Connect Care Support Forum

Removal of Reorder Lab Tests and Lab Procedures Functionality from Results Review

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

Removal of Reorder Lab Tests and Lab Procedures Functionality from Results Review

As a part of recent Spring 2025 Upgrade, abnormal lab results that needed retesting or a lab procedure that needed to be repeated could be reordered with a right-click from the "Results Review" activity. However, when lab tests or lab procedures are reordered from Result Review, the original order parameters and answers to questions follow through for the reorder; this may not be appropriate for all the lab tests and lab procedures that need to be reordered or repeated. Therefore, starting March 26, 2025, this functionality will be removed.

Lab tests and lab procedures can still be reordered with a right-click from Chart Review – Lab Reports, with the option to change the order parameters and order related questions (click camera icon to see screenshot).

Tool Tune Up: April 2025 Order Tool Updates

The spreadsheet linked from this post will be updated over throughout the month of April.
Consider looking back each week.

As previously posted, we will be publishing a monthly spreadsheet detailing recent or upcoming changes to order tools (e.g., order sets, SmartSets, therapy plans) that may impact prescribers' personalizations. The spreadsheet will be updated at the end of each week as new changes are confirmed/implemented, until the next month's blog post. If prescribers have the opportunity, they may want to consider looking back each week or so, to be aware of any newly added changes that may impact them.

The below linked spreadsheet covers changes for April, with hidden rows covering previously posted changes. Watch in particular for the "Impact to Personalization" column (column H), which indicates if personalizations that include the affected ordering tool will have to be redone, etc.

Spreadsheet: Order Tool Updates - April 2025

Optimization Training - Classes in April

The CMIO Training team offers Optimization classes (a.k.a. Thrive classes), where Connect Care prescribers can learn how to take full advantage of the features of the clinical information system, to help maximize their productivity and spend more time with patients. Classes are 60 minutes in length each and focus on completing common workflows more efficiently.

Below are the Optimization classes scheduled for April 2025.

In Basket Management

April 4, 08:30–09:30
April 9, 11:00–12:00
April 16, 10:00–11:00
April 23, 12:00–13:00
April 24, 11:30–12:30
April 29, 13:00–14:00

Lab Ordering

April 2, 19:00–20:00
April 9, 19:00–20:00
April 11, 12:00–13:00
April 23, 12:00–13:00
April 25, 12:00–13:00

Notes

April 2, 12:00–13:00
April 9, 12:00–13:00
April 16, 12:00–13:00
April 22, 12:00–13:00
April 30, 12:00–13:00

Orders Optimization

April 1, 13:00–14:00
April 10, 12:00–13:00
April 16, 12:00–13:00
April 23, 10:00–11:00

SmartTools

April 1, 12:00–13:00
April 8, 12:00–13:00
April 14, 12:00–13:00
April 24, 12:00–13:00

Therapy Plans

April 14, 12:00–13:00
April 23, 11:00–12:00
April 29, 13:00–14:00

Prescribers can register for these Optimization classes at the below link (clicking the new “Optimization” button at the bottom of any page in the Connect Care Manual will also take you to the booking page). Classes will be added regularly, so please continue to check back. Spots are limited to ensure trainers can address individual questions. Please ensure that you review your confirmation email from "Bookings CMIO Thrive" for the class link, and requirements for the session.

Update to RAAPID Service Request Order

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

Updated "Requested Service" List in RAAPID Service Request Order

RAAPID is a central point of contact for prescribers seeking access to urgent consultation, transfer for assessment, transfer for admission, or coordination of repatriations to sending facilities. The "RAAPID Service Request" order should be entered in Connect Care by prescribers to request a service from RAAPID.

As of March 25, 2025, the "Requested service" list in the RAAPID Service Request order has been adjusted to provide selections from the more precise Clinical Services list. This information will help RAAPID connect you with the appropriate prescriber. Note that this update may impact personalized preference lists; if you have this order personalized with a particular "requested service" selection, you will need to re-personalize it.

For more information on the RAAPID Service Request order, see the tip sheet.

