for telehealth remote access. Workflow Walkthrough videos will also be made available on Insite (details to come). The first Walkthrough will be most relevant to Wave 1 and 3 clinicians.
Although all interested physicians are encouraged to contribute, the Walkthrough event spans an entire workday. Only some parts will pertain. Please take a look at the tentative agenda (updates to come in future postings) and consider whether any of the 45 minute blocks offer an important feedback opportunity.
"Workflow Walkthroughs" allow street-smart clinicians to review exactly how Connect Care can support complex clinical activities. A Walkthrough event includes detailed demonstration of one or more high-risk, high-complexity, multidisciplinary or high-volume workflows. Patient journey videos are interspersed with feedback and discussion opportunities. The goal is to discover what more we need to do to get the system attuned to our biggest challenges.
The first Walkthrough event will be held June 26, 2019, at the Bernard Snell auditorium in the Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre (Edmonton) with options for telehealth remote access. Workflow Walkthrough videos will also be made available on Insite (details to come). The first Walkthrough will be most relevant to Wave 1 and 3 clinicians.
Although all interested physicians are encouraged to contribute, the Walkthrough event spans an entire workday. Only some parts will pertain. Please take a look at the tentative agenda (updates to come in future postings) and consider whether any of the 45 minute blocks offer an important feedback opportunity.
2019-06-13
Did you notice?
If you did... way too OCD!
Our Connect Care Wave 1 launch countdown timer (top of left column) just gained a day.
After extensive consideration, the Connect Care Provincial Program Office has decided that the original Wave 1 Launch date of November 2, 2019 will move to November 3, 2019 at 0400.
The original date fell on the same day as the switch from Day Light Savings Time (DST) to Mountain Standard Time (MST). By launching on November 3, after the time change, the activation of Connect Care order entry, documentation and other functions will be more straightforward.
Our Connect Care Wave 1 launch countdown timer (top of left column) just gained a day.
After extensive consideration, the Connect Care Provincial Program Office has decided that the original Wave 1 Launch date of November 2, 2019 will move to November 3, 2019 at 0400.
The original date fell on the same day as the switch from Day Light Savings Time (DST) to Mountain Standard Time (MST). By launching on November 3, after the time change, the activation of Connect Care order entry, documentation and other functions will be more straightforward.
2019-06-02
Ottawa Hospitals and Clinics Launch Epic
The Ottawa Hospital launched their implementation of Epic this weekend! Together with the Family Health Clinic, Heart Institute, Hawkesbury Hospital and St. Francis Memorial Hospital, Ottawa hospital joins the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario in adopting an Epic-based fully-integrated clinical information system.
This launch anticipates our own. We are grateful to our Ottawa colleagues for granting a small AHS team opportunity to directly observe go-live processes.
This launch anticipates our own. We are grateful to our Ottawa colleagues for granting a small AHS team opportunity to directly observe go-live processes.
2019-06-01
Connect Care June 2019 Calendar
A summary of key Connect Care happenings in June 2019 has been posted to the Alberta Health Services (AHS) internal Connect Care website, linked below.
High priority activities are shifting to devices (medical and non-medical) on the technical side and training on the readiness side.
Most Specialty Clinical Content build is complete, while work continues on Order Sets, Protocols, Therapy Plans and Reporting Content. Validation activities are ramping up, bringing more eyes to the products of design and build.
High priority activities are shifting to devices (medical and non-medical) on the technical side and training on the readiness side.
Most Specialty Clinical Content build is complete, while work continues on Order Sets, Protocols, Therapy Plans and Reporting Content. Validation activities are ramping up, bringing more eyes to the products of design and build.
2019-05-30
Training Drives EHR User Satisfaction
A recent article in Applied Clinical Informatics explores correlations between end-user satisfaction with Electronic Health Records (EHR) and approaches to training. Worth a skim as we put our own physician training program in motion!
The authors examine the experience of a very large number of EHR implementations recorded through the "ARCH" initiative, which includes systems similar what we have been designing. Differences in user satisfaction appear to have less to do with technology than how users are prepared to take advantage of that technology. To quote a principal conclusion: "If health organizations offered higher-quality educational opportunities for their care providers - and if providers were expected to develop greater mastery of EHR functionality - many of the current EHR challenges would be ameliorated."
We are pleased to note that many learnings resonate with our training principles and design. We must do our best, as Connect Care initiative and as emerging Connect Care users, to leverage these efforts to apply best practices adapted to Alberta realities.
The authors examine the experience of a very large number of EHR implementations recorded through the "ARCH" initiative, which includes systems similar what we have been designing. Differences in user satisfaction appear to have less to do with technology than how users are prepared to take advantage of that technology. To quote a principal conclusion: "If health organizations offered higher-quality educational opportunities for their care providers - and if providers were expected to develop greater mastery of EHR functionality - many of the current EHR challenges would be ameliorated."
