Trending in ITApple Software Vulnerability Found Patient ImmTrac2 Vaccination Records Now in Epic Submit
Your Process Automation Requests Tech Tuesdays
Security Matters - Only Use HM Approved Software/Systems
Launch Alerts HMH IV Pump Integration Training Now Underway HMWB Specimen Scanning Launch: Oct. 18
Clinical News - Updated COVID-19 Screening
- How to Use
Wound Photography on Rover
Epic Updates - New BPA: Reconcile PTA Medications for Discharge-Readmit
- Epic Update: Sunday, Oct. 24
For Everyone
Apple Software Vulnerability Found
Update Your DevicesApple recently discovered a software vulnerability that allows some devices to get infected using iMessage (Apple’s messaging software). This is particularly worrisome because it doesn’t require you to click on a link or open a document to be infected. Anyone with iMessage on their phones could be silently infected. The attack works against iPhones, Mac computers, iPads and Apple watches. Apple supplied a critical security update fixing the flaw, but it requires you to update your devices.
Here’s how: - iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > General > Software Update and tap Download and Install. (If the device shows iOS 14.8 or iPadOS 14.8, it is already patched.)
- Mac: Find the software update under System Preferences. (The newest version is MacOS Big Sur 11.6.)
- Apple Watch: Update via the Apple Watch app on an iPhone, under General > Software Update.
Did you know you can also set your iPhone or iPad for future automatic updates? Here's how: - Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- Tap Automatic Updates, then turn on Download iOS Updates.
- Turn on Install iOS Updates. Note: Some updates might still require a manual install.
For All Providers and Nurses
Patient ImmTrac2 Vaccination Records Now in EpicYou can now quickly view a patient’s Texas Immunization Registry (ImmTrac2) vaccination records in the patient’s chart in Epic. This includes patient-specific COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 vaccine information. To access: - Go to the Immunizations tab in Epic.
- Under Immunizations from Immunizations Registries, you’ll see the patient’s DSHS ImmTrac Registry information.
- For Inpatient: This feature is automatic for any newly admitted patients.
- If your patient was admitted before today’s enhancement, and the automatic feed didn’t kick in, click Query Imm Registry toward the top right of the screen to generate the information.
- For SPG/PCG:
- This feature is automatic at the time of appointment check-in.
- If your clinic isn’t fully registered with
ImmTrac2, you won’t be able to use this feature.
Note: - If the patient hasn’t consented to be part of the registry, only disaster-related immunizations (e.g., COVID-19 vaccines) will display.
- If the patient isn’t part of the registry and doesn’t have any disaster-related immunizations, you’ll see the following message:
For Everyone
Submit Your Process Automation Requests
Benefits Verification Used RPA with Great ResultsWhen you think of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), do images of robotic arms on an assembly line come to mind? At HM, you can think of RPA systems as “digital workers,” rather than mechanical devices, that can automate specific, complex and repetitive tasks to improve efficiency and save time and money. Recently, the Intelligent Automation team supported the South Region Insurance Verification team by automating the final steps of their insurance benefit verification. “By automating several repetitive tasks, our teams have more time to focus on more complex patient accounts,” said Connie Longuet, director of corporate patient access, insurance and pre-registration at HMB,
HMCL and HMSL. “The automation is performing work on about 120 accounts a day, resulting in a savings of six hours a day.” To learn more about RPA, including potential benefits for your department and examples of previous uses, visit it.houstonmethodist.org/ia. If you have ideas on how RPA can help, click here to submit a use case.
You should not enter into individual agreements or set up accounts with software programs or systems like SurveyMonkey, SignUpGenius, Constant Contact, Mail Chimp and Kahoot, to name a few, unless it has been approved by our legal counsel and IT. Entering into these agreements puts our HM data at risk. If you aren’t sure if a software/system is approved, reach out to the IT Help Desk to confirm. If you need to develop a survey or quiz, take advantage of our Office 365 subscription and use Microsoft Forms. To access Forms, log in to Microsoft Office 365 (office.com) with your HM email. Once logged in, you can type Forms in the search bar. You can easily send your survey or quiz with a hyperlink automatically created for you, and it provides easy-to-read analytics, too. Click here for a recording of a Tech Tuesdays training on using Microsoft Forms.
For HMH Nurses
HMH IV Pump Integration Training Now Underway
Register for Your Course Session Now Classroom training is now underway for the HMH launch of IV pump integration with Epic. To prepare, impacted 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.houstonmethodist.org/ivpump.
For HMWB Nurses, PCAs, Techs, Lab Staff, Paramedics and Respiratory Therapists
HMWB Specimen Scanning Launch: Monday, Oct. 18
Complete Required Training by Friday, Oct. 15 Specimen Scanning launches at HMWB on Monday, Oct. 18 for nurses, PCAs, techs, lab staff, paramedics and respiratory therapists. With this launch, we’ll complete a systemwide rollout that began 14 months ago. This clinical tool reduces the risk of specimen labeling errors, improving patient safety. Increased accuracy helps reduce lab processing turnaround times, so providers can make patient care decisions sooner than previously possible. Required LMS training deadline – Friday, Oct. 15
Required LMS online training has been assigned to all impacted staff (Epic Lab Specimen Collection & Barcode Scanning for Clinical Staff, course #1582031). Please complete this training by Friday, Oct. 15. Road shows – Monday to Friday (no weekends) Sept. 27 to Friday, Oct. 15
Road shows featuring live demonstrations will take place Monday, Sept. 27 to Friday, Oct. 15 (no weekends) for day and night shifts. Look for the road show coming to your unit during this three-week time frame. For more information, including tip sheets and quick-start guides, visit it.houstonmethodist.org/specimenscanning
For Inpatient Nurses
Updated COVID-19 Screening
Effective Friday, Sept. 17 The COVID-19 screening will be updated in Epic tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 17. Changes include the list of symptoms and timing of exposure/testing from 30 to 14 days. Continue to complete the screening as usual.
For All Inpatient Nursing and Wound Care Clinicians
How to Use Wound Photography on RoverTo improve compliance and comfort in using wound photography on Rover this tip sheet was developed to guide you. Print this resource and share it with your team. Refer to System_PCPS176.1 Wound Photography policy, on our intranet, for additional practice requirements.
For All Providers and Residents
New BPA: Reconcile PTA Medications for
Discharge-ReadmitWhen discharging a patient who’ll be admitted at another HM location, SNF or LTAC, you’ll receive a new BPA reminding you to reconcile the patient’s PTA medications. The BPA will display the patient’s current PTA medications and any actions taken on them, so you can reconcile them before the next encounter.
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.
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.
10 p.m. – midnight Thursday, Sept. 16
10 p.m. – midnight Tuesday, Sept. 21 Be prepared for intermittent or no access. Follow your department’s standard downtime procedures.
7 – 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 To prepare, complete any transactions before the downtime.
11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 to
6 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 19 LMS won't be available due to maintenance.
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.
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