XML Schema Validation Tool Now Available and Updates to DSRS and Standard XML File Layouts
folder_openData Submissioncalendar_todayPosted April 18, 2016

The purpose of this announcement is to notify approved OAS CAHPS vendors of the availability of the schema validation tool and updates to the XML files.

OAS CAHPS XML Schema Validation Tool:

The XML Schema Validation Tool is now available on the OAS CAHPS website. This tool allows survey vendors to "pretest" their OAS CAHPS XML data files to determine if they will pass the validation steps, before actually uploading the file to the Data Center. This tool is available under the Data Submission tab on the Data Submission Resources page once the vendor is logged in.

Changes to Valid Ranges for 3 Variables on the Standard and DSRS XML File Layouts:

The following variables have been updated in both the Standard and DSRS XML file layouts and will be reflected in the next version of the Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery CAHPS Survey Protocols and Guidelines Manual. The OAS CAHPS Survey Coordination Team will alert vendors when version 1.3 of the Protocols and Guidelines Manual has been posted to the OAS CAHPS website.

The revised Standard and DSRS XML standalone file layouts have been re-posted here.

• Header Record/(DSRS) Patients on file(s) submitted to Vendor: The allowable patient range “0-999999” has been changed to “1-999999” in the Valid Values column for XML data element Patients on file(s) submitted to Vendor. This change applies to both the Standard and DSRS XML file layouts.

• Header Record/(DSRS) Eligible Patients: The allowable patient range “0-999999” has been changed to “1-999999” in the Valid Values column for XML data element Eligible Patients. This change applies to both the Standard and DSRS XML file layouts.

• Header Record/(DSRS) Sampled Patients: The allowable patient range “0-999999” has been changed to “1-999999” in the Valid Values column for XML data element Sampled Patients. This change applies to both the Standard and DSRS XML file layouts.

• In Header Record/Sampled Patients for the Standard XML file layout, the following text has been removed from the Description column: “This value can be zero only if all of the patients included on the file that the HOPD or ASC provided for the sample month were ineligible for the survey.”

• In Header Record/DSRS Sampled Patients for the DSRS XML file layout, the following text has been removed from the Valid Values column: “Must be a minimum of 10 sampled patients in every stratum in every month.” For clarification purposes, this text has been added to the Description column: “Note: DSRS requires a minimum of 10 sampled patients in every stratum in every month. The range allows fewer than 10 in case a month has a lower than expected number of sampled patients.”

As a reminder, if the HOPD or ASC did not perform any outpatient surgeries/procedures or did not serve any patients who met survey eligibility criteria during the sample month, vendors are still required to submit data to the OAS CAHPS Data Center for these months. In this case, the Zero Sampled XML file layout must be used.

Please contact the OAS CAHPS Survey Coordination Team via e-mail at oascahps@rti.org or call toll-free (866) 590-7468 if you have any questions.