Tip: RAAPID Service Request Orders

Additional Update to Consent eForms - Telephone Consents

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

Connect Care Upgrade Update: Additional Changes to Telephone Consent Forms

As previously posted, the recent Connect Care Spring Upgrade brought some changes to select eForms such Consent for Procedure forms, including the removal of the signer name entry fields from the left pane and moving name entry to the e-signature boxes. However, it was discovered that the new method of entering the signer’s name via the e-signature box prevents users from being able to enter the signer’s name when no signature is applied, i.e., in telephone consent workflows where signatures are not collected.

As of March 20, 2025, when the "Telephone" button is selected under the "Telephone/Fax Consent" section for the consent form types listed below, a name field will again appear (click the camera icon for a screenshot). Entering the name here will update the e-signature box. Non-telephone consents will continue to use the new workflow detailed in the previous post.

Consent forms affected:

Consent to Surgery or Invasive Procedure
Consent to Treatment Plan or Procedure
Consent Withdrawal or Refusal
Consent Immunization
Consent for pre-mortem interventions
Consent to Organ and Tissue Donation
Informed Consent Subject to the Mental Health Act

Update to eForms Including Consent for Procedure, All Mental Health Forms

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

Connect Care Upgrade Update: eForms including Consent for Procedure and all Mental Health Forms

During to the recent Connect Care upgrade, issues occurred with select eForms, specifically related to name entry fields on the left pane malfunctioning, and malfunctioning name entry fields within the Forms. Name entry fields have been removed from the left pane, and malfunctioning signature and name fields have been fixed. [Edit Mar. 21: Further changes have been made for telephone consents; the below does not apply to telephone consents, see the separate blog post for more info.]

All signer name entry must now occur within the e-signature box. Click the "+ Add Signer Name" button when entering a signature, both for the signature of the patient/person providing consent and the prescriber (click on camera icon below to see screenshot). Completing this will populate all necessary name and date fields.

If you completed any Consent for Procedure or MHA eForm on the morning on March 14, 2025, please check to ensure the form was completed correctly, including all required fields. Completed Forms that include an error can be printed, addended in pen, and rescanned into Connect Care using the appropriate Document Type.

If you have any questions, please call the IT Solution Centre (1-877-311-4300) or submit a ticket through Insite.

Pharmacy Update - Levodopa-Carbidopa Custom Dosing Units

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

Pharmacy Update - Levodopa-Carbidopa Custom Dosing Units

Currently, part tablet orders of levodopa-carbidopa are supplied as all part tablets when available. However, this can cause confusion when dispensing and administering part table orders. To increase patient safety, as of March 18, 2025, three new custom dosing units will be created to allow the system to use Intelligent Medication Selection (IMS) to select the most appropriate product(s) for the order. The three new custom dosing units are:

“tablet of 100 mg – 10 mg”
“tablet of 100 mg – 25 mg”
“tablet of 250 mg – 25 mg”

With this change, Pharmacy will no longer supply part tablet orders as all part tablets, for both inpatient and outpatient orders. Click the camera icon below to see a before-and-after screenshot of the order composer.

Tool Tune Up: January–March 2025 Order Tool Updates

The spreadsheet linked from this post will be updated over throughout the month of March.
Consider looking back each week.

Starting with this blog post, to coincide with each issue of the monthly Behind The Charts prescriber newsletter, we will be publishing a monthly spreadsheet detailing recent or upcoming changes to order tools (e.g., order sets, SmartSets, therapy plans) that may impact prescribers' personalizations. As some changes are confirmed with relatively short timeframes and so may be confirmed and implemented before the next newsletter issue, the spreadsheet will be updated at the end of each week, until the next newsletter issue and corresponding blog post. If prescribers have the opportunity, they may want to consider looking back each week or so, to be aware of any newly added changes that may impact them. In the future, we’re hoping to make available a searchable database of system updates for all Connect Care users to access and set up alerts.

While going forward the spreadsheet linked from these blog posts will just cover the previous month plus upcoming changes, this first spreadsheet stretches back further, covering changes for January 16 to March 25. The changes include tools in the ambulatory and inpatient contexts. Further details are in the spreadsheet - watch in particular for the "Impact to Personalization" column (column H), which indicates if personalizations that include the affected ordering tool will have to be redone, etc.

Spreadsheet: Order Tool Updates - January-March 2025 [updated March 13]

New Order - Request for Miscellaneous External Lab Test [Rescheduled]

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

New Request for Miscellaneous External Lab Test [Rescheduled]

A “Request For Miscellaneous External Test” consult order will soon be available in Connect Care for prescribers to request rare specialty tests that are not tested in Alberta, for inpatients and outpatients. Previously scheduled for March 5, 2025, this change is being rescheduled to a later date. Watch this space for details and a tip sheet, to be reposted when the new change date is confirmed.

