This combined posting is updated throughout the third week of launch support, accumulating needs raised in prescriber huddles, with links to support information. Consider looking back each day.
(Note: Emails from our subscription service show the original version of the post, and so will not show any updates in the body of the email - click the link in the email to see the up-to-date web version.)
- Sometimes new information is needed after other blood samples have already been drawn. Connect Care makes "add-on" blood testing easy.
- When ordering a new test, if the test can be performed on blood already in the lab, an "Add-on" field will show in the order composer. Ensure that the "Use Existing Specimen" option is chosen in the Add-on field to prevent a new blood draw (the default is "New Collection"). See the Tippy for more information.
- Disclosure of harm refers to a required process involving open discussions between a patient and healthcare providers about events leading to patient harm, the harm itself, and plans for future care.
- A recent Connect Care enhancement facilitates documentation of both immediate and ongoing disclosure conversations. See the tip sheet for more information.
- When inpatients no longer need the intensity of care or level of service provided by their admitting acute care facility, it is important for the Most Responsible Provider to change their "patient status" to "Alternate Level of Care" (ALC).
- Prescribers can make changes to inpatient status via the "Level of Care" column in patient lists (built-in to the Rapid Rounds patient list template), or via the "Orders" activity by using an "Initiate ALC" order or a "Patient Status" order, then using the "ALC - TBD" speed button.
- It is important that prescribers ONLY select "ALC - TBD" and not Z-codes. Transition coordinators and/or nursing staff take care of more detailed (Z-code) ALC statuses. Selecting Z-codes too early can trigger direct charges to the patient.
- For more information, see the FAQ.
- When entering orders to an inpatient, emergency or outpatient patient chart, prescribers typically search for an order of interest and then select from the returned options. Order search results can be viewed in one of four tabs: "Browse", "Preference List", "Facility List" and "Database".
- Prescribers should not use the Database tab for procedure (e.g., lab or imaging test) orders. This tab is used, for example, by laboratory staff when sorting out how to fulfill unusual requests. Some orders exposed through the Database tab may not be intended for prescribers or may not be actionable where the prescriber desires.
- The Database tab is appropriate for prescriber use when seeking medications that are not on the AHS formulary.
- For more information, see the bulletin.
- The Virtual Drop-in Centre is open 08:00–20:00 daily, up to and including Friday, May 26. Hours will then decrease to 10:00–18:00 for the weekend and next week, to June 2.
- The Site Drop-in Centres in Calgary and Edmonton Zones (RGH, SHC, GNCH, MCH) are also still open, 10:00–18:00 daily, up to and including this Friday, May 26. They will be closed on the weekend.
- NEW: The Site Drop-in Centres have been extended into next week, reopening Monday, May 29.
- For details on how to access/find the Virtual and Site Drop-ins, see launchhelp.connect-care.ca.
- The Secure Chat and Sticky Note functions in Connect Care should only be used for non-urgent communication and reminders, not for urgent messages, clinical documentation, or orders. Secure Chat messages and Sticky Notes do not form part of the legal record of care.
- Secure Chat messages persist for 30 days and then are purged from the system.
- The persistence of Sticky Notes depends on the type:
- Patient-level Sticky Notes persist across encounters and are not purged.
- Episode-level Sticky Notes persist until the end of the episode of care (e.g., pregnancy).
- Encounter-level Sticky Notes are cleared at the end of the encounter (e.g., discharge).
- See the Secure Chat and Sticky Notes sections of the Connect Care Manual for more information, as well as the Communication Norms.