AMH Updates – Neuromodulation Therapy Plans

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

• Addiction and Mental Health (AMH) Updates – Neuromodulation Therapy Plans

As of March 24, 2026, there will be multiple changes to Neuromodulation Therapy Plans including consolidation of previous Neuromodulation Therapy Plans and updates to both the plan content and functionality of the Appointment Request within the plan. For patients who currently have Neuromodulation ordered, no action is needed. Neuromodulation Therapy Plans that were ordered before March 24 should not be renewed or reactivated; if (re)ordering after March 24, the new plans will need to be used.  

AMH prescribers can learn more about these changes in a few different ways:

• Attend virtual information session March 19, 2026 (16:00) - Click here to register.
• Preview and practice in PLY - Use this guide for login and test patient information.
• See the 1-pager - Includes links to instructional videos and other resources. 

RF Nephrostogram Ordering Update

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

• Radiofrequency/Fluoroscopy (RF) Nephrostogram Ordering Update

As of March 19, 2026, the current RF Nephrostogram order will be replaced with new orders: RF Nephrostogram Left, RF Nephrostogram Right, and RF Nephrostogram Bilateral. This change is needed to ensure ordering accuracy and mitigate safety concerns associated with laterality not being specified in the generic nephrostogram order. 

Prescribers will need to choose the correct laterality (left, right, or bilateral) when ordering a nephrostogram, as the generic order will no longer be available. Personal preference lists and ordering tools will be updated as part of the change; no specific action is required by prescribers.

Changes to Reporting Roles

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

• Changes to Reporting Roles

As of March 17, 2026, access points that allowed entering or editing patient documentation will be removed from the following reporting roles to ensure these roles remain view-only: 

• Quality/Analyst Reporting User – [Specialty Area]
• Clinical View Only with Basic Reporting

As a result of this change, while reporting access and functionality will NOT be affected, some chart review functions such as opening the "Care Team" activity from Storyboard will no longer be available. An access restriction pop-up window is expected. 

Alternate workflows may be required; for details, refer to Appendix A of the Clinical View Only Quick Start Guide.

New GCD Interim Order OPA

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

• New Goals of Care Designation (GCD) Interim Order Our Practice Advisory (OPA)

To make interim GCD orders more visible and to support timely resolution, as of March 19, 2026, a new OPA will be triggered 12 hours after an interim GCD order is entered in Connect Care. This advisory notifies the Most Responsible Healthcare Provider (MRHP) that: a current GCD order is interim (i.e., placed prior to a goals of care conversation), and that it requires an update following a goals of care conversation or completion of a dispute resolution process. 

The OPA will be non-intrusive and will appear on the Storyboard, and in Our Practice Advisory sections of the patient’s chart. This OPA will also appear for previously entered interim GCD orders that remain active in Connect Care.

For more information on GCD and interim GCD orders, see:

• FAQ: About Goals of Care Designation (ahs.ca)
• Guide: Advanced Care Planning and Goals of Care Designation [to be updated week of change]
• Manual: Goals of Care Management

In Basket Update - "Not My Result" Workflow Optimization

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

• In Basket Update - "Not My Result" Workflow Optimization

As of March 12, 2026, the "Not My Result" QuickAction function in In Basket will be updated to reduce inappropriate forwarding to the error pool. 

• In the Result Note that opens after clicking the Not My Result button, the wording of the options in the "Steps taken" dropdown list has been updated to provide the user with additional instructions if the result needs to go to the error pool (click the camera icon to see a screenshot).

• The “Route” checkbox will no longer be selected by default when the Result Note opens via the Not My Result button. If the user checks the "Route" box in order to forward the result to the error pool, an "Enter recipients" field will appear, and will be a hardstop. 

  

• To add the error pool in the "Enter recipients" field, users can either type in "P AHS NMR AUTOROUTE POOL" or click the magnifying glass and, in the pop-up, search for "ahs nmr" in the "Pools" field.

 

For more information on In Basket, please see the CMIO's In Basket Management Guide:

• Guide: In Basket Management - CMIO

Accessing Insite/SharePoint Links from Connect Care

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

• Accessing Insite/SharePoint Links from Connect Care

As previously mentioned, due to the migration of Insite and SharePoint file storage to Microsoft's cloud platform last fall, users were prompted for their credentials when trying to open an Insite/SharePoint link from within Connect Care. A solution has been found to reduce this workflow interruption and, as of February 25, 2026, most Insite and SharePoint links opened from within Connect Care will no longer require users to enter login credentials. 

