Trending in IT

Session topics vary by date. Attend only the sessions you're interested in. To join, click the link at the date/time of that specific meeting. If you miss a session, click the link to view a recording. Invites to these sessions were sent out on Wednesday, May 5 from itinformationupdate@houstonmethodist.org. 

• May 11, 1 – 2 p.m. – Excel L100 – Expand on basic Excel features including functions, formulas, pivot tables and formatting tools.
• May 18, 1 – 2 p.m.– Teams L100 – Learn to create and participate in quick, collaborative Teams chats and file-sharing in this introductory session. 
• May 25, 1 – 2p.m. – Teams L200 – Build on existing Teams knowledge to establish best practices and etiquette across available apps.
• June 1, 1 – 2p.m. – Teams Meetings – Understand meetings, including scheduling, getting the best sound during video meetings and more.

Security Matters

For Everyone
New Monitoring Tool Keeping HM More Secure

IT has an improved tool to help keep our HM data safer. We recently updated our privacy breach detection tool, allowing us to rely on artificial intelligence to monitor the applications we use every day, like Epic. This tool, known as Imprivata FairWarning, manages millions of events per day, alerting us to potential incidents that could compromise our confidential data.

Launch Alerts

“Houston Methodist Hospital is thrilled that we are finally live with barcode specimen scanning,” said Nicholas Escobedo, DNP, RN, HMH’s associate CNO. “We truly appreciate all the hard work over the last few weeks to ensure this go-live was successful. This new workflow is just another step in our vision to provide unparalleled safety, quality, service and innovation.”

Specimen Scanning will continue rolling out systemwide over the next few months, with the next launch planned this summer for HMWB. 

Nurses are excited about how barcode specimen scanning improves patient care. “I love the new process,” said Brianna Loera, BSN, RN, who works on HMH Main 4. “Having the reassurance that the right specimen for the right patient is collected rocks!”

Onsite support continues today until 7:30 p.m. and tomorrow from 3:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. If you’re part of this launch and need help with Specimen Scanning workflows, visit it.houstonmethodist.org/specimenscanning for more information and easy-to-follow Quick Start Guides, or contact your unit’s super users. 

For All Providers and Pharmacists
IllumiCare Smart Ribbon Upgrade
Effective Wednesday, May 19

On Wednesday, May 19, the IllumiCare Smart Ribbon will be upgraded with new features and applications, including:

• my360 app: This app was redesigned and is now named the Stewardship app. It has a new icon and focuses solely on identifying medication and lab cost stewardship opportunities.
• Benchmarking app: Displays providers’ cost-per-admission rates, compared to providers in the same subspecialty. It also highlights the difference and opportunities to improve.
• Resources app: Provides one-click access to clinical reference guides and lets you link to other resources, such as the HM Pharmacy Blue Book and the pain pocket card.
• ImmTrac2 app: Allows you to automatically login the ImmTrac2 Texas Immunization Registry portal for easier COVID-19 vaccination documentation.

Stay tuned for more information and training resources.

Epic Updates

For All Nursing, PT and Wound CARE
Select Primary Wound Type from Avatar or Flowsheets

As a reminder, you need to select a Primary Wound Type when adding a wound LDA from the Avatar or the Flowsheets activity. For easier selection, click Show All Choices so that all Primary Wound Types display as buttons.

For more information view this tip sheet.

Planned Maintenance & Downtimes

Reminders

You can see previous issues of IT Matters and more at it.houstonmethodist.org.

For Cancer Care Leadership
Radiation Oncology Patient Satisfaction Surveys Updated

For All Nursing
Wound LDA: Negative Pressure Therapy Wound Assessments Now Completed

For All HM Nurse Practitioners
New Mobile Tools for Nurse Practitioners

For Everyone
Sign up for MASS: Real-Time Alerts on Applications You Use Most

For Nurses and Pharmacists
Requests for Alaris Pump Guardrails® Modifications

For Haiku, Canto and Rover iOS Users
New Secure Chat Notification for Important Messages

For PAS and Clinical Staff
Post-Discharge Charting Access Changing for Specific Groupers

For Providers Placing Physician Consult Orders
Physician Consult Orders Now Include Ordering Provider’s Best Call-Back Number

For Everyone-Everyone