Downtime
Upcoming IT Downtimes
Click each item to expand for more details.
Wednesday, Dec. 3 (9 a.m. - 2 p.m.): Sickbay
Sickbay will be unavailable while the system is moved to the Houston Methodist cloud for improved performance and stability.
During this time, centralized telemetry (CTM) and vICU Sickbay monitoring services won’t be available, and there will be no access to Sickbay wallboards and workflows.
This downtime won’t affect local monitoring on Nihon Kohden and GE central stations.
IT support teams will be rounding and available for questions or concerns. If you experience issues after the downtime, please call the IT Service Desk.
Wednesday, Dec. 3 (10 p.m.) - Thursday, Dec. 4 (2 a.m.): Network Maintence (HMSL Brazos building only)
There will be brief interruptions of network access on each floor of the Brazos building only, lasting 1-2 minutes. Following the maintenance, you may neeed to reconnect devices. IT support will be rounding to assist.
Impacted systems include:
- Epic
- GE PACS
- Nurse Call
- VICU
- PEVCO
- Pharmacy
- Wired, wireless andvoice networks
Thursday, Dec. 4 (2-4 a.m.): Press Ganey iRound
The iRound application from Press Ganey will be unavailable due to routine maintenance. To ensure rounds are documented, submit forms before or after maintenance takes place. For questions, please contact your local patient experience specialist.
Thursday, Dec. 4 (9 a.m. - 1 p.m.): Guest Wi-Fi Maintenance (HMCCH)
Guest wi-fi users may experience temporary network slowness for up to one minute, up to six times during the maintenance. No downtime is expected.
Thursday, Dec. 4 (10 p.m.) - Friday, Dec. 5 (4 a.m.): GE PACS
GE PACS will be unavailable for system maintenance.
During the downtimes:
- Radiology Image Access:
- GE PACS will be unavailable for viewing radiology images.
- Images processed prior to the downtime will remain accessible via ZFP through the image link in Epic Chart Review. Please be aware that ZFP may experience intermittent slowness during these periods.
- Radiology Results:
- Finalized radiology reports completed before the downtime will continue to be available in Epic Chart Review.
- Ordering Workflow:
- There are no changes to standard Epic workflows for ordering radiology procedures.
- Ordering providers should include a reliable call-back phone number in the order instructions to facilitate timely communication of emergent imaging results.
- Providers are encouraged to remain diligent in ordering appropriate radiologic exams during the downtime to ensure continuity of care.
- Radiology Departmental Procedures:
- Radiology departments will follow established downtime protocols. Contingency measures are in place to ensure radiologists can access and interpret emergent exams.
Tuesday, Dec. 9 (6-8 p.m.): Solarity
Solarity will be unavailable for system maintenance.
Locations that use Solarity Sweep folders for PDF documents should refer to a spreadsheet, provided by leadership, to locate their new sweep folder locations.
Tuesday, Dec. 16 (9 a.m. - 1 p.m.): Guest Wi-Fi Maintenance (HMCY)
Guest wi-fi users may experience temporary network slowness for up to one minute, up to six times during the maintenance. No downtime is expected.
Epic Downtime Resources
Epic Downtime Manual
Downtime Order Sets
Learn more.
Clinical Reference Documents
CRRT Electrolyte Replacement Protocol (V4 09-2023)
Hypoglycemia Algorithm (V2.03172022)
ICU Electrolyte Protocol AGGRESSIVE Magnesium
ICU Electrolyte Protocol NORMAL Magnesium Supplementation
ICUInsulinGoal110-140ALGORITHM1
ICUInsulinGoal110-140ALGORITHM2
ICUInsulinGoal110-140ALGORITHM3
ICUInsulinGoal110-140ALGORITHM4
ICUInsulinGoal110-140ALGORITHM5
ICUInsulinGoal110-140ALGORITHM6
ICUInsulinGoal140-180ALGORITHM1
ICUInsulinGoal140-180ALGORITHM2
ICUInsulinGoal140-180ALGORITHM3
ICUInsulinGoal140-180ALGORITHM4
ICUInsulinGoal140-180ALGORITHM5
ICUInsulinGoal140-180ALGORITHM6
IMUInsulinGoal110-180MEDIUMDOSE
Nurse Driven Indwelling Urethral Catheter Management Protocol (V15 11-03-20)
Patient Record of Bedside Insulin Pump and Blood Glucose (v2023)
Patient Supplied Insulin Pump or CGM Agreement Form
Pressure Injury Prevention Support Surface Decision Guide (V062822)
Tenecteplase for Stroke Dosing Card.pdf
During a downtime:
Use Epic Read-Only to view data. Access Epic Read-Only from your desktop or through access.houstonmethodist.org. If you don’t see the Epic Read-Only icon, click here for instructions on how to add it to your desktop.
- No orders may process to PACS or the transcription system. Interpretation of studies will be managed per each department’s defined downtime process.
- Data may not flow into Epic from mobile vital signs machines, dialysis machines, bedside monitors, ventilators or anesthesia carts.
- Epic Read-Only will not receive Caregility alerts and camera links will not be available. Use the Caregility portal.
- Sickbay risk scores that include lab data will be impacted and the New Admission Queue will not be available.
Epic Downtime Quick Reference Checklist
Epic Downtime CSN Numbers
Contact your administator for more information.
After the downtime:
Radiology and Cardiology:
- Enter orders in Epic based on the downtime paper requisitions/downtime log.
- Process orders using standard workflows and prepare them for interpretation.
- Downtime studies will be read using the defined interpretation method for each department.
Medical Devices:
- Manually enter all vital sign data captured during the downtime when Epic is back up.
- Any new vital sign data collected after the downtime will automatically integrate with Epic.
Online Downtime Resources
Epic Read-Only
Available on most Epic-enabled workstations and through the Apps Portal. This is a view-only system, so new documentation or orders can’t be added. Data is up to date as of the time when Epic went down. You’ll have limited access to patient data, but can still view active orders and the MAR, print patient labels and arm bands.
BCA Web
Access essential downtime reports from any workstation when you have internet access but Epic and Epic Read-Only are not available. View and print a current census or limited clinical summaries with data for each patient, including active orders, recent results and vitals. Also provides a printable downtime MAR for each patient and a respiratory patient summary.
Reports are automatically updated every 30 minutes for ICU patients and every two hours for non-ICU patients. Department Appointment Reports (including patient schedules for the next four weeks) for outpatient and PCG/SPG clinics are updated daily.
BCA Printing / Downtime Computer
Similar reporting functionality as BCA Web, but available from your unit’s designated downtime computer when internet access is not available. Your unit’s device will also have access to reports for sister units above and below you, in the event their system has issues. Because the computer is hardwired to a designated printer, you can mass print all reports for your unit and distribute patient data to the appropriate clinicians or staff.