As of March 8, 2006 all the reports available through ePIP are based on the new Quality Indicator/Quality Measures (QI/QMs) being used in the state survey process and on the state CASPER reports.

Why are my reports different?
Recently CMS made a series of changes in the Quality of Care reports used by surveyors in the quality monitoring process. In general, the changes were minimal and have little impact on a facility's QI average. However, some QI definitions changed and a new way of adjusting for risk factors was introduced for 3 QIs.  Also, the numbering and descriptions of the QIs were revamped. For more details about the changes, please look in the ePIP Quality Center . In an effort to keep consistent, CHSRA has changed your ePIP reports to reflect these changes in the survey process.

What has changed?
The ePIP QI/QM reports are slightly different from previously available ePIP reports. We have renumbered indicators on these reports and modified the QIs so that they match what is now available to state surveyors. These updated reports are also similar to the new reports available to facilities via the CASPER reporting process that was added to the state MDS systems. However, these new QI/QM ePIP reports while including all the new definitions, risk factor adjustments and new QI/QMs also provide you with further information on high/low and overall percentile rankings for many of the QI/QMs that is not available via the CASPER reporting system.

The Quality Indicator Graph report is a visual representation of your QI percentages over time. The comparison group's averages, as well as the 25th and 75th percentile results are displayed on the same graph. The graphs can be run either by month or quarter; and you can choose to graph some or all of the QIs. These graphs are a great way to view your QI percentages over time, see trends or changes and evaluate your results against the comparison group percentages. Click here to view an example of the QI Graph.

No more need to use a dial-up modem; you can now access ePIP from any computer with internet access using Windows Internet Explorer. As long as you have an internet connection and a current Network User Name (NUN) and Personal User ID (PUID) (the same usernames and passwords that you have been using for your dial-up connection) you can access this secure internet connection to ePIP.

How do I connect to ePIP on the internet?
On any computer with an established internet connection, simply open your Internet Explorer browser and type the following URL on the address line epip.chsra.wisc.edu Then put in your NUN and PUID as usual. That's all it takes!

This will allow anyone you designate within your facility to access all the Reporting, Quality and Submission features of ePIP from any computer with an internet connection. We understand that you will probably need more Personal User IDs and passwords so simply call or email the helpdesk to add users to your account.

You can still access ePIP with the standard dial-up modem connection - that has not changed. But now you can also access it with your DSL, Cable modem or any high speed or dial-up internet access. We hope this will allow more users within your facility to access the reporting features and quality tools available in ePIP. If you have any question please call the HelpDesk on 1-888-300-8098.

The Individual Quality Indicator Series report helps to make it easier to view all residents who flagged on a particular QI. This is a new ePIP report which is not available from any state MDS system. It contains information similar to the Resident Quality Indicator Summary Report; however this report presents a separate QI on each page. It can be used to look more closely at an individual QI and see all the residents who flagged on that particular QI. This series of reports could also be used to further investigate clinically linked QIs.

Click here to view a sample of this new Individual QI Series report. You can run this new report and all the reports from the Report Center page.

In an effort to continually provide PIP members with up-to-date guides, tools and methods for improving quality in long term care facilities, ePIP now introduces the Quality Center. The Quality Center is the place to find the QI Specific Guides, Clinical Links Table, QI of the Quarter, QI Definitions, the CMS Quality Measures, and other quality information as it becomes available.

In 2002 CHSRA began reviewing and editing the Specific QI Guides (originally published in 1999), some of these revised Guides are now complete. The Guides have been reformatted for ease of use and they now include two new Data Collection Tools (Individual and Facility), which are to be used with the Guides as a systematic method for reviewing care. These newly revised guides are now available in the Quality Center on the ePIP website.

The Specific QI Guides are informational tools meant to assist your facility in a thorough review of selected QIs. These Guides provide a systematic, step-by-step process to evaluate care and decide if and where care problems need to be addressed for that Quality Indicator. Each Section builds on the other as evaluation of the care process unfolds.