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For Everyone
MyChart: Two-Step Verification Required
Effective Tuesday, June 8

Starting Tuesday, June 8, HM MyChart will add a two-step verification process for all users as an extra layer of security.

A verification code will be sent to your identified email or mobile phone when you log in to MyChart from a device the system doesn’t recognize. Entering this code ensures that only you can access your account, and your personal health information stays safe.

For Everyone
Join Tech Tuesdays
Every Tuesday from 1 – 2 p.m. 

These weekly, one-hour training sessions, hosted by Microsoft, are open to all Houston Methodist employees. Attend only the sessions you're interested in. To join the live session, click the link at the date/time of that meeting or click on a previous session to view a recording. Visit our website (it.houstonmethodist.org/techtuesdays) for links and an up-to-date list of training sessions. 

• June 8 – Teams 100 – Learn to create and participate in quick, collaborative team chats and file sharing (introductory course).

• June 15 – Teams Breakout Rooms – Discover how to set up breakout rooms during a meeting and then bring participants back into the main meeting.

• June 22 – OneNote – Learn the digital note-taking app that provides a single place for keeping all your notes, research and information.

• June 29 – Teams 100 – See how to create and participate in quick, collaborative team chats and file sharing (introductory course).

• July 6 – Power Automate 100 – Learn the basics of Power Automate and how to create and automate workflows across multiple applications.

• July 13 – Excel 200 – Find out about intermediate features, including formatting, functions and accessibility. You’ll need a strong understanding of Excel’s basic features, navigation, functions and custom formulas.

• July 20 – Forms 100 – Learn to create surveys and quizzes, respond and analyze response data.

• July 27 – Teams 200 – Build on existing Teams knowledge to establish best practices and etiquette across available apps.

For Legacy Data Access System Users
Legacy Data Access System Login Changing
Effective Tuesday, June 8 

On Tuesday, June 8, the login process for Legacy Data Access (LDA) will be simplified to single sign-on, however this changes the link to that site. If you have saved the login link in your favorites, it won't work starting June 8.  

For further instructions, view this tip sheet. 

Launch Alerts

For HMTW Nurses
Reminders: IV Pump Integration with Epic
HMTW Launch on Tuesday, June 8

IV pump integration with Epic launches at HMTW on Tuesday, June 8. As a refresher or to reinforce new workflows, you can attend an open lab from 4 to 6 p.m. today or tomorrow in HMTW Main 3rd floor computer lab (room 3461).

Integration exempt medications

Certain medications are exempt from IV pump integration and will require manual pump programming. These exempt medications include:

• Investigational drugs
• PCAs
• Certain combination chemo meds
• Normal saline bolus
• Lactated ringers bolus

When attempting to enter these exempt medications, the send order details button won't appear and pump integration won't be available. You can still manually program the pump to deliver these needed infusions and enter medication volumes individually in the patient I&O flowsheet as you have pre-integration.

Go-live support

Following the project launch, report issues through the IT Service Desk at 832.667.5600 or email helpdesk@houstonmethodist.org. When reporting an issue, please be prepared to provide:

• Module serial number or barcode number (should be the same)
• Medication in use
• Error code on pump (if present)
• Tower/unit location

Charge Nurses/Managers/Directors: To report urgent patient safety issues or escalate existing support tickets, contact the on-site Command Center at 832.756.3689 (Conference ID: 459 697 744#). The Command Center is also available in the Main Conference Room 2 (room 3442). 

Tip sheets and training resources

For your reference, the following tip sheets and training resources are available through the Learning Home in Epic. To access, press F1 on your keyboard while logged into Epic. The following links can also access these documents, if you’re connected to the HM network: 

• IV Pump Integration Exercise Booklet
• IV Pump Integration – Document IV Fluids and Medication Boluses
• IV Pump Integration – Error Codes
• IV Pump Integration – Handling Patient Transfers with Running Infusions
• Updating the IV Pump Drug Library
• Validating Data in Real Time with Pump Rate Verify

For more information or support, contact Brenda Lee (bklee@houstonmethodist.org) or visit it.houstonmethodist.org/ivpump/.

Epic Updates

For All Nurses
New BPA: Identifying Automatically Held Doses
Effective Now

A new BPA will fire when a patient has medication doses automatically held due to a transfer. This BPA serves as a reminder to adjust the next dose, as needed.

For All ICU Physicians
ICU Checklist Available for ICU Patients

An ICU checklist is available for patients in the ICU to review documentation. It is in the ABCDEF bundle format. To access it, select the drop-down arrow in the toolbar and scroll to ICU Checklist.

For All Providers and Pharmacy Staff
Electronic Prior Authorization Pilot for Inpatient HMWB 6 East
Effective Now

For inpatients with pharmacy benefits, discharge medications needing prior authorization will be sent electronically through Epic when orders are signed, effective today at HMWB 6 East. Correspondence with the payer will be managed via In Basket by pharmacy.

For more information, review this tip sheet.

For All Case Managers
Add Patient Post-Acute Care Information to Care Team
Effective Tuesday, June 8

Starting Tuesday, June 8, you must add your patients’ post-acute care information to the care team in Epic, including SNF, LTAC, DME, home health, etc. This ensures the patient’s service provider is electronically notified when the patient is discharged, aligning with the new CMS requirement. Note: If your patient’s selected provider isn’t listed in Epic, you must call the facility to notify them of the patient’s discharge and document the call in your note.

For instructions, read this tip sheet.

For All Providers
New Opioid BPA for Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgeries
Effective Monday, June 14

Starting Monday, June 14, you’ll see a new BPA when writing opioid discharge prescriptions within two days of a thyroidectomy or parathyroidectomy. Studies have shown that most patients undergoing parathyroid or thyroid surgeries don’t need opioid prescriptions for pain. This alert will remind you to consider alternate pain medications for these patients.

For All Inpatient Nurses
Removing Disaster Documentation in Epic
Effective Monday, June 21

Starting Monday, June 21, the Disaster Navigator, Disaster Acute Care and Disaster ICU flowsheets will be removed from Epic. These abbreviated disaster documentation tools were added to Epic in April 2020 to expedite inpatient charting during COVID-19.

With this change, you'll need to resume using the detailed Admission Navigator, located under RN Navigators, as well as the Complex Assessment, Cares and Safety, Vital Signs and Restraints flowsheets.

Previous requirements for frequency of documentation will also resume on June 21.

Planned Downtimes or Maintenance

If 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.

Reminders

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

For Everyone
21st Century Cures Act

For Everyone
Dashboard Shows Houston Methodist Academic Institute (HMAI) Metrics

For All Providers
Click for the latest issue of Physician Connect

For Everyone
Catching a Phish

For All Providers and Pharmacists
Anti-Hypertensive Medication Hold Parameters Updated

For All Providers
Dysphagia Diet Orders Changing from NDD to IDDSI

For ED Nurses 
Triage Activity in Epic Changing 

For Everyone-Everyone