RSV Immunoprophylaxis Added to Newborn Order Sets

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

• RSV Immunoprophylaxis Added to Newborn Order Sets

As of November 1, 2026, Alberta's government is expanding the availability of the RSV monoclonal antibody to infants born in hospital between November 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027. To support this initiative, Child Health CSI clinical champions have developed new order panel content for RSV immunoprophylaxis in normal newborn nursery and postpartum settings. The panel will also be available within the below order sets; please note that these changes will break existing personalization, so prescribers will need to re-personalize these order sets after the change.

• Normal Newborn Nursery Admission
• Normal Newborn Nursery Medications and Immunizations

For details on how to order RSV immunoprophylaxis and how to re-personalize, see the below tip sheets. If additional support is needed for re-personalization, please email help.cmio@hssab.ca.

• Tip: Ordering RSV Prophylaxis
• Tip: Editing Personalized Order Sets

Lumens Update - Cancel Scheduled Procedures from Verify Orders Activity

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

• Lumens Update - Cancel Scheduled Procedures from "Verify Orders" Activity

As of October 27, 2026, Lumens prescribers will be able to cancel scheduled procedures from the "Cancel Order" button of the "Verify Orders" activity. Prior to this change, prescribers could not cancel a scheduled procedure themselves without first having schedulers cancel the linked appointment. 

• Please note that if trying to cancel a procedure from the "Post Procedure" activity, a pop-up window may appear indicating that the cancel workflow must be completed in the Verify Orders activity, depending on the status of the procedure.

For details on how to navigate different workflows within the Verify Orders activity, refer to the below tip sheet. For any further training assistance, please submit a ticket via Connect Care or contact IT at 1-877-311-4300.

• Tip: Add or Remove Procedure to an Existing Appointment

Tool Tune Up: October 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 - October 2026 [updated Oct 22]
• 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 Image-Guided Procedure Ordering

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

• Changes to Image-Guided Procedure Ordering  

We previously announced the introduction of ambulatory/inpatient order sets for image-guided procedure ordering. These order sets/SmartSets must be used to order ultrasound-guided, CT-guided, and Interventional Radiology procedures to ensure all required information and related orders are included at the time of ordering.

To ensure all prescribers are using these order sets/SmartSets, individual procedure orders will be removed from personal and system preference lists the weeks of October 26, 2026 (CT and IR procedure orders) and November 2, 2026 (US procedure orders).

• Orders being removed from preference lists/ no longer available as stand-alone orders:
• Angiography/Ultrasound Guided Aspiration and/or Injection
• Angiography/CT/Ultrasound Guided Fluid Aspiration
• Angiography/CT/Ultrasound Biopsy  
• Thoracentesis/Paracentesis Procedures

• Image-guided procedures can be ordered through the following order sets/SmartSets:
• Interventional Radiology Thoracentesis/Paracentesis (Ambulatory/Inpatient)
• Interventional Radiology Fluid/Abscess Aspiration/Drainage (Ambulatory/Inpatient)
• Interventional Radiology Joint Aspiration/Injection (Ambulatory/Inpatient)
• Interventional Radiology Mass/Organ Biopsy (Ambulatory/Inpatient)
• Ambulatory Interventional Radiology Lumbar Puncture 

For more details, see the quick start guide:

• Quick Start Guide: Image Guided/Interventional Radiology Ordering

Updates to Narcotic Transition Services Adult Order Set

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

• Updates to Narcotic Transition Services (NTS) Adult Order Set

As of October 13, 2026, enhancements will be made to the Narcotic Transition Services (NTS) Adult Order Set, as listed below [click the camera icon for a screenshot]. Please note that these changes will break existing personalization, so prescribers will need to re-personalize their order set after the change.  

• Instruction language adjustments, to better align with current service naming
• Addition of communication pathway instructions for when a dose is missed
• Hydromorphone admin instructions made clearer for pre- and post-dosing 
• Addition of an oral (PO) hydromorphone option at some phases of treatment, to align with current practices
• Injectable hydromorphone “Followed By”/PRN doses during Initiation and Next Morning adjusted to become inactive 1 hour after initial dose administration

For details on how to re-personalize, see the tip sheet. If additional support is needed for re-personalization, please email help.cmio@hssab.ca.

• Tip: Editing Personalized Order Sets

Postpartum Hemorrhage Order Set Changes

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

• Postpartum Hemorrhage Order Set Changes

To align with the Nursing Protocol Order Set and to improve usability for clinicians, as of October 1, 2026, there will be a number of updates to the Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH) Order Set, including both non-medication and medication-related changes (click the camera icon for screenshots). Additional PPH-related updates will also be made at the same time to the Labour & Delivery Admission and Postpartum order sets. Please note that these changes will break existing personalization, so prescribers will need to re-personalize their affected order sets. 

For details on how to re-personalize, see the tip sheet. If additional support is needed for re-personalization, please email help.cmio@hssab.ca.

