Access Problems
Lack of Access
See the CIS Access section for reminders about requirements that must be met in order to gain access to AHS network (insite.ahs.ca), Unified Access Portal (myapps.ahs.ca) or Connect Care production (PRD) systems.
Prescribers who are unable to log in to Connect Care Hyperspace (PRD) should report this as an urgent problem by calling IT Service Desk & Solution Centre (1-877-311-4300), being sure to declare a CMIO physician/prescriber role requiring Connect Care access to perform clinical duties.
Password Hygiene
Physicians will be logging on to and off of Connect Care many times per day, indeed per hour, and mistakes may happen. If, for example, one is accessing Hyperspace from outside an AHS network, their AHS ('Healthy' network) username, password and hard or soft token are needed at myapps.ahs.ca; once logged in to the access portal, they select Hyperspace and log in again (possibly both to the Citrix server and to Epic). If they forget their credentials or enter them in error too often (3 times), then their account may get locked. In some situations, use of certain special characters in an AHS password (#, %, &, @) can interfere with mobility logins.
Password Changes
AHS credentials need to be updated periodically. The password expires approximately yearly, forcing selection of a new password. Connect Care users may be presented with a message that their password must be updated. Typically, a warning is issued a number of days before the change must be in place.
There are two easy ways to take care of an AHS password change:
Integrated Access Management (iam.ahs.ca)
Log in to IAM (iam.ahs.ca) with your AHS ('Healthy' network) username and password (note that the password is your RSA Token code, if connecting from outside an AHS network).
Look for, use and follow the instructions in a "Change Password" link in a left-column "Self Service" box on the IAM webpage.
AHS Webmail
Log in to AHS webmail (outlook.office.com) with your full AHS email ("firstname.lastname@albertahealthservices.ca") and your AHS password (same as Connect Care password).
If your password must be changed immediately, prompts will appear on the screen to guide through entering the old password and the new password requested.
If the password needs to be changed in the near future, look to the top right of the Outlook 365 webmail screen, click on the personal icon found there, select the "My Account" link, then the "Change Password" box from the screen that appears.
The changed password will be active for the next Connect Care login.
Citrix Problems
Some access problems may relate to the Citrix Workspace software used by myapps.ahs.ca. These may be solved by (re)installing a current version of the software OR installing an earlier version (e.g., 2305.1 for Windows), or by ensuring that your browser's pop-up settings permit Citrix pop-ups.
Many physicians will connect to the portal using computers quite unlike the standard-issue AHS Windows desktop. Apple computers (Macintosh, iMac, Macbook, etc.) may interact with the portal and its Citrix software in unique ways, and it can help to know a few configuration tips that make working with Hyperspace easier:
Some prescribers serve as Super Users, SmartUsers (previously known as "Power Users"), Area Trainers, Provincial Trainers, Knowledge Leads, Medical Informatics Leads, Design Leads or Builders. They have access to other Connect Care environments optimized for prototyping, training, validation or other advanced tasks.
File Download or Printing Problems
Prescribers accessing AHS files or secure communications (AHS email) using non-AHS (personal or clinic or affiliate organization) computing devices are prevented from downloading or printing files from SharePoint, Outlook (secure email) or other AHS information assets. If such functions are needed, an exemption can be requested.
Getting Help
If access is frustrated by username or password failure, and you have time, consider fixing the password problem yourself. There is a self-service password reset tool available through the Identity and Access Management (IAM) portal (need to do this from within an AHS network or have a working RSA SecurID token):
Log in to IAM (iam.ahs.ca) with your AHS ('Healthy' network) username and password (note that the password is your RSA Token code if connecting from outside an AHS network).
Click on "Forget Password" or "Locked Out?" (Password Reset Guide)
First visit to IAM? Set up Your Security Profile
It is important to know what to do in the event that one cannot get in to Connect Care when clinically active. If a clinician loses access previously provisioned, or otherwise cannot get in to Connect Care, and is on active clinical duty, call the IT Service Desk (1-877-311-4300) to request emergency help. The help desk knows that this is a top priority. Be ready with your full name and clinical role.
If a clinician has not been provisioned or finds that they do not have the right access but is not currently on active duty, then contact the appropriate Zone Medical Affairs or use one of the following intake emails:
Calgary Zone: CAL.MedicalStaffOffice@ahs.ca
Central Zone: CZMAprivileging@ahs.ca
Edmonton Zone: Edm.MedicalAffairs@ahs.ca
North Zone: NZ.Privileging@ahs.ca
South Zone: SZ.MedicalAffairs@ahs.ca
Alberta Precision Laboratories: APL.MedicalAffairs@albertaprecisionlabs.ca
If self-help does not work or is not possible, contact IT Service Desk (1-877-311-4300).