For HMSJ, HMSL, HMW and HMWB
June 18: Removal of Advance Directives Loaded in Epic Prior to Go-Live
Beginning Monday, June 18, all advance directives backloaded into Epic before your hospital’s Go-Live will be removed. This is part of an overall effort to ensure only valid advance directives exist in Epic. Note: You can still review these in MPF. Advance directives collected/scanned directly in Epic will not be impacted.
For the full article with screenshots, click here.
For All Providers
June 19: New Clinical Indications for Imaging
Starting June 19, the list of clinical indications when selecting a Reason for Exam for certain imaging orders in Epic will be updated. These new, standardized clinical indications:
- Apply to CT, MRI, Nuclear Medicine and PET orders (not XR/US)
- Will automatically display within the Common Indications for Exam section for convenient selection
- Are endorsed by the American College of Radiology and the American College of Cardiology
You’ll place orders the same way, but you must select the most appropriate Reason for Exam from the updated listing. If you’ve saved these types of imaging orders to your Preference List with a customized Reason for Exam, it will be removed June 19. You must open these saved orders and add a new Reason for Exam from the updated listing (click here to view the Editing Preference List Favorites tip sheet).
For GE PACS Users
June 20: Changes to GE PACS Username and Password
Effective Wednesday, June 20, these changes impact GE PACS usernames and passwords for those who access it in the OR and in radiology.
- Username – Enter all letters lowercase (e.g., tmhxyz).
- Usernames are no longer uppercase.
- Password – Enter your Houston Methodist password (same as your Epic password).
- On June 20, your GE PACS password will be automatically converted to your Houston Methodist password. Moving forward, when you change your HM password, your GE PACS password will also automatically change.
For Inpatient Nursing, Unit Secretaries and PAS Staff
Avoid Using Outpatient Patient Class for Direct Admissions to Inpatient Units
Starting Friday, June 8, an error message began to appear when you attempt to direct admit a patient to an inpatient unit using the outpatient patient class. This patient class should only be used by case management for post-discharge account clean up.
If you receive this error (screenshot below), contact patient access (admitting).
For PAS and Registration Staff
Reminder: New Registration Process for Heart and Lung Scan Encounters
You can no longer use the same Hospital Account Record (HAR) when a patient has a heart or lung scan screening the same day as other scheduled outpatient services. Registrars are now prompted to create a new HAR. To learn more, read the Heart/Lung Scan Screening Registration tip sheet.