What Do States Want in Web-MICAR Donna Glenn

What Do States Want in Web-MICAR? Donna Glenn & Steven Rushing National Center for Health Statistics July 2006

What is Web-MICAR? • Web-MICAR is the planned (re-)development in the MMDS software which brings the MMDS suite more in sync with current (or recent) technologies by integrating web-based functions with the current MMDS functionality. • Web-MICAR is currently in the design stage and so many different ideas are being discussed and examined.

So, what are we talking about? • • The range of options being discussed is fairly broad. Some ideas call for small steps, relatively minor additions which will not require drastic changes in operation or (hopefully) lengthy amounts of programming time but will produce noticeable improvements in use of the system • Other ideas include huge leaps, which will substantially change many MMDS features and require extensive programming and resources.

Examples! Give us some examples!! • The following are some ideas we are working on. • Please keep in mind, these are just ideas at this stage. They are notions in design stage, so details will be likely to change somewhat as actual work gets underway. • They will also change as the result of input from people like you.

Small Step: Send to NCHS • This change would add a Send to NCHS menu item which would actually, in fact, send the batch to NCHS using the web. • It would be a transfer similar to the current SDN method, utilizing similar levels of protection and encryption for security, but would automatically handle a lot of the input such as which file to be sent and so forth. • A log would be generated noting the date and time the file was sent, and likely kept with the file.

Small Step: Retrieve File • This feature would be added to MMDS as a menu item. It would automate the process of retrieving files such as TRANSAX files from NCHS. • Again, much of the functions and security of the current SDN would be included, just made easier and integrated with the already existing MMDS paths setup.

Small Steps: Automatic Updates • This feature would automate the distribution and installation of new MMDS versions. • Your system would automatically notice new releases, likely prompt you to confirm you want to update, and then install the updates for you, without the need of a CD release and all that hassle. • It might also read your current configuration and setup the new installation to use a similar installation, prompting you to confirm.

Small Step: Web-based Installs • This is similar to the automatic updates but would be designed for installing the MMDS system on a new PC using the web. • We are already planning to move now to releasing new versions using the web and our web site at http: //www. cdc. gov/nchs/about/major/dvs/medsof. htm which is how MMDS 2006. 03 (ACME only update) was released and likely how 2007. 01 will be released as well.

Small Step: Troubleshooting Log • This will add a menu item which will automatically email a file to our help desk MICAR@CDC. GOV containing useful info we can use to help diagnose any problems you have with the MMDS system. • This should speed things up in terms of figuring out what went wrong and why, in those, obviously, rare (very rare actually, almost never happens) moments when MMDS has problems.

Small Steps: Fast. TRAX • This feature would produce a partial TRANSAX file right away, filled with the records the system processes automatically without need for manual coding. • Currently, the typical file has between 80 -85% of its records process automatically without needing reject coding for Underlying cause or Multiple causes. Those “good records” stay with the rejects until all the records are coded. • Using Fast. TRAX, states could get their 80 -85% right away and only wait for NCHS to return the rejects.

Small Steps: Unified TRANSAX • This feature would involve a revised record format, but it would incorporate the Super. MICAR literals all through the system. • The final TRANSAX file would include then both the original literal text from Super. MICAR and the ICD codes already in TRANSAX. • This one unified file would make searching and querying the records much simpler in practice.

Huge Leap: Record Processing • This revision would step away from batch processing, treating each record individually and automating most of the transfer of data to totally behind the scenes. • One record would be flowing through the system while the next record was being entered. • Records needing manual intervention would pop-up to specified users almost like receiving an email that they would then open, code, send and move on to other things.

Huge Leap: Truly Webbed MICAR • This revision would eliminate the need, but not the option, to have a large MMDS suite installed on your system. • A smaller system would be installed and it would rely on web access to an MMDS server for most processing functions. In case of internet outage, files would be cached until access was restored. • Another option would be for you to use no MMDS system on your PC and simply point a browser to an NCHS server, where you could log in and do data entry and perhaps coding.

The Big Question • What Do You Want? • We have some ideas, as you have seen, but first tell us what you want. • Which of these features would be of use to you? • Which ones would concern you? • What ideas other than these do you have?

How do you tell us what you want? • You can fill out the questionnaire we have provided to you today and return it to us here at the conference. • You can take it home and mail it back to us at NCHS. Address follows on the next slide. • You can download a copy from the web site at http: //www. cdc. gov/nchs/about/major/dvs/medsof. htm and email it to use at MICAR@CDC. GOV

Our Mailing Address • Send physical “snail mail” to Steven Rushing NCHS PO Box 12214 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

Join the Discussion • You can download this slide presentation at our website along with the questionnaire at http: //www. cdc. gov/nchs/about/major/dvs/medsof. htm • You can also engage in or observe ongoing discussion at our Web-MICAR Yahoo group at http: //groups. yahoo. com/group/Web. MICAR/