• Most Insite/SharePoint links will now open directly in Microsoft Edge, with the full web address visible in the browser address bar.
• A small number of links that are integrated within the Epic dashboard browser for specialized workflows may still require authentication.
• As before, links to websites other than Insite and SharePoint will continue to launch without a need for login credentials. Note, however, that in some cases the browser address bar may not be visible.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Microsoft365webapps@healthsharedservices.ca.

Optimization Training - Classes in March 2026

The CMIO Prescriber Experience 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 typically 60 minutes in length each and focus on completing common workflows more efficiently.

Below are the Optimization classes scheduled for March 2026. 

• Dragon Medical One (DMO) Advanced
• March 17, 12:00–13:00
• March 30, 12:00–13:00
• In Basket Clean Up 1:1
• March 5, 09:30–10:00
• March 6, 09:00–09:30
• March 11, 12:30–13:00
• March 12, 09:30–10:00
• March 16, 09:00–10:00
• March 19, 14:00–14:30
• In Basket Management
• March 4, 08:00–09:00
• March 10, 14:00–15:00
• March 11, 11:00–12:00
• Lab Ordering
• March 5, 10:00–11:00
• March 11, 12:00–13:00
• March 24, 12:00–13:00
• Mental Health Act Forms
• March 27, 12:00–13:00
• Notes
• March 11, 12:00–13:00
• March 25, 12:00–13:00
• Orders Optimization
• March 4, 11:00–12:00
• March 12, 10:30–11:30
• March 18, 09:00–10:00
• March 24, 13:00–14:00
• March 30, 10:00–11:00
• SmartTools
• March 10, 12:00–13:00
• March 24, 12:00–13:00
• Anesthesia (These classes do not have to be done in chronological order, and each covers different topics)
• Anesthesia Optimization 2 - Working with Anesthesia Records
• March 10, 13:00–14:00
• Anesthesia Optimization 3 - Personalizing Macros
• March 26, 12:00–13:00

Prescribers can register for these Optimization classes at the below link (clicking the “Optimization” button at the bottom of any page in the Connect Care Manual will also take you to the booking page). 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.

• Register: CMIO Optimization Classes
• Manual: Optimization Training
• Questions: CMIO.Optimization@healthsharedservices.ca

Tool Tune Up: February 2026 Order Tool Updates

The spreadsheet linked from this post will be updated throughout the month as needed. 
Consider looking back each week.

The spreadsheet linked below details recent or upcoming changes to order tools (e.g., order sets, SmartSets, therapy plans) that may impact prescriber personalization. Note that the link to the spreadsheet remains the same for the calendar year, with a new tab added for each month. 

The spreadsheet is typically updated at the end of each week if any new changes are confirmed/implemented. If the spreadsheet has been updated, a note with the date will be added after the spreadsheet link.

• Spreadsheet: Order Tool Updates - February 2026 [updated Feb 19]
• If you get an error clicking the above link, please right-click to copy the link, and then paste into your browser.
• Tip: See the first "READ ME" tab for an explanation of the spreadsheet's tabs and columns. 

Documentation of Vitamin K Consent/Decline for Neonates

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

• Documentation of Vitamin K Consent/Decline for Neonates

As of February 19, 2026, new SmartText is available for prescribers to document consent or decline (whether partial or total refusal) by a parent/guardian for vitamin K intramuscular injection in a neonatal patient. When in the Consent Note, prescribers can type ".vitamink" to bring in the SmartText, rather than having to search via the SmartText box.

The SmartText will have a number of SmartLists within it for the prescriber to indicate who the discussion was with, what was discussed, and what the consent status was (click the camera icon for a screenshot).

Delivery Documentation Update - Subgaleal Hemorrhage Risk

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

• Delivery Documentation Update - Subgaleal Hemorrhage Risk

As of February 17, 2026, changes will be made to delivery documentation, to allow for documenting an impacted head or difficult extraction and subsequently indicating in various places in the Connect Care chart that a baby is at risk for subgaleal hemorrhage. Below are the specific changes prescribers will see:

• Documentation:
• A new "Impacted Head" field will be added to the "Delivery Details" section of the Delivery Summary (click camera icon for a screenshot).

• In the Admit Newborn order set, under "Vital Signs", there will be a new row to check "For Infants at Risk of Subgaleal Hemorrhage".

