UW Health Northern Illinois: Soar-Sessions to Optimize and Refresh

Providers can benefit from extra support to take advantage of all the new features that are released through upgrades or projects in Health Link. The goal with this session is to help maximize productivity within Health Link by focusing on efficiency tips and customization allowing you to spend more time with patients. Soar is a hands-on, workshop style class taught by UW Health Education team members. During class, attendees learn to complete common workflows more efficiently and update key user settings.

This course will be offered as needed between June - December 2025. The list below will be updated as new dates become available.

Date (all dates listed are Thursdays)Time
September 9TBD
October TBDTBD
November TBDTBD
December TBDTBD

 

Intended Audience

This activity is designed for physicians, advance practice nurses, and physician assistants.

Learning Objectives

By participating in this activity learners will be able to: 

  1. Decrease provider time in notes.
  2. Decrease provide time in In Basket.
  3. Decrease provider time in Clinic Review.
  4. Increase overall provider satisfaction with Health Link.
  5. Increase provider customization and use of customizations-include Speed buttons, Quick Actions, Preference list order/Customized SmartSets.
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 AAPA Category 1 CME
Registration opens: 
07/15/2025
Course expires: 
06/30/2026
Cost:
$0.00
Rating: 
0

Before Class:

Use this document as a reference for how to do the items listed below: Optimization Class Participant Guide.docx

Logging In:

  • Instructor Log In:  Log into Playground using PROV00-PROV20. (May need to log into specialty Department and/or create Amb Encounter in that department for some specialty tools to show.)
  • Provider Log In: Log in as themselves into production so they can add optimization in Health Link.

Pre-Session

Prep

Review Signal Data for providers coming to class and/or the department.  Adjust topics based on Signal data.

 

Topics

In Basket

Double-Click Actions

Sort by Column

 

Quick Actions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manage Quick Actions

 

 

In Basket Customization

 

 

 

General message review

 

 

In Basket Customization

Using the Results folder:

Double-Click Actions-show how to set double-click actions in folders (right-click on the button to set)

Sort by column (click on header)

Quick Actions

Results

  • Set up Quick actions for common tests. Examples-Normal labs, CBC, BMP, Specialty imaging, and Blank with pool entered, mark messages as done checked and/or All chosen under selected results.
  • Point out Letter Quick Action-automatically pulls in result

Patient Call

  • Set up Note QuickActions for common responses
  • Examples-Blank, Call patient regarding ***, and/or Schedule appt in ***days.

Manage QuickActions-Clean up unused QuickActions by clicking on an unused one and removing it from the Visible QuickActions section to the Hidden QuickActions section. This allows more space for their Quick Actions in the toolbar

In Basket Customization

Configure toolbar buttons

Configure columns (Edit Column Setup using the wrench > Customize Columns)

Configure report location for each folder

Set Alternating Row Colors

Build My Lists

  • Quick Buttons

General Message Review

Routing comments

What is and is not saved to medical record

When to use reply, forward, routing

SmartPhrases

 

 

AutoCorrect

 

Note Speed Buttons

Review how to create SmartPhrases

  • SmartPhrase manager
  • “On the fly” creation

Review AutoCorrect

 

Create Note Speed Buttons

  • Option to create in progress note and patient instructions.
  • Drag and drop to rearrange the speed buttons. More menu and Rarely Used will store extra speed buttons.
  • Able to add SmartPhrase or a SmartText directly into existing note where cursor is.

Chart Review

Filters

 

 

 

 

Chart Review Filters

  • System filters (Me, Department, Admission, ED): ability to turn on or off by default.
  • Saving Personal Filters: Select desired setting, and / or free text option, and Save common filters used.
  • Edit existing filters if necessary.
  • System filters (Me, Department, Admission, ED): ability to turn on or off by default.