We are pleased to note that many learnings resonate with our training principles and design. We must do our best, as Connect Care initiative and as emerging Connect Care users, to leverage these efforts to apply best practices adapted to Alberta realities.
2019-05-29
Wave 1 Physician Training Orientation
With just 5 months until Connect Care's Wave 1 launch in the Edmonton Zone, it is time for affected physicians to learn about and plan for the training that will ready them for adoption.
All physicians who are likely to use Connect Care at first launch receive an electronic mail notification from Edmonton Zone medical affairs. This explains about the training program and, in particular, how Medical Affairs works with physicians to match them to the most appropriate training track at the most convenient time.
Physicians can learn more by skimming any of the following resources (shortest listed first; all recently updated). Better still, view the short (5 minute) physician training orientation video.
All physicians who are likely to use Connect Care at first launch receive an electronic mail notification from Edmonton Zone medical affairs. This explains about the training program and, in particular, how Medical Affairs works with physicians to match them to the most appropriate training track at the most convenient time.
Physicians can learn more by skimming any of the following resources (shortest listed first; all recently updated). Better still, view the short (5 minute) physician training orientation video.
2019-05-24
Physician Wellness and Burnout - Will we be part of the problem, or its solution?
There seems no end in sight to missives about physician burnout... and the culpability of Electronic Health Records (EHR).
We've previously noted that EHR harms experienced south of the border are instructive, but not necessarily predictive. We have opportunity to design Connect Care to avoid micro-documentation, signal degradation and physician disengagement. At least that's our everyday preoccupation!
Dr. Terrence Cascino, past president of the American Academy of Neurology, visits the University of Alberta from the Mayo Clinic on Friday June 28, 2019, when he will contribute to the Dean's Lecture Series from 0800-0900 in Bernard Snell Hall at the Walter Mackenzie Centre in Edmonton. His talk is entitled: Physician Wellness and Burnout. Try to attend!
Our anticipatory reflections might include a new angle on burnout: economic harms. Part of the total cost of ownership of a (sub-optimally deployed) clinical information system?
We've previously noted that EHR harms experienced south of the border are instructive, but not necessarily predictive. We have opportunity to design Connect Care to avoid micro-documentation, signal degradation and physician disengagement. At least that's our everyday preoccupation!
Dr. Terrence Cascino, past president of the American Academy of Neurology, visits the University of Alberta from the Mayo Clinic on Friday June 28, 2019, when he will contribute to the Dean's Lecture Series from 0800-0900 in Bernard Snell Hall at the Walter Mackenzie Centre in Edmonton. His talk is entitled: Physician Wellness and Burnout. Try to attend!
Our anticipatory reflections might include a new angle on burnout: economic harms. Part of the total cost of ownership of a (sub-optimally deployed) clinical information system?
2019-05-16
Our Next Big Push... Clinical Content Validation
Validation is about how clinical experts review, correct and approve clinical information system (CIS) content (documentation, decision and inquiry support) to ensure that it serves the intended purpose, is free of significant safety risks, and is compatible with acceptable workflows.
Although content validation applies to documentation (e.g., note templates, handover reports, etc.) and inquiry (e.g., dashboards, reporting workbench templates, etc.), formal validation processes focus on complex clinical decision supports; especially Order Sets, Order Panels, SmartSets, Therapy Plans, Express Lanes and Protocols. All validation is informed by Connect Care principles and is organized for meaningful clinical input.
Clinical content validation begins when content is built and ready for review. Many validation activities started in early 2019. However, the bulk of complex clinical decision supports validation occurs in May, June and July of 2019. Outpatient orders (SmartSets) must be validated by end of June, while some inpatient Order Set validation will continue through the end of August 2019. The content most needed for training curricula is prioritized for earlier validation.
Area Councils, medical informatics leads, clinical knowledge leads and clinical informatics leads, plus a number of other stakeholders, are oriented to validation processes; allowing us to ramp-up and address this next readiness challenge over the next few months.
Although content validation applies to documentation (e.g., note templates, handover reports, etc.) and inquiry (e.g., dashboards, reporting workbench templates, etc.), formal validation processes focus on complex clinical decision supports; especially Order Sets, Order Panels, SmartSets, Therapy Plans, Express Lanes and Protocols. All validation is informed by Connect Care principles and is organized for meaningful clinical input.
Clinical content validation begins when content is built and ready for review. Many validation activities started in early 2019. However, the bulk of complex clinical decision supports validation occurs in May, June and July of 2019. Outpatient orders (SmartSets) must be validated by end of June, while some inpatient Order Set validation will continue through the end of August 2019. The content most needed for training curricula is prioritized for earlier validation.
Area Councils, medical informatics leads, clinical knowledge leads and clinical informatics leads, plus a number of other stakeholders, are oriented to validation processes; allowing us to ramp-up and address this next readiness challenge over the next few months.
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