• Tip: Editing Personalized Order Sets

Changes to Gynecological Cytology and HPV Test of Cure Orders

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

• Changes to Gynecological Cytology and HPV Test of Cure (HPVTOC) Orders

As of September 17, 2026, a few changes will be made to the Gynecological Cytology and HPVTOC orders, as listed below. Please note that these changes will break existing personalization, so prescribers will need to re-personalize their affected orders. 

• Removed the immunocompromised criteria question 
• Updated the "Process Instructions" text, removed definition of "immunocompromised" 
• Added text to the "Is patient immunocompromised?" question to show the criteria (still hard stop) 

For details on how to re-personalize, see the Quick Start Guide (page 5). If additional support is needed for re-personalization, please email help.cmio@hssab.ca.

• Quick Start Guide: Orders and Order Panels Personalization 

New Goserelin Complex Therapy Plan Now Available

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

• New Goserelin Complex Therapy Plan Now Available

As of September 1, 2026, a Goserelin 10.8mg Q84Days Complex Therapy Plan is now available for ordering [click the camera icon for a screenshot].

Lab Update - gFOBT To Be Delisted in Alberta

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

• Delisting of Guaiac Based Fecal Occult Blood Testing (gFOBT) in Alberta

Effective September 8, 2026, gFOBT will be fully removed as an available test in Alberta, both as a point of care test (POCT) and a central lab test. gFOBT should no longer be stocked or ordered in Alberta, including in acute and primary care settings. The test will be discontinued as an orderable in Connect Care.

• Samples received on and after September 8, 2026 will be cancelled. 
• Consider alternate patient management options, such as FIT, clinical assessment (history and physical exam), and/or validated risk scores (e.g., Glasgow–Blatchford Score (GBS) / Rockall Score, Oakland Score) to guide management. 

For more information, see the lab bulletin.

• Lab Bulletin: Delisting of Guaiac Based Fecal Occult Blood Testing (gFOBT) in Alberta (August 2026)

Lab Update - Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma Nucleic Acid Testing

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

• In-Province Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma Nucleic Acid Testing Now Available

A nucleic acid test (NAT) for Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and Ureaplasma parvum has been implemented at the Alberta Provincial Public Health Laboratory, enabling testing to be performed in the province rather than requiring referral outside of the province. 

• Routine Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma culture will be discontinued. 
• Requests for Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma NAT will no longer be referred out of province. 
• A dedicated specimen for Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma NAT will be required. 
• The test can be ordered in Connect Care via the "Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma NAT" order, with all mandatory fields completed. 

For more information, see the lab bulletin.

• Lab Bulletin: Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) (July 2026)

IFT Update - Order Reconciliation Requirements

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

• IFT Update - Order Reconciliation Requirements

As of August 18, 2026, certain orders will no longer need to be reconciled during the Inter-Facility Transfer (IFT) process, including Goals of Care, bridging medication, and conditional discharge orders. These will clearly be marked under "Orders Not Needing Reconciliation" section of the D/R Orders tab (click the camera icon to see a screenshot).

Updates to Bone Marrow Exam

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

• Updates to Bone Marrow Exam

As of July 9, 2026, the following updates will be made to the Bone Marrow Exam (click the camera icon for a screenshot):

• Bone marrow specimen source questions have been consolidated into one order-specific question.
• A laterality question is now available (with selections "Unilateral" or "Bilateral"), which will automatically populate the sources in the correct order. 
• New left and right Bone Marrow Biopsy sources have been created to make the source selections consistent for both aspirate and biopsy.

New Neurosurgery Order Sets

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

• New Neurosurgery Order Sets

To address a recognized gap in clinical workflows, as of June 23, 2026, the following new Neurosurgery order sets are available for use by both the Neurosurgery and Spine teams:

• Spine Surgery Preprocedure Adult Order Set
• General Neurosurgery Cranial Admission Adult Order Set

Updates to Paraneoplastic Syndrome Plus Order (NEW DATE)

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

• Updates to Paraneoplastic Syndrome Plus Order

As of July 7, 2026, changes will be implemented to optimize the Paraneoplastic Syndrome ordering workflow within Connect Care including updated process instructions, new mandatory questions, order validation (hard stops), and updated ordering guidance based on selections in the Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndrome Plus order composer. These changes support improved clinical and operational consistency by aligning ordering workflows with updated clinical and lab requirements, improving clarity and accuracy of test selection, and supporting standardized ordering across prescribers. Any previous personalization of the order will need to be updated after the change; tips on re-personalization following the change are below.

• New ordering question added: "Does the patient have one of the following high or medium risk paraneoplastic clinic syndromes (if yes, select the corresponding phenotype)?"
• Additional cascading questions: If "None of the Above" is selected in the new question, a question will then appear to indicate the ordering decision for testing outside of high or medium phenotypes. Further questions will then cascade depending on the selection (click the camera icon to see screenshots of different ordering scenarios).

• How to re-personalize the order: Re-personalization will be required to incorporate updates made to the order: 
• Locate the order in the Preference List under the "My Favorites" section.
• Right-click the order and select "Edit Preference List Entry".

For assistance or additional training, please contact the CMIO Prescriber Experience Team at help.cmio@hssab.ca.

