Downtime

Upcoming IT Downtimes

Click each item to expand for more details.

Wednesday, July 22 (8-8:05 p.m.): Epic System Pause

Epic will experience a brief system pause for up to five minutes.

No changes starting at 5 a.m. Some Epic personalization features will be unavailable, and no changes or enhancements can be made through 8:05 p.m. You’ll still be able to work in Epic as usual, but you won’t be able to apply filters in Chart Review, create, edit and share NoteWriter macros, SmartPhrases and SmartLinks or create and edit InBasket QuickActions.
If you’re logged in to Epic during the pause, a pop-up screen will appear, advising you that the pause is taking place. You won’t be able to proceed until the pause is complete. When the pop-up screen disappears, you can resume work where you left off, without any data loss.
Vitals and data will be stored during the pause and will flow into Epic after the pause.
If you attempt to log in to Epic during the pause, you’ll be able to enter your user ID and password, but Epic won’t fully open until the pause is complete.

Thursday, July 23 (9 p.m.) – Friday, July 24 (1 a.m.): Systemwide Internet Maintenance

No downtime is expected.
You may experience Internet slowness and connectivity issues for up to one minute. This may happen up to four times.

Thursday, July 23 (11: 55 p.m.) – Friday, July 24 (5 a.m.): LaborWorkx

LaborWorkx portal and mobile app will be unavailable, but badge reader will be available.
Prior to the downtime, print any required work or schedule-related items.

Saturday, July 25 (2-4 a.m.): Press Ganey System Maintenance

Some Press Ganey applications, including iRound, Employee Experience and Action Management, may be slow or unavailable.
If you have questions, please contact your local patient experience specialist.

Saturday, Jul. 25 (10 a.m.) – Sunday, July 26 (11:59 p.m.): Systemwide Network Maintenance

Please keep all devices powered on and save your work frequently.
Devices may be slow to connect to the wired or wireless network.
Locations will be impacted at different times. For complete details, click here.

Wednesday, July 29 (6-7 a.m.): ZFP

During the downtime, you can’t access images in ZFP or via the image link in Epic.

Thursday, July 30 (8 a.m. – 2 p.m.): Sickbay Upgrade

Sickbay will be unavailable while the application is upgraded to version 3.46.
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 round during the downtime and be available to answer questions or address concerns.
If you experience issues after the downtime, please contact the IT Service Desk.

Saturday, Aug. 8 (2-10 a.m.): Press Ganey System Maintenance

Some Press Ganey applications, including iRound, Employee Experience and Action Management, may be slow or unavailable.
If you have questions, please contact your local patient experience specialist.

HM IT and Facilities System Dashboard

Printable Medical Records and HIPAA Forms for a Downtime

Epic Downtime Resources

Epic Downtime Manual

Comprehensive role- and service-line based processes and functions required to maintain patient care during a downtime and recovery process.

Learn more.

Downtime Order Sets

Printable versions of order sets available in Epic. Intended as a guide during downtime when handwriten orders on blank order forms are needed.

Learn more.

Clinical Reference Documents

Correction Scale – Bedtime

Correction Scale Insulin

CRRT Electrolyte Replacement Protocol (V4 09-2023)

DVT Risk Definitions

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

IMUInsulinGoal110-180HIGHDOSE

IMUInsulinGoal110-180LOWDOSE

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.
Teams Activations
- To locate the on-call provider, refer to the QGenda Houston Methodist System On-Call page.
- STEMI and ELVO: Follow your local downtime process. Use the QGenda Houston Methodist On-Call page.
- Stroke/Telestroke: Locate the on-call prover and call them directly. Review the Telestroke Downtime Process document for the complete process.

Epic Downtime Quick Reference Checklist

A condensed snapshot of the most essential information you need to know in the event of scheduled or unscheduled Epic downtime.

Learn more.

Epic Downtime CSN Numbers

Pre-designated CSN number ranges, that flag if a patient was admitted/arrived during a downtime, are assigned by your facility’s Downtime CSN site administrator.

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.