• Risk indication in chart:
• After a Delivery Summary is signed, if an impacted head has been documented, it will show up in the Delivery Report in the "Delivery (Newborn)" section. 

• An "At Risk for Subgaleal Hemorrhage" warning box will also appear in the Postpartum Newborn Overview report in the Summary activity if either an impacted head was documented in the Delivery Summary or risk was indicated in a relevant nursing flowsheet.

NEW DATE - Home Oxygen Workflow Updates

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

• Changes to Home Oxygen Assessment and Requisition Orders

As of February 12, 2026, there are a number of changes to the Home Oxygen assessment and requisition orders, summarized below. There are no changes to inpatient workflows. 

• New "Home Oxygen Assessment" order - For use when the assessment is to take place in a Respiratory Therapy clinic, this order replaces the need for an Ambulatory Referral to Respiratory Therapy (click the camera icon for a screenshot).





• "Blood Gas Arterial, schedulable" order renamed to "Blood Gas, Arterial at Pulmonary Function Lab".
• Updated "Home Oxygen Requisition" after-visit order - For use with any patient needing a Home Oxygen prescription to provide to home oxygen vendors, this order now has added reference links to Alberta Aids to Daily Living and Non-Insured Health Benefits oxygen manuals, and the multi-select "Oxygen Requirements" field will cascade into additional relevant fields.
• Note: Prescribers must sign the order in Connect Care for the vendor to accept the electronic signature in place of the previously required wet signature. The requisition will auto-print upon signing. 

• "Oxygen Therapy – Equipment" order now retired, as the standard Home Oxygen prescription is captured by the updated Home Oxygen Requisition.

For more information, see the tip sheet.

• Tip: Home Oxygen  

CSF External Sendout Test Request

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

• Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) External Sendout Test Request 

As of February 10, 2026, particular lumbar puncture order sets should be used to order a CSF External Sendout Test (Referred Test), both for clinicians performing a lumbar puncture in clinic and for those requesting an interventional radiology lumbar puncture (inpatients or outpatients). 

• Clinicians Performing a Lumbar Puncture in Clinic: Use the Lumbar Puncture SmartSet. The request will be listed under Laboratory Investigations - Routine >> Cerebrospinal Fluid - Bedside Procedure >> Inflammatory.
• Request for Interventional Radiology Lumbar Puncture:
• Inpatients: Use the Lumbar Puncture SmartSet. The request will be listed under Laboratory Investigations - Routine >> Cerebrospinal Fluid - Interventional Radiology (done in DI suite or OR) >> Inflammatory.
• Outpatients: Use the Ambulatory Interventional Radiology Lumbar Puncture SmartSet. The request will be listed under "CSF Miscellaneous/Infrequent Tests".

For more information on placing this order, see the tip sheet:

• Tip: CSF External Send Out Test Request

New Ambulatory Referral to Physiatry Oncology

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

• New Ambulatory Referral to Physiatry Oncology

As of January 29, 2026, prescribers can directly refer to Cancer Physiatry using the new "Ambulatory Referral to Physiatry Oncology" order (click the camera icon for a screenshot). The previous referral pathway had physiatry nested within the Rehab Onc referral, which was shared with oncology therapists. 

• Note that each type of assessment may have additional cascading questions.

• To save this order as a favourite for your preference list, click on the star icon from your order cart.

Auto-Closure of Old Co-Sign Order Requests [Updated]

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

• Auto-Closure of Old Co-Sign Order Requests

Since 2019, a backlog of over 350,000 open co-sign requests and verbal order messages have accumulated, creating a significant administrative burden for prescribers and a negative impact on system performance. On February 3, 2026, all open co-sign and verbal order messages (including any that have been declined) older than 31 days will be administratively closed. 

• Orders entered into Connect Care with the "Verbal with readback", "Telephone with readback", and "Per protocol cosign required" ordering modes generate an In Basket message with a co-sign request. Medical Staff Rules (4.18.8.e) indicate that these orders are automatically deemed to be co-signed by the ordering provider unless corrected within 24 hours (or, in a Continuing Care facility, at the time of the ordering provider’s next visit).
• On February 3, authorizing prescribers will notice removal of these messages older than 31 days from their "Chart Correction" and "Cosign – Clinic Orders" In Basket folders. 
• While the In Basket messages will be permanently purged, the co-sign order requests and verbal order signature requirements that are administratively closed will still be permanently retained in the chart and visible in Chart Review (click the camera icon for a screenshot).