New Inpatient Option to CC Multiple Test Results

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

New Inpatient "CC Results" Button

As of February 27, 2025, a new "CC Results" option will be available in the inpatient Orders and Discharge Orders Reconciliation activities, allowing prescribers to copy the results of multiple tests at the same time (instead of one at a time) to another provider(s). This option is already available in ambulatory workspaces.

From either activity, click on the "Options" dropdown menu, then select "CC Results" (click on the camera icons below to see screenshots).

In the pop-up window that appears, search for the intended recipient(s), select the labs you want to cc, click the "Add" button, and then "Accept".

If you want different recipients to get different results, these steps must be done for each recipient (i.e., click "Accept" after adding the first recipient, close the window, and repeat the above steps for the second recipient).

Formulary Changes - New Topical Anesthetic and Oral Histamine H2-Antagonist

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

Upcoming Formulary Changes

As of February 25, 2025, the below formulary changes will go into effect. Due to these changes, personalizations of the replaced medications within order sets will be removed.

New topical anesthetic: Lidocaine 4% cream (Maxilene) and prilocaine–lidocaine 2.5 %-2.5% cream (EMLA) will be replaced with lidocaine 5% cream (Zensa). This product is intended to provide topical anesthesia prior to IV cannulation, venipuncture and IM administration. The cost savings identified by this change is significant.
New oral histamine H2-antagonist: Oral ranitidine (Zantac) will be replaced with oral famotidine (Pepcid).

For further details, see the "DTC Update" newsletter from the Provincial Drugs and Therapeutics Committee (DTC).

Optimization Training - Classes in February/March

The CMIO Training team offers Optimization classes (previously called Thrive classes), where Connect Care prescribers can learn how to take full advantage of the features of the clinical information system, to help maximize their productivity and spend more time with patients. Classes are 60 minutes in length each and focus on completing common workflows more efficiently.

Below are the Optimization classes scheduled for late February and March 2025.

In Basket Management

March 4, 08:00–09:00
March 11, 12:00–13:00
March 12, 10:00–11:00
March 12, 12:30–13:30
March 20, 09:30–10:30
March 25, 14:30–15:30

Lab Ordering

February 26, 12:00–13:00
March 5, 12:00–13:00
March 12, 12:00–13:00

Notes

March 7, 12:00–13:00
March 19, 12:00–13:00

Orders Optimization

February 28, 07:00–08:00
March 3, 12:00–13:00
March 11, 10:00–11:00
March 12, 12:00–13:00
March 20, 12:00–13:00
March 27, 10:00–11:00

SmartTools

February 25, 12:00–13:00
March 4, 12:00–13:00
March 11, 12:00–13:00
March 25, 12:00–13:00

Anesthesia (These classes do not have to be done in chronological order, and each covers different topics)

Anesthesia Optimization 1 - Intraprocedural Workflows

March 3, 10:00–11:00

Anesthesia Optimization 2 - Working with Anesthesia Records

March 4, 15:00–16:00

Anesthesia Optimization 3 - Personalizing Macros

March 25, 15:00–16:00

Prescribers can register for these Optimization classes at the below link. Classes will be added regularly, so please continue to check back. Spots are limited to ensure trainers can address individual questions. Please ensure that you review your confirmation email from "Bookings CMIO Thrive" for the class link, and requirements for the session.

Place in Outpatient/Hospital Ambulatory Surgery Order - Updated Availability [Updated]

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

Place in Outpatient/Hospital Ambulatory Surgery Order - Updated Availability

Since the launch of Connect Care, several common errors have been identified in the selection of ADT (Admission, Discharge, Transfer) orders and/or using the incorrect order to facilitate patient movement. One example of this is using the "Place in Outpatient/Hospital Ambulatory Surgery" order AFTER an "Admit to Inpatient" order has been placed.

In order to reduce confusion and prevent providers from entering the Place in Outpatient/Hospital Ambulatory Surgery order after an admit order has been placed, the order has been removed from the facility pick list. Effective December 12, 2024, the order can only be found and selected within the pre-admission order sets which should be done preoperatively. For those surgeons who do not enter pre-procedure order sets, the order can also be found within the post-procedure order set.

