Updates from Craig Norquist, MD, chief medical information officer:

Deadline extended: KLAS Arch Collaborative survey

The KLAS Arch Collaborative survey has been live since Monday, April 15, but we are extending the deadline in order to get enough responses to draw correct conclusions. Take the survey here.

• We will use the outcome of the survey to guide our use of resources towards improving the clinician experience with technology.

Epic Upgrade coming in June

This is the big month for the quadruple upgrade. Please let us know if things aren’t working as expected.

Clinician Technology Experience Council

Remember, our Clinician Technology Experience Council (CTECH) meetings occur every other month on the third Wednesday at 5 p.m.

• We are working on a signup form, but until that is live, feel free to email me at [email protected] to get the invite forwarded to you personally.
• We intend on showcasing the efforts of informatics and IT on clinician experience with technology and will use the KLAS Arch Collaborative survey as the guide.

Texting of pended orders

Previously, we were prohibited from using text message channels for orders.

• This rule has been softened, and we are working towards meeting the new requirements for using a HIPAA complaint secure text message channel; Epic Secure Chat is the best channel for that.
• Both physicians and nurses have access to it, and soon, along with the upgrade, we will be able to have pended orders transmitted by secure chat.

What’s next: This will take some time to test and ensure it works.

• We are planning on making it available sometime in July or later.
• Let us know if you are interested in testing or piloting this feature.
• Physicians can use Haiku (on phone) or Canto (on tablet or iPad) to send and receive messages.

Password security and badge tap

As you know, we recently changed our password requirement to 12 characters from eight.

• We have also been working on improving our Imprivata (badge tap) access to shared workstations.
• Important: Please remember to badge tap out or sign out when finished with a workstation or locking it if you are stepping away briefly.

In the hospitals there are two different types of computer stations:

1. The Epic plus browser (Epic +) – which opens much faster with badge tap or login.
2. The multiuser device (MUD) – which takes longer as network drives and software applications have to be loaded. (Sometimes the MUD station can take up to two to two-and-a-half minutes to load.)

Also remember, with the MUD stations, there are many applications that are single sign on, meaning that if you are logged in, you simply navigate to the page for ServiceNow or HonorHub, and you are automatically logged in for convenience.

• This also applies to more sensitive applications like pay stubs, etc. So, it is imperative that you log out or lock out before you walk away.
• Open MUD workstations may inadvertently allow others access to sensitive information as well as clinical information, so be vigilant for yourself or if you see a computer logged in, lock it by pressing control+alt+del and selecting lock. The previous user will then need to badge in or enter their password to resume work.