• A proposal is under review to administratively close co-sign messages for verbal and telephone orders older than 31 days on a go-forward basis, removing them from In Baskets once a month. 

For questions related to these changes, users are encouraged to submit a ServiceNow ticket.  

Edit (Feb 25): Updated to clarify that only retroactive cleanup of these orders has been approved/actioned. This post previously stated that monthly cleanup would occur moving forward, but this is currently only at the proposal stage.

Tool Tune Up: January 2026 Order Tool Updates

The spreadsheet linked from this post will be updated throughout the month as needed. 
Consider looking back each week.

The spreadsheet linked below details recent or upcoming changes to order tools (e.g., order sets, SmartSets, therapy plans) that may impact prescriber personalization. Note that the link to the spreadsheet remains the same for the year, with a new tab added for each month. 

The spreadsheet is typically updated at the end of each week if any new changes are confirmed/implemented. If the spreadsheet has been updated, a note with the date will be added after the spreadsheet link.

• Spreadsheet: Order Tool Updates - January 2026 [updated January 29]
• If you get an error clicking the above link, please right-click to copy the link, and then paste into your browser.
• Tip: See the first "READ ME" tab for an explanation of the spreadsheet's tabs and columns. 

Changes to Display of Glucometer Results

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

• Changes to Display of Glucometer Results

As of February 3, 2026, glucometer results will be separated from lab results in the Results Review tree. This change is in response to feedback that frequent, repeated glucometer readings made it difficult to trend lab results in the Results Review tree. Additionally, these readings often triggered urgent or critical lab notifications due to high or low glucose values, reducing the effectiveness of the notification tool. 

Following the change, glucometer results can be found in a number of locations in Connect Care:

• Inpatient Patient List and Ambulatory Multi-Provider Schedule columns:
• “Lab Notifications” column: As previously posted, this inpatient Patient List column displays both new lab values and glucometer values.
• Hover over the coloured dot to see the most recent glucose values.
• Double-click the dot to open the Glucose Management Report.
• “Glucometer Overview” column: As previously posted, this recently updated column shows only glucometer values for quick reference. The column is available to add to inpatient Patient Lists and, as of January 21, can also be added to the ambulatory Multi-Provider Schedule (see the updated tip sheet for details).
• Storyboard: Under “Results in the last 36 hours”. Hover to view both lab and glucometer results.
• "Summary" activity:
• Summary → Overview: “Blood glucose last 24 hours”. Clicking this header opens the Glucose Management Report.
• Summary → Glucose Management Report
• Tip: This report is also available in the outpatient context for reviewing AHS glucometer results when needed.
• Chart Search: Type “glucometer”.
• "Synopsis" activity: Includes a "Diabetes Synopsis" section.

For more information on glycemic monitoring and management, see the Connect Care Manual:

• Manual: Glycemic Monitoring and Management  

New OPA for Pregnant Patients in ED

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

• New OPA for Pregnant Patients in ED

As of January 27, 2026, a new Our Practice Advisory (OPA; previously Best Practice Advisory) will fire for patients >20 weeks pregnant presenting in the ED, indicating a recommendation to order an Obstetrics consult. This change is in response to multiple patient safety events with negative outcomes across Alberta following pregnant people presenting to the ED with non-obstetrical issues, due to lack of recognition of the impact of the associated pregnancy. 

• The OPA will take into account whether the ED has an Obstetrical provider onsite or not, and will present the relevant available order (click the camera icon to see screenshots).

• The OPA will allow override with reasons that include "Not pregnant or < 20 weeks", "Pt refused", "Defer 15 minutes", and "Not indicated". A “Set Dispo: Send to L&D” reason will also be available for sites that have Obstetrics coverage.
• Obstetrical providers who have been consulted can determine if an in-person assessment, an outpatient assessment, or no assessment is required (via initial phone discussion). This should be documented within the consultation record per standard practice. 

The Women's Health Clinical Systems Improvement team will be monitoring consultation volumes. Please inform your Provincial Medical Informatics Lead (PMIL) regarding concerns of inappropriate consults or excessive volume.  