Place in Outpatient/Hospital Ambulatory Surgery: This is an ADT order that should only be used for Day Surgery patients.

Using the Prep for Procedure navigator, the order can be found in the Surgical Admission pre-procedure order sets.
Should be selected for patients expected to discharge after surgery.

Admit to Inpatient: This order should ONLY be used for a Day Surgery class patient if they require an inpatient admission (i.e., they are no longer a Day Surgery patient).

Once the admit order is placed, it cannot be undone by placing a Place in Outpatient/Hospital Ambulatory Surgery order.
The patient class will update to Inpatient after the admit order is placed, which will require surgeons to complete a discharge summary and full medication reconciliation.
To facilitate patient movement for Day Surgery patients into inpatient spaces (keeping them as Day Surgery class), use the extended stay workflow.
If plans have changed post-procedure and the patient requires extra recovery time on a unit, the surgeon can modify the existing Place in Outpatient/Hospital Ambulatory Order and select "Yes" to "Is this patient expected to stay later than regular business hours?".

The Place in Outpatient/Hospital Ambulatory Surgery order is not required to move a Day Surgery patient from a day surgery/cath lab to an inpatient unit. The nurse can simply create a bed request from the status board to facilitate this patient movement. For more information on how to facilitate bed planning on an inpatient unit for day surgery/extended stay patients, see the extended stay workflow tip sheet.

For more information on surgical workflows and choosing the correct navigator:

[Post updated February 7, 2025]

Patient List Updates - Out of Country / Province / Zone Patients

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

Patient List Updates - Out of Country/Province/Zone Patients

Patients that live out of country, out of province or out of zone can now be viewed in Patient Lists. This information can help prioritize patients that need repatriation to help alleviate capacity constraints within a site.

To view patients that live out of country, out of province or out of zone, prescribers must add the "Out of Country Province or Zone" column to their Patient List:

Highlight your patient list and click "Edit List" to see the drop down menu (click the left camera icon below to see a screenshot). Select "Properties (click the right camera icon below).

In the pop-up, using the search field, find the "Out of Country Province or Zone" column, click "Add Column", and then "Accept".

You should now see the column in your patient list.

Updated Respiratory Infection (Incl. COVID-19) NAT Order

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

Updated Respiratory Infection (Incl. COVID-19) NAT Order

Ordering of rapid COVID-19 PCR, rapid influenza/RSV PCR, and the respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) occurs using the "Respiratory Infection (incl. COVID-19) NAT" order. As of February 7, 2025, the RPP can be ordered alone when COVID-19 and/or flu/RSV testing is not needed or has already been performed. The RPP can be added on to an existing specimen in Connect Care within 48 hours of collection of the specimen. Add-on requests after 48 hours can be done by contacting the laboratory or submitting the ProvLab add-on test form.

The RPP tests for SARS-CoV-2, flu, RSV, human metapneumoviruses, other human coronaviruses, adenovirus, enterovirus/rhinovirus, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. If testing for the full panel of viruses is required, consider ordering only RPP rather than rapid COVID-19/flu/RSV.
Only request RPP or any other respiratory virus testing when it is required for clinical care AND meets appropriate testing criteria (severely immunocompromised, critical respiratory failure, myocarditis, acute flaccid paralysis, child with fever NYD after initial investigations, outbreak investigations).
RPP is often tested within 24 hours upon receipt at the APL Provincial Public Health Laboratory.

See the updated tip sheet for further information:

Tip: Respiratory Infection (Incl. COVID-19) NAT Order

Changes to Hereditary Thrombophilia Investigations Order

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

Changes to Hereditary Thrombophilia Investigations Order

As of February 5, 2025, the following changes have been made to the "Hereditary Thrombophilia Investigations [LAB4347]" order:

Two new hard stops have been added, for the "Test(s) Required?" and the "Is the patient currently on any anticoagulants?" questions (click the camera icon below to see a screenshot).

The antiphospholipid panel has been removed. If needed, it should be ordered separately by adding the "Antiphospholipid Syndrome Investigation [LAB478]" order to the cart.