New Transfusion Appointment Request for PRN Blood Transfusions

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

• New Transfusion Appointment Request for PRN Blood Transfusions

As of June 23, 2026, there will be a new standalone "Transfusion Appointment Request" order available for sites that require an appointment request for a PRN blood transfusion ordered via a SmartSet or Therapy Plan. Prescribers can use this order either during an appointment with the patient, or in an unscheduled Orders Only encounter. If sites have an alternative method for scheduling PRN blood transfusions such as a phone call, no change in practice is required.

The new order can be found off the browse. Be sure to fill out the following fields (click the camera icon to see a screenshot):

1. "Expected Date"
2. "Schedule patient at" (department the transfusion will be given in)
3. "Please identify the ordering tool that was used to place the blood administration orders" (select the "Therapy Plan" or "SmartSet" button) 

For more information, see the the tip sheet and updated guide.

• Tip: Transfusion Appointment Requests
• Guide: Therapy Plans

Updates to Pain Management Lidocaine and Ketamine Infusion Orders

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

• Updates to Pain Management Lidocaine and Ketamine Infusion Orders

As of June 9, 2026, safety changes will be made to the Adult Lidocaine Infusion order set and orderable ERX as well as the Adult Low Dose Ketamine Infusion order set and orderable ERX (click the camera icon to see screenshots). Note that these changes are only for Pain Management infusions – they do NOT affect Pediatric orders nor Cardiac Lidocaine orders (for ventricular arrythmias). 

 

New Leuprolide/Lupron Order Panel

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

• New Leuprolide/Lupron Order Panel

As of June 2, 2026, a new order panel for leuprolide/Lupron will be available for ambulatory prescribers (click the camera icon to see a screenshot). Note that, for Oncology patients, prescribers should continue to order leuprolide via Complex Therapy Plans and Treatment Plans only. 

 

Update to Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Orders

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

• Removal of Order Questions from Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Orders

As of May 28, 2026, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) outpatient orders will be updated to remove certain order-level questions. The removed questions cannot be reliably answered at the time of ordering and are more appropriate to complete at the time of specimen collection. While the changes are for outpatient orders, after this update prescribers who have personalized outpatient or inpatient TDM orders may see changes when opening these orders and will need to re-personalize particular fields. The same questions had already been removed from inpatient TDM orders in an earlier update, but those changes may not previously have been fully reflected in all personalized inpatient orders.

The following order questions will be removed from the Order Composer for TDM orders in outpatient contexts: 

• Dose Regimen 
• Drug dose route 
• How long on current dose regimen?
• Date of Last Dose (or IV Complete)
• Time of Last Dose (or IV Complete)
• Date of Next Dose (or IV Start)
• Time of Next Dose (or IV Start)

Any existing personalization for the "Frequency" (inpatient only), "Specimen Type", and "Specimen Source" fields in TDM orders will be removed. Prescribers will need to re-personalize these fields after the update. Click the below camera icon for details on how to re-personalize these fields.

For detailed guidance on TDM workflows, see the Manual. If additional support is needed for re-personalization, please email help.cmio@hssab.ca.

• Manual: Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) Orders

Postpartum Caesarean Order Set Update - Suture/Staple Removal Order Change

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

• Postpartum Caesarean Order Set Update - Suture/Staple Removal Order Change

As of June 2, 2026, the previous inpatient mode Staple Removal order will be removed from the Postpartum Caesarean order set, as that order was discontinued when patients are discharged, leaving Public Health without the order they need. An ambulatory order for Suture/Staple Removal will instead be added, along with an inpatient Nursing Communication order (click the camera icon for a screenshot). The Suture/Staple Removal order will persist post-discharge and so will be accessible by Public Health.

Note that prescribers will need to update personalized versions of the order set to reflect the new order.

Fixative Warning in Specimen Navigator for Non-Pathology Specimen

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

• Fixative Warning in Specimen Navigator for Non-Pathology Specimen 

As of June 2, 2026, a new pop-up alert will appear in the Specimen Navigator when a fixative (e.g., Formalin or Other fixative) is selected for non-pathology tests, including Microbiology, Molecular diagnostics, and Cytogenetics. This pop-up will appear in the Intraprocedure and Postprocedure navigator, where the Specimen Navigator is embedded. Additionally, the field previously labelled "Non-Frozen Attributes" will be renamed to "Pathology/Cytology Attributes."

• Why: Fixatives are only appropriate for Pathology and Cytology specimens. Selecting a fixative for non-pathology tests can compromise specimen integrity and affect results. The alert prevents errors at the point of order entry before labels are printed. 

• What: When a non-pathology test is ordered with a fixative selected, a pop-up warning will appear prompting correction (click the below camera icon to see a screenshot). 

•  How to resolve the alert:
• Scenario 1: Pathology and non-pathology tests ordered together – Edit the order, remove the non-pathology test, and reorder it without fixative to create separate specimens. 
• Scenario 2: Non-pathology test with fixative selected – Edit the order, remove the fixative selection, and accept changes. 

For assistance or additional training, please contact the CMIO Prescriber Experience Team at help.cmio@hssab.ca.