Exceptional Care Plan Notes - Editing Changes

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

• Exceptional Care Plan Notes - Editing Changes

As of January 26, 2026, access to Exceptional Care Plan (ECP) notes will be changing, where all clinicians with the ability to create an ECP will have full ability to edit/delete ECP notes authored by other users. This change primarily affects non-prescribers as prescribers have previously had these editing abilities. The change will enhance accuracy of the ECP and improve efficiency and coordination for teams managing these plans.  

• Guide: Exceptional Care Plans

Anesthesia Update - Access to Patient Instructions and AVS

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

• Anesthesia Update - Access to Patient Instructions and AVS

Anesthesia prescribers often cover patients on the Acute Pain Service, but previously did not have access to discharge instruction functionality. As of January 23, 2026, Anesthesia prescribers will have access to Patient Instructions and the After Visit Summary (AVS), allowing them to add information that needs to be shared with the patient at the time of discharge. 

The "Patient Instructions" and "After Visit Summary" sections can be accessed from two activities found in the Patient List, "Pain Service" and "Rounding" (click the camera icons for screenshots).

  

Anesthesia Update - Documentation of Bite Block Events for ECT

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

• Anesthesia Update - Documentation of Bite Block Events for ECT

As of January 23, 2026, to improve documentation, Anesthesia prescribers can enter a bite block insertion or removal event in the Anesthesia record for patients undergoing Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) procedures. 

• In the Intraprocedure tab, select "Events" and then "Add New". The new "Insert Bite Block" and "Remove Bite Block" events can be found in the "Misc" tab (click the camera icon for a screenshot).

• If an insertion is documented without a corresponding removal, a soft stop notification will appear in the record checklist to remind users to document removal.

For details, see the updated tip sheet:

• Tip: ECT Anesthesia Workflow

Anesthesia Update - New Outpatient Spirometry Ordering Workflows

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

• Anesthesia Update - New Outpatient Spirometry Ordering Workflows

As of January 27, 2026, there will be a few changes to how to order spirometry to be performed in an outpatient clinic, replacing the previous workflow of ordering an Ambulatory Referral to Respiratory Therapy.  

• "Spirometry POC" - New order available for point of care testing at the patient's bedside, for sites that page a Respiratory Therapist.
• "Spirometry - without bronchodilator" and "Spirometry - with bronchodilator" - Updated orders will have an appointment request built in, no need for a referral to accompany the procedure order, procedure to be scheduled at respiratory therapy clinic. 
• Note: The "Spirometry - with bronchodilator" order is available only in the "Spirometry with Bronchodilator w/ meds Panel (AMB)", with accompanying medication orders that will be signed and held for release by the Respiratory Therapist during testing.

There are no changes to ordering spirometry to be performed on an inpatient or in a Pulmonary Function Lab.  

For details, see the updated CMIO tip sheet. The new Allied Health quick start guide also has further details on the different spirometry orders (note the link may not be live until closer to the change date).

• Tip: Anesthetists Ordering Ambulatory Respiratory Pre-Operative Labs/Testing
• Guide: Spirometry Quick Start Guide

Optimization Training - Classes in February 2026

The CMIO Prescriber Experience 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 typically 60 minutes in length each and focus on completing common workflows more efficiently.

Below are the Optimization classes scheduled for February 2026. 

• Dragon Medical One (DMO) Advanced
• February 12, 07:00–08:00
• February 24, 12:00–13:00
• In Basket Clean Up 1:1
• February 2, 09:00–0930; 10:00–10:30; 15:00–15:30
• February 3, 10:30–11:00
• February 5, 14:00–14:30; 15:00–15:30
• February 6, 09:00–09:30
• February 9, 16:00–16:30
• February 10, 08:30–09:00
• February 11, 11:30–12:00
• February 12, 13:00–13:30
• February 18, 11:00–11:30
• February 24, 09:00–09:30; 10:00–10:30
• February 25, 11:00–11:30
• In Basket Management
• February 4, 14:30–15:30
• February 20, 13:30–14:30
• February 25, 11:00–12:00
• Lab Ordering
• February 3, 10:00–11:00
• February 18, 12:00–13:00
• Mental Health Act Forms
• February 13, 12:00–13:00
• February 27, 12:00–13:00
• Notes
• February 9, 12:00–13:00
• February 25, 12:00–13:00
• Orders Optimization
• February 3, 09:00–10:00
• February 10, 11:00–12:00
• February 19, 12:00–13:00
• February 23, 12:00–13:00
• February 27, 11:00–12:00
• SmartTools
• February 10, 12:00–13:00
• February 26, 12:00–13:00
• Therapy Plans
• February 4, 12:00–13:00
• February 17, 15:00–16:00
• February 27, 12:00–13:00

Prescribers can register for these Optimization classes at the below link (clicking the “Optimization” button at the bottom of any page in the Connect Care Manual will also take you to the booking page). 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.