A new pop-up will appear has been added when the patient has not met criteria for testing and no tests will be added to the cart. Prescribers are asked to accept the order or review the answers to questions before signing the order. If the patient does not meet the testing criteria, the prescriber should call the Thrombosis Specialist to investigate (www.specialistlink.ca).

Changes to "After Visit ECG 12-Lead" Order

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

Central Zone Lab ECG Locations Removed from "After Visit ECG 12-Lead" Order

As of January 16, 2025, to reduce potential errors in order entry, a number of Central Zone Lab ECG locations have been removed from the "After Visit ECG 12-Lead" order as selectable preferred locations: Breton, Castor, Centennial, Consort, Drayton Valley, Drumheller, Hanna, Innisfail, Lacombe, Olds, Rimbey, Rocky Mountain House, St. Joseph's General Hospital Vegreville, Sundre, Three Hills, and Wetaskiwin. These Central Zone sites were removed from the ECG order to align with all other lab facilities in the province and establish a consistent workflow for both ordering providers and lab staff.

If the ordering provider does not see their preferred location listed under the "Connect Care Facility" option in the order composer, "Lab Facility (Requisition to print)" should instead be selected (click on the camera icon below for a screenshot). Once the order is entered, a requisition will then automatically be printed to give to the patient; when the patient presents to the lab, the lab will be able to find and release the ECG order.

Changes to Anesthesia Medication Records - Action May Be Needed

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

Changes to Ropivacaine, Bupivacaine PCEA, and Nerve Block Medication Records

On January 28, 2025, technical changes to the Ropivacaine, Bupivacaine PCEA, and Nerve Block medication records in Connect Care will result in the removal of existing personalizations that include these records. In particular, any personalizations for the parameters and administration instruction hardstop fields in the Epidural/Intrathecal/Nerve Block, Epidural/Regional Pediatric, and Amputation Post-procedure Adult order sets will have to be re-entered (click on the camera icon to see a screenshot for the Ropivacaine change). Nothing will change regarding how these medications are ordered by prescribers.

Therapy Plans - Bulk Management Now Available

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

Therapy Plans - Bulk Management Now Available

Some aspects of therapy plans can now be managed in bulk, including discontinuing plans that are complete or are no longer needed, and changing the lead plan provider for multiple plans when the current plan provider is going on leave, etc.

For more information, see the tip sheet:

Tip: Therapy Plan Bulk Management

Taming In Basket - Removal of Messages Older Than 90 Days

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

Taming In Basket - Removal of Messages >90 Days

Clinical information systems have increased the volumes of messages prescribers and other users need to manage, and AHS is committed to making adjustments to reduce clutter and increase In Basket message relevance. The "Taming In Basket" project was launched to identify In Basket messages that can be safely auto-expired, to reduce the volume of existing In Basket messages and to empower users to use In Basket efficiently.

As previously posted, in October 2024 the first batch of In Basket message types were set to auto-expire after 90 days but, at that time, messages older than 90 days that were already in users' In Baskets were not removed. As of January 21, 2025, messages of the following types that are older than 90 days will be removed from users' In Basket view in Hyperspace. The decluttered view will make it easier for users to action new and task-oriented messages.

Appointment Notification
Case Message
Covered Work
Media Manager
OOC Notification
BestPractice
Addendum Notification
Rx Response
Pt Admitted/Discharged
Canceled Orders

Please note that messages will only be removed from users’ In Basket view; all messages will still be retained in databases in case they need to be retrieved in the future for legal/privacy/etc. investigation.

For more information on In Basket, please see the Quick Start Guide:

Guide: In Basket Best Practices Quick Start Guide

New Ambulatory Referral to Oncofertility

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

New Ambulatory Referral to Oncofertility

As of January 15, 2025, the implementation of a new Oncofertility Pathway brings changes to how oncology prescribers will be able to refer to fertility services. The new "Ambulatory Referral to Oncofertility" order will streamline the referral process for connecting cancer patients with fertility clinics. The referral is available to all oncology prescribers (Cancer Care Alberta [CCA] and non-CCA) and will facilitate electronic referral requests being sent to one of the three fertility clinics in Alberta who provide fertility preservation services for cancer patients.

