eStar changes and updates announced

The latest eStar changes and updates:

July/August Special Update

On Sunday, Aug. 26, the eStar team is implementing a series of approved changes to the system. This scheduled update will require a system downtime between 1 and 4 a.m. Sunday morning.  

Please review some detail on what these changes mean to users. 

Failed Fax Notifications

On Aug. 14, a change went into effect within eStar that updates how the system handles failed faxes to outpatient pharmacies. With the update, staff members should not attempt to refax prescriptions, but will instead phone the prescription into the pharmacy.

The failed fax notification is now being sent via InBasket to the departmental clinical pool. The responding staff member will:

• Phone in prescription
• Document this action in Medications and Orders section of patient’s chart by:
  • Locating order in Medications and Orders section of patient’s chart
  • Clicking on paper icon
  • Entering a note in the bottom field
• Complete InBasket message

This change will help ensure more consistent follow-up on failed prescription faxes and that patients promptly receive their medications.

Restricted Use of Order Entry Modes

To align eStar functionality with VUMC policy, restrictions have been put in place to ensure proper use of order entry modes.These restrictions affect all care team members who enter orders for professional communication or on behalf of billing clinicians.

Beginning August 22, eStar will limit usage of order entry modes to align with VUMC policy. Lab Re-collect order entry mode will only allow for lab recollect orders to be placed, while Flu/Pneumococcal Vaccine order entry mode will only allow for the named vaccines to be ordered.

Users may be limited in the number of orders they can enter at single time. They may have to enter separate orders for reasons such as:

• There is an order mode mismatch
• Order does not fit within order mode selected for that session/grouping
• Different order mode is required for one (1) or more orders within that session

Update to Me Filter

To help facilitate finding notes clinicians have authored, attested or cosigned, an update has been made to the “Me” filter in Notes tab of Chart Review. This changed affects all clinicians who write, attest or cosign notes and is already in production.

The “Me” filter in the Notes tab of Chart Review now displays notes clinicians have authored, attested or cosigned. Clinicians should check the box beside the “Me” filter when searching for notes. If notes are not visible, clinicians can click “Clear Filters” and then re-click the box beside the “Me” filter.  If documentation was originally co-signed or attested in StarPanel, filter may not be 100 percent reliable. In this instance, clinicians should use StarPanel viewer instead to search for this documentation.

Please review Tip Sheet “Update to Me Filter” (available within the Learning Home dashboard and Hubbl) for more information.

Cash Drawer Closing

New guidance has been released that affects all eStar users who collect POS payments. Cash Drawers must be closed daily, following the approved process.

• Cash Drawers in eStar reflect all POS payments that are collected, regardless of the tender (cash, check, and credit card).
• Always put cash and checks on the same deposit slip (do not separate).
• Always put the deposit slip number in the Envelope field (nothing more than the number.
  • Do not put any alpha characters in front or behind the deposit slip number.
  • If you collect only credit card payments enter CC.
  • If you collect remote deposit capture items enter RDC.

Please refer to the Tip Sheet “Close the Cash Drawer” for Cash Drawer closing training (available within the Learning Home dashboard and Hubbl).