• Register: CMIO Optimization Classes
• Manual: Optimization Training
• Questions: CMIO.Optimization@healthsharedservices.ca

In Basket Update - Notice of Admission for Obstetrical Patients

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

• In Basket Update - Notice of Admission for Obstetrical Patients

There has been an issue with members of the Care Team not getting a Notice of Admission for obstetrical patients in their In Basket, due to the system not capturing patients admitted through Triage Admit. As of January 13, 2026, this issue will be fixed, and all members of the Care Team for obstetrical patients will see these messages in their In Basket. 

Taming In Basket, Phase 3 - More Message Types Set to Auto-Expire

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

• Taming In Basket - More Message Types Set to Auto-Expire

Clinical information systems continue to generate high volumes of In Basket messages for physicians and other users. To reduce clutter and improve message relevance, AHS launched the "Taming In Basket" initiative in 2024. To date, more than 4 million old In Basket messages have already been removed.

For Phase 3 of the initiative, as of January 12, 2026, the two highest-volume message types remaining, "CC Charts" and "Results", will be set to auto-expire after 90 or 180 days (as indicated below). In addition, "Covered Work" messages will no longer be sent, and existing messages of that type will auto-expire in 90 days. These changes will result in the future removal of over 5 million additional outdated messages, further streamlining the In Basket experience.

• “CC Charts” messages will auto-expire after 90 days
• On April 12, these auto-expired messages will be removed from users' In Basket view in Hyperspace (i.e., moved to a “Done” status). Users will then still be able to retrieve the auto-removed messages they may need within 60 days (before June 12), after which they are permanently purged from the system. 
• “Results” messages will auto-expire after 180 days
• On July 12, these auto-expired messages will be removed from users' In Basket view. They can still be retrieved within 60 days (before September 12), after which they are permanently purged. 
• “Covered Work” messages will no longer be sent, existing messages will auto-expire in 90 days
• These messages were generated when a user set Out of Contact and a delegate completed certain tasks; however, message generation criteria were inconsistent and often confusing. Users can use Search to find messages completed by delegates during their absence.
• On April 12, all existing Covered Work messages will be removed from users' In Basket view. They can still be retrieved within 60 days (before June 12), after which they are permanently purged.

Please note that this change will be effective moving forward only. Messages of the above types older than 90 or 180 days that currently exist in users’ In Baskets will not be affected. Messages older than 90 days will be removed from users’ In Baskets on April 12, and those older than 180 days will be removed on July 12. Reminders will be shared around those times.

Furthermore, any messages that users postponed utilizing "Follow up" functionality will be included in the auto-expiry rule only after the date the message comes back to the My Messages space.

For more information on In Basket, please see the CMIO's In Basket Management Guide. A table listing all the message types that now auto-expire (and when) can be found at the end of the guide.

• Guide: In Basket Management - CMIO

New Urine Culture OPA for LTC Sites (Updated)

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

• New Urine Culture OPA for LTC Sites

To address the overutilization of urine cultures and optimize UTI treatment, as of January 13, 2026, a Urine Culture Our Practice Advisory (OPA) for Long-Term Care (LTC) sites will be implemented. 

When a urine culture is ordered in LTC sites, an OPA will pop up (click the camera icon for a screenshot) and will need to be addressed by the ordering provider to continue with the order. 

[Edit: Note this blog post previously stated the change also applied to Designated Supportive Living (DSL) sites. However, the OPA will only be for LTC sites.]

More information can be found at:

• Resource: Appropriateness of Care: Asymptomatic Bacteriuria (ahs.ca)

New NICU/PICU/Inpatient Pediatric RSV Immunoprophylaxis Panel

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

• New NICU/PICU/Inpatient Pediatric RSV Immunoprophylaxis Panel

As of January 8, 2026, a new inpatient panel called “NICU/PICU/Pediatric RSV Immunoprophylaxis” will be available to guide dosing and help prescribers choose the correct syringe for nirsevimab (Beyfortus). 

• Prescribers can find the new panel by searching for “nirsevimab”, “Beyfortus”, "RSV prophylaxis", or "RSV" (click camera icon for a screenshot).

