Trending in ITLaunch Alerts HMH IV Pump Integration Training Starts Next Week - HMH Pharmacy Inventory Management Launches Monday, Oct. 25
Epic Updates - WELL Texts Patients for Ambulatory Rehab Therapy New Evaluation Appointments
- New Reconciling Outside Immunizations Workflow
- Reminder: Patient Flu Vaccine
Screening
- Texas Immunization Registry Data Accessible Through Epic
- Epic Update: Sunday, Oct. 24
For Managers and Directors
IT Equipment Supply Shortage and Requesting Hardware for New HiresThe global shortage for anything with a chip, such as computers and phones, continues to present a supply chain challenge to everyone across all industries. At HM, this impacts anyone needing a new computer, like new hires, existing staff needing an upgrade or someone who may need a laptop to replace their desktop. As a result, the manufacturer's lead time for a new computer is at least six months.
Thankfully, we purchase equipment ahead of time, so we have stock readily available to meet HM’s new hardware needs. Our fulfillment priority is: COVID-19 related needs, patient care initiatives, SPG/PCG onboarding, new construction and new hires. When hiring a new employee who requires a new workstation, the best practice is to contact the IT Help Desk to put in a request as early in the hiring process as possible. For urgent equipment requests for new hires, please contact your local IT Field Operations Manager or Alex Vega.
For All Providers, Nurses and MAs
Immunization Clinic Only Displays Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Warning for Patients Under 12 Years Due to a recent Emergency Use Authorization update, approved by the FDA, the minimum age for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has decreased from 16 to 12 years of age. Now, when you administer a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Immunization Clinic, you’ll only receive a warning that the patient is too young if the patient is under 12 years. Note: This change only applies to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
For HMH Nurses
HMH IV Pump Integration Training Starts Next Week
Register for Your Course Session Now Classroom training starts Monday, Sept. 13, for the HMH launch of IV pump integration with Epic. To prepare, nurses were assigned training in LMS but must register for a classroom session as soon as possible to reserve a seat. The project launches Monday, Nov. 1 through Tuesday, Nov. 9. To register, search LMS for your appropriate Epic IV Pump Integration training course and select a session. Classroom size is limited, and each course is two hours. - Critical Care/ICU Departments – Course ID 1594004
- Emergency Department – Course ID 158905
- Infusion Therapy – Course ID 1589057
- OB Departments – Course ID 1594003
- All Other Departments – Course ID 1589055
For more information or assistance with class registration,
contact Connie Lauw (cmlauw@houstonmethodist.org) or Epic Training (epictraining@houstonmethodist.org). For additional details, visit it.houstomethodist.org/ivpump.
For Pharmacists, Pharmacy Techs and Buyers
HMH Pharmacy Inventory Management Launches Monday, Oct. 25
Online Training: Through Sept. 10Pharmacy Inventory Management launches at HMH Monday, Oct. 25, for pharmacists, pharmacy techs and buyers, and will continue rolling out systemwide over the next few months. This new system provides efficiencies for drug inventory procurement and management by increasing inventory visibility, accurately charging for high-cost medications and minimizing drug shortages and obsolete stock. It will result in an estimated $5.8 million per year in inventory savings for the organization. Required LMS training – deadline, Friday, Sept.
10
Required LMS online training (Epic Willow Pharmacy Inventory Training for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Techs – course #1594045) was assigned to pharmacists and pharmacy techs on Aug. 30. Online training takes place now through Sept. 10.
For All Providers, PT, OT and Epic Ambulatory, Cadence and Interface Teams
WELL Texts Patients for Ambulatory Rehab Therapy New Evaluation Appointments
Effective Monday, Sept. 13 Effective Monday, Sept. 13, when an order for ambulatory rehab therapy has been placed in Epic, WELL will text patients to self-schedule a new evaluation appointment. Note: The texts will come from 346.356.3115. As part of this new workflow, providers must select a Primary Sub-Specialty (1) prior to signing the order. If the To provider (2) field is filled in, patients won’t get a text to self-schedule. Instead, staff will need to reach those patients individually to schedule their appointments. The Priority (3) section sends the standard text for orders marked Routine or Post-Op.
Orders marked Post-Op tells the scheduler this is an urgent request, so the patient can be scheduled sooner.
For All Providers, Nurses, MAs
New Reconciling Outside Immunizations Workflow The Reconciling Outside Immunizations workflow has been updated to help ensure the most correct data is reconciled into the patient's chart. - When an outside immunization is identified as Similar to an Existing Immunization documented in the chart, you can’t merge the details.
- If you identify the details of the external immunization are more clinically accurate, replace the existing historical immunization with the external information.
- To help you
accurately review and reconcile immunizations, use the Expand All button to expand the rows and review details of external administrations.
Example: - If the patient reports they’ve received a tetanus immunization through another organization:
- You’ll add a historical immunization administration on the patient's chart as a placeholder.
- Include as much detail as possible, but you can't record an exact immunization date or lot number.
- After querying Care Everywhere, you'll receive a similar immunization administration from the organization that administered the tetanus immunization, including the administration date, dose, lot number, injection site and manufacturer.
- Replace the historical administration with the external administration.
(1) To review details, expand the rows of similar external administrations. (2) Replace the historical administration with the similar external administration.
For Inpatient Nursing, LTAC Nurses, SNF Nurses and Quality Staff
Reminder: Patient Flu Vaccine Screening
Effective Monday, Sept. 13 Beginning Monday, Sept. 13, all patients need to be screened for the flu vaccine. The documentation can be found on the Screening Flowsheet. In addition, the following Best Practice Advisories (BPAs) will be active:
- Flu Vaccine Ordered but Patient Already Received a Flu Vaccine
Note: The AVS won't print if the flu screening is incomplete, there’s an active vaccine on the MAR or the patient didn’t receive a flu vaccine and there’s no contraindication document on the Screening Flowsheet. For more information and to properly note when a vaccine is given outside of HM, review the CLN069 Influenza Vaccine Screen tip sheet.
For All Providers and Clinicians
Texas Immunization Registry Data Accessible Through Epic
Effective Tuesday, Sept. 14 Starting Tuesday, Sept. 14, patient vaccination records in ImmTrac2, the Texas Immunization Registry, will be accessible through the Immunization activity in Epic. This can be found through the new Immunizations from Immunizations Registries tab. ImmTrac2 is a secure, confidential and consolidated repository of statewide patient immunization records, managed by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
For All Epic Users
Epic Update: Sunday, Oct. 24 The next Epic Update is Sunday, Oct. 24. This Update includes new features and enhancements, like a new Behavioral Health module in Epic, changes to Secure Chat and Epic department names changing from HMSJ to HMB.
Planned Downtimes or MaintenancesIf you experience issues during a planned maintenance, including missing computer icons or shared drives, please be patient and restart your computer. To ensure minimal impact, save your work often, before and during any planned maintenance.
10 p.m. – midnight Thursday, Sept. 9
10 p.m. – midnight Tuesday, Sept. 14 Be prepared for intermittent or no access. Follow your department’s standard downtime procedures.
11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 to
6 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 12 LMS won't be available due to maintenance.
11:55 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16 to
4 a.m. Friday, Sept. 17 LaborWorkx won't be available during these time frames. Be sure to print any required items. For questions, contact HR Hub at 832.667.6211 or HRHub@HoustonMethodist.org. Note: Badge Readers will be available, but not Quick Badge and Mobile app.
Noon – 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26 You may experience a 30-second phone downtime. If needed, log out and log back in after this maintenance. Note: Regular desk phones and patient phones at local hospitals won't be impacted.
|