For more information on the referral workflow, see the Quick Start Guide:

Guide: Oncofertility Quick Start Guide

New Ordering Tools Available in Connect Care

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

New Ordering Tools Available in Connect Care

Prior to Launch 9, the following new order sets were released:

Elder-Friendly Approach to the Seniors Environment Admission Adult Order Set
Elder-Friendly Approach to the Seniors Environment Postprocedure Adult Order Set
Frostbite Admission Adult Order Set

With the implementation of the Connect Care clinical information system across the province completed, our build teams can now focus on optimization, to further enhance patient safety and user experience. In the new year, we will be looking at developing more efficient and regular methods of communicating system updates that impact prescribers, such as new or changed ordering tools.

In the interim, please consider bookmarking this blog channel (support.connect-care.ca), where system updates are flagged in "Enhancement update" posts such as this. Alternatively, consider bookmarking ahs-cis.ca/cmioupdates, which collects the "On Other Channels" digest posts that flag new blog posts across all Connect Care clinician blog channels (typically weekly), as well as notices of each new issue of our monthly prescriber newsletter, Between the Charts (news.connect-care.ca), which highlights key updates that have a broad impact.

Email Subscription Service Ending for Connect Care Clinician Blogs

Effective end of this month (December 31, 2024), we will be discontinuing our current email subscription service for all our Connect Care clinician blog channels. At this time, we do not have an alternate email subscription service available, but will continue to look for an appropriate service that meets our readers' needs.

In the meantime, the blog channels do each support “subscribing” to their RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed, for those who use newsfeed readers - see the tip sheet for more information. For others, perhaps consider bookmarking the main Bytes channel (bytes.connect-care.ca) and checking in on Fridays and the end of each month. Digests of new blog posts across all Connect Care clinician blog channels are published most Fridays on Bytes under the title "On Other Channels". Also, our monthly prescriber newsletter, Between the Charts (news.connect-care.ca), highlights key blog posts from the previous month; issues are typically published in the last week of each month, and a notice is published on Bytes as soon as the next issue is available. Both of these updates are gathered under the same tag, and so can be directly bookmarked via ahs-cis.ca/cmioupdates.

RAAPID Notes Now in Patient Lists

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

RAAPID Notes in Patient Lists

As of December 18, 2024, information regarding the status of RAAPID (Referral, Access, Advice, Placement, Information & Destination) consults and transfers can be found in the RAAPID Patient Lists. RAAPID Notes have been added to the reports view, and can be found by highlighting a patient’s name from the list and searching for "RAAPID Notes" (click on the camera icons to see screenshots). The notes may include updates on the transfer, reasons for delay or special care needs.

For more information on RAAPID, see the Manual:

Manual: Patient Movement - Referral, Access, Advice, Placement, Information & Destination (RAAPID)

Optimization of Prescriber Billing Tools - Health Insurance Status

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

Optimization of Prescriber Billing Tools - Health Insurance Status

As of December 19, 2024, changes will be made to prescriber billing tools in Connect Care so prescribers can quickly find whether a patient's care is supported by Alberta healthcare insurance, out-of-province insurance, private insurance, or no insurance. Health insurance coverage status information will be available to prescribers in a number of places, including patient lists, trackboards, and schedules, the patient chart sidebar, and also the Service Code Capture activity.

For more information, see:

Cleanup of Pharmacy Records in Connect Care (Action May Be Needed)

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

Cleanup of Pharmacy Records in Connect Care

IT has recently completed a cleanup of Connect Care's pharmacy records (i.e., pharmacy names and addresses), which has eliminated duplicate entries, fixed name/address errors, and applied consistent naming across all pharmacies in the system. Going forward, Connect Care users will experience more accurate search results when searching for a pharmacy (e.g., in the Demographics screen).

As a result of this cleanup, please note that prescribers may have to re-add preferred pharmacies for some patients, i.e., if the record selected for their preferred pharmacy was one of the duplicates that were deleted.

Changes to Follow-Up Appointment Requests Section

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

Changes to Follow-Up Appointment Requests Section

In many Ambulatory navigators, there is currently a “Follow-Up” or “Disp & CC” section for prescribers to request a Follow-Up Appointment. This request typically flows to a managed workqueue, allowing the follow-up to be booked in the physical department the encounter is taking place in. However, if a prescriber is logged in to a virtual department and uses that section to request a follow-up for an unscheduled encounter ("Quick Encounter"), there is then no physical/schedulable department associated with the encounter, and so the request is not able to flow to a workqueue to complete the scheduling.