• The individual nirsevimab (Beyfortus) orders will be removed from the search/browse. Prescribers will no longer order nirsevimab individually, but can order it using the new panel.

NEW DATE - New Pre-Admission Clinic Patient Questionnaire

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

• New Pre-Admission Clinic (PAC) Patient Questionnaire

Previously scheduled for December 2025, as of January 6, 2026, a Pre-admission Clinic Patient Questionnaire will be implemented for use. Patients will receive the PAC Questionnaire via MyChart once their surgery is scheduled. PAC nurses can complete the questionnaire with the patient during screening calls or appointments if the patient has not completed it beforehand. Prescribers working in PAC can view the questionnaire answers from within the "Procedure Pass" activity. See the tip sheet and demo video for details.

• Tip: PAC Patient Questionnaire
• Demo: PAC Patient Questionnaire 

NEW DATE - New Inpatient Cirrhosis Care Support Tools

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

• New Inpatient Cirrhosis Care Suite of Support Tools

Managing cirrhosis is complex and, despite clear guidelines, many patients do not receive optimal care. After consulting directly with clinicians, conducting focus groups, and successfully soft-launching new functionality, the Digital Health team has created a new and improved approach to the management of this chronic disease within Connect Care, complete with new tools designed to simplify workflows, support evidence-based decisions, and improve patient outcomes. 

As of January 15, 2026, the following cirrhosis care tools will officially go live. We will provide more information on these tools in the new year including tip sheets and demos, but encourage prescribers in the meantime to explore to learn more. The summary report in particular (search for "cirrhosis" in the "Summary" activity) is essentially a one-stop shop for cirrhosis care, and users can learn how to navigate and use simply by clicking through.

• Admission Our Practice Advisory (OPA) – Prompts clinicians to review recommended care items during admission and guides next steps.
• Cirrhosis Summary Report – A one-screen dashboard for labs, meds, complications, and trends.
• Cirrhosis Profile – Structured data for continuity and longitudinal tracking.
• Note Templates – Streamlined documentation for cirrhosis and comorbidities.
• Discharge OPA – Alerts and recommendations to ensure safe transitions of care. Together, these tools aim to standardize care, reduce missed opportunities, and make cirrhosis management more efficient and consistent across Alberta.
• Cirrhosis Disease Management Sidebar Summary – Enabled for patients with cirrhosis-related medical histories or problems, is available for inpatient and outpatient.

Watch this space for updates, as well as the below Manual page, where tip sheets and demos will be linked.

• Manual: Cirrhosis Care Path

New Order - Request for External Sendout Lab Test

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

• New Request for External Sendout Lab Test

As of April 30, 2025, a “Request For External Sendout Lab Test” consult order will be available in Connect Care for prescribers to request rare specialty tests that are not tested in Alberta, for inpatients and outpatients. Previously, such a request was only available to Lab via a paper requisition. 

This request should only be used for tests not already in Connect Care. Once signed, the request will be reviewed by the relevant department in Lab, and requires approval by the Medical Lead On Call in that Lab department. If approved, the order will be placed in Connect Care by Lab, and a notice sent to the prescriber to send the patient for blood work.

For more information on the workflow for inpatients and outpatients, see the tip sheet:

• Tip: Request for External Sendout Lab Test
• Lab Bulletin: Request for External Sendout Lab Test

Cardiovascular Order Changes - Expected Date and Order Expiry

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

• Changes to Holter, Event, and Ambulatory Blood Pressure Orders

As of December 15, 2025, the below changes will go into effect for Holter, Event, and Ambulatory Blood Pressure (ABP) orders, to allow for better exam prioritization/booking and better workqueue management:

• Changes to "Expected Date" field in the "Timing" section (click the camera icon for a screenshot):
• The expiry date will no longer be visible.
• This field is now a hard-stop. A response is mandatory, via the quick buttons or manually entering a date. The date can be as far into the future as needed.
• A new "Pediatric (2 yrs)" quick button is available as an option, to support longer wait times and unique workflows.

• Orders will expire 3 months after the indicated Expected Date, regardless of how far into the future the date is entered (previously, expiry was after 2 years). For example, if the Expected Date for a Holter order is March 1, 2026, the order will expire June 1, 2026 unless the patient gets the test completed before then.
• Prescribers will receive an In Basket notification for all expired orders.