Connect Care Builder Program Guide
What is the Connect Care Builder Program?
The Connect Care Builder Program (BP) is designed for clinicians who want to help configure and optimize the Epic clinical information system (CIS) system. The BP will establish the understanding, tools, processes and relationships needed for interested and qualified clinicians to become effective design contributors and change agents through all phases of the Connect Care initiative.
Who are Builders?
Builders are practitioner-users of the Connect Care (CC) Clinical Information System (CIS) who are recruited, trained, retained and supported to work with peers to facilitate CIS customizations, adaptations, personalizations and optimizations. This guide defines the PB role within Alberta Health Services (AHS) and partner organizations.
The Connect Care Builder Program consists of clinicians who use their time and expertise to enhance the system for the benefit of their peers. Most Physician Builders are not financially compensated for their contributions; their work is purely on a volunteer basis.
Given the voluntary nature of many of our Builders' roles, we recommend if you wish to get in touch with a specific member, it's often most effective to email the Connect Care Builder Program, and we can facilitate the communication for you. For any urgent or technical communication needs, please continue to follow the standard IT procedure, which involves submitting a ServiceNow ticket.
For a comprehensive list of our member Builders, please refer to our Membership List.
What do Builders do?
Builders promote good design and meaningful CIS use through deep involvement in Connect Care. They train for Epic Physician or Content Builder Certification and build organizational capacity for CIS customization, optimization, content development, testing and surveillance. Builders bridge clinical and technical mindsets by improving characterization of user needs while easing pathways to solutions. In short, Builders help organize the CIS user population and improve two-way communication between them and the Information Technology (IT) team members.
Builders are typically clinicians who enjoy being involved with the CIS-related projects with an eye on the broader goal of organizational improvement. They may have strong technical skills as well, though this is not an absolute requirement.
Why do Builders matter?
All AHS clinical practice areas will transition to an integrated, continuum of care, digital health record over a 5-year period. This will fundamentally change clinical practice, education, inquiry and quality improvement in all care settings. An effective clinician engagement strategy promotes end-user organization, empowerment and accountability. Key to empowerment is building capacity to customize and adapt the CIS to better address clinical, quality improvement, safety, innovation and education goals. Builders gain the understanding, tools and relationships needed to be effective change agents. They can be invaluable members of clinical improvement initiatives.