Synopsis

Synopsis Activity

  • Review basic functions of Synopsis and specific reports for specialty
  • Show how to Customize Reports

Orders

Preference List

 

Orders from Chart Review/Results Review/Spotlight

 

 

 

 

Order Panels

 

 

 

 

 

 

SmartSets

Preference List

Follow other’s preference List

Preference List on the fly

  • Right click on orders in Order Pane and select appropriate category.
  • Create subsections to categorize your commonly used orders.
  • Use “Pref List: Only Favorites” option to show just your favorites.
  • Can quickly order by clicking checkboxes (or typing if preferred)

 

General Order Optimization

Place Orders from Chart Review/Results Review/Spotlight

Create an Order Panel

  • Can create from orders only and office visit encounters using the “Options” menu in the Order Pane.
  • Can contain a mix of any number of labs, imaging, procedure, and medication orders, but cannot mix inpatient and outpatient orders.
  • Panels will live on the preference list for editing.
  • Add an order to an existing panel

 

SmartSets

  • Favorite SmartSet
  • SmartSet customization

Follow Up

Follow Up Customization

Return in Speed buttons

Return for narrative check boxes

Visit Diagnosis

 

 

 

 

Problem List

 

 

Diagnosis and Problem List

Add and organize Common Visit Diagnosis (change from list to buttons so can add multiple diagnosis more easily)

Use Previous, Problem buttons to quickly find/add diagnosis without searching.

 

Customize Problem List view to organize by System

Make sure green + is visible-or adjust columns

Show how to add diagnosis from Problem list

General

Customization

General Customization

Activity Customization

  • Rearrange, resize, add, remove activities per encounter type
  • Pin items from More Activities

Activity Toolbar Customization

  • Option to personalize toolbar in the following activities: Chart Review, Patient Lists, Schedule, etc…

Navigator Section Customization

  • Rearrange navigator sections (Option to use drag and drop method)
  • Collapse unused sections

Snapshot Customization

  • Configure your reports (suggest Longitudinal Plan of Care, any other specialty specific reports)

Main Toolbar Customization

  • Move, remove or add items

Start Up Activity Customization

  • Go to start up activity to default and click star in upper right corner

Switch Departments/Add department favorites

  • Use  next to log out to add favorites, switch departments with less clicks.

 

Other

F1 for What’s New, Update information, general Tip Sheets and links to Pulse pages.

Pools vs classes if an issue in the department

Sticky notes if applicable

Care Everywhere Activity, reconciliation of outside information

Please see individual session for location and/or virtual access information.

Policy on Disclosure

It is the policy of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Interprofessional Continuing Education Partnership (ICEP) to identify, mitigate and disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies* held by the speakers/presenters, authors, planners, and other persons who may influence the content of this accredited continuing education (CE).  In addition, speakers, presenters, and authors must disclose any planned discussion of unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices during their presentation.

For this accredited continuing education activity all relevant financial relationships have been mitigated and detailed disclosures are listed below.

NameRole(s)Financial Relationship Disclosure

Discussion of Unlabeled/Unapproved Uses of Drugs/Devices in Presentation?

Jason Dambach, MD
Medical Informatics & Director - Provider Experience
UW Health
Course Director
Faculty/Speaker
No relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to discloseNo
Heather Nieves, MHA
Medical Education Coordinator
UW Health
Course Director
Faculty/Speaker
No relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to discloseNo
Jessica Murdock
Clinical Informatics & Education Director
UW Health
Faculty/SpeakerNo relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to discloseNo
Becky Rabe, BSN, RN
Sr. Education and Optimization Analyst
UW Health
Planning Committee MemberNo relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to discloseNo
Erik Severson
Education, Optimization, Support Analyst
UW Health
Planning Committee MemberNo relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to discloseNo
Katie Bush
Education, Optimization, Support Analyst
UW Health
Planning Committee MemberNo relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to discloseNo
Jocelyn Wilke, NP
Nurse Practitioner
UW Health
Faculty/SpeakerNo relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to discloseNo
Eli Weiner, PA
Physician Assistant
UW Health
Planning Committee MemberNo relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to discloseNo

*Ineligible companies are those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on, patients.

The ACCME does not consider providers of clinical services directly to patients to be ineligible companies. 

 

Discloser List CME Internal Report
Joint Accreditation Commendation Logo

Accreditation Statement

In support of improving patient care, the University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

AAPA Accreditation with Commendation Mark

American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)

The University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.0 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

American Medical Association (AMA)

The University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP designates this live in-person activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

The University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP designates this live in-person activity for a maximum of 1.0 ANCC contact hours.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

The University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP, as a member of the University Professional & Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), authorizes this program for 0.1 continuing education units (CEUs) or 1.0 hours.

 

Available Credit

  • 1.00 AAPA Category 1 CME
 
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