To avoid unmanaged Follow-Up Appointment requests, as of December 17, 2024 (between 13:00 and 15:00), changes will be made to the Follow-Up/Disp & CC section, primarily that it will no longer appear if the encounter department does not have the functionality to accept and process the request. Note these changes do not apply to Ambulatory departments that do not currently use the Follow-Up/Disp & CC section.

If an encounter department accepts Follow-Up Appointment requests: The current Follow-Up/Disp & CC section will continue to display, as "Follow-Up".

If an encounter department does not accept Follow-Up Appointment requests: Prescribers will now see a "Send Chart" section instead of a Follow-Up section, which will allow them to appropriately route the chart (e.g., to an MOA) to request a follow-up.

In unscheduled (Quick) encounters: A new banner called "Encounter Department Information" will appear above the Follow-Up/Send Chart section, to show the current encounter department and give instructions on how to change it if required.

If logged in to a physical department: If the encounter department shown is incorrect, prescribers can click the hyperlink provided to change the department (will need to press F5 to refresh). See the screenshot for an example.

If logged in to a virtual department: The display will indicate that a physical department is required for all appointment/follow-up requests and orders, to ensure they are routed correctly and have the correct department contact information. Prescribers can click the hyperlink provided to change the department (will need to press F5 to refresh). See the screenshot for an example.

Pharmacy Update - Partial Patch Doses

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

Ordering Partial Patch Doses

As of December 17, 2024, patches will be configured to allow ordering partial patch doses via the medication record (ERX record) if a commercial strength is not available. Previously, prescribers had to use the non-standard workflow to order the correct dose. Note that manipulating patches by cutting, covering, folding, etc., is generally not recommended by manufacturers.

The change will affect the following matrix-type patches:

buprenorphine 5 mcg/hour weekly transdermal patch
estradiol 0.025 mg/24 hour weekly transdermal patch
estradiol 0.025 mg/24 hour semiweekly transdermal patch
fentanyl 12 mcg/hour transdermal patch
nitroglycerin 0.2 mg/hour transdermal patch

Note that the rounding is set to 0.25, so prescribers can order any fraction of that (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, etc.); for an example of what an order for a half patch would look like, click the left camera icon below for a screenshot. The system will also round to the nearest 0.25 patch if the order is within 10% (e.g., 0.8 patch would round to 0.75 patch); if it is more than a 10% difference, the prescriber will get an alert - click the right camera icon below to see a screenshot of the alert.

Specialty Referral Optimization

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

Additional Improvements to Ambulatory Referrals

Reporting indicates that incomplete referrals received in Connect Care have led to ~30% denial rates, which can result in a delay for the patient requiring access to specialty care. As previously posted, the Connect Care Referrals Taskforce and provincial specialty working groups have been working over the last several months to make improvements to referrals, to ensure referral orders include required information for effective and efficient triaging.

Continuing the optimization work that started this summer, further changes will be made December 10, 2024 (between 12:00 and 13:00), specifically to Ambulatory Referral Orders for Hepatology, Urology, Pediatric Neurology, and Pediatric Orthopaedics.

Updated referral orders for these specialties will include custom specialty reference links, optimized speed buttons, and cascading questions specific to specialty criteria.
Users may be required to re-personalize preference lists and Order Sets/SmartSets containing previous versions of these ambulatory referral orders, to ensure the updated version is used.

Click on the relevant camera icon to see a screenshot of the updated referral order (1. Hepatology; 2. Urology; 3. Pediatric Neurology; and 4. Pediatric Orthopaedics):

New Order Panel - Standard Analgesic Pediatric

Enhancement updates provide short alerts to new, fixed or improved Connect Care functions...

New Order Panel - Standard Analgesic Pediatric

The Provincial Opioid Optimization Working Group has facilitated the creation of ordering tools that promote evidence-based, lowest effective dose analgesia for managing acute pain. As of October 25, 2024, a new evidence-based "Standard Analgesic Pediatric" order panel is available in Connect Care, following the release of the Standard Analgesic Adult order panel on February 14, 2024 (see the previous blog post).

For moderate to severe acute postsurgical pain, the optimal approach involves a combination of scheduled non-opioid analgesics and as-needed opioids. In the future, pediatric order sets will be updated to integrate the new Standard Analgesic Pediatric panel as appropriate.