AIRS Training

We offer AIRS Training for our upstate New York providers and New York City providers on a regular basis. For upstate providers, we normally offer classes twice a year in the following cities: Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester, and Albany. Trainings for NYC area AIRS providers are offered throughout the year. Normally, training in NYC is offered monthly.

All classes are offered on a first come, first served basis. To find out about the next available training date for both upstate and New York City, please join the AIRSNY Google Group. As a member of the AIRSNY Google Group, you will receive an e-mail whenever we have training announcements or other updates. Sign up below.

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The locations for upstate training will vary. You will get the full details during registration. NYC training is located at The Career Center/TCCIT Solutions. The Career Center is located at 185 Madison Avenue (at 34th Street), Suite 1104, click on the link to see a map and the nearest subway stations.

If you have more questions about AIRS training, please e-mail Ron Palau at Rpalau@defran.com. All AIDS Institute sponsored providers may also obtain additional technical support by telephone or e-mail. Please call Defran Systems, Inc. at 212-727-8342. For Defran's customer support website, please go to http://support.defran.com (agency login and password required) or email AIRSINFO@defran.com. You may also call or e-mail your AIDS Institute Technical assistance coordinator (see the "Contact AIRS Staff" link to the left). They will be happy to answer any of your questions and address your concerns.

Course Descriptions

Below is a list of AIRS training classes available. All staff from AIDS Institute-contracted agencies that have the AIRS installed and setup are eligible for training. The class list includes descriptions, information, and associated pre-requisite classes or skills.

Basic Windows competency and the use of a mouse are requirements for every AIRS training session. Note that no AIRS class contains training on basic computer skills.

A variety of AIRS training manuals are also available. Click HERE for a zipped file of ALL our training documents.

Please also note that we have a selection of online video tutorials. Click HERE to see training that's available online.

AIRS Basics -- This class is essentially "AIRS 101." This class provides a general overview of AIDS Institute funding streams as they relate to an agency’s AIRS program structure. The class includes discussion, demonstration, and the hands-on data entry of client intakes, client historical information, program enrollments, encounter information (in all service categories), group enrollments, group activities, and status changes for admission/discharge, assigned site, and assigned worker. Some basic internal reports are also discussed.

This class is the pre-requisite for all other AIRS classes. All staff members who need to use the AIRS can sign up for training. "AIRS Basics" is an all day training session.

We also have a AIRS Basics video tutorial. While it is not intended to replace the class, this video can help any AIRS user to quickly start using the software. Click HERE to view the video tutorial.

System Administration -- This class is an advanced AIRS class that focuses on the technical facets of the system, database management, and management of user access. Included in the class is information on the installation and setup of the system, upgrading the system, entering of staff members, the customization of the built-in security features, the addition of user defined fields, basic troubleshooting techniques, and the un-duplication of clients. The agency-required reporting to the AIDS Institute will be presented. The AIDS Institute Aggregate Reports, the AIDS Institute Extract, ETO Summary Report (if applicable), and Syringe Exchange Reports (if applicable) will all be discussed. Additionally, the AIRS Data Extract for Ad Hoc reporting will also be addressed.

Although many agencies feel that this class is strictly for MIS personnel, it is always best to have a program level person attend system administration because there are more aspects of the class that deal with data management and reporting than with technology.

Agencies should identify one primary person and one backup person to serve as their system administrators.

Although AIRS Basic is a pre-requisite for this class, exceptions can be made at the discretion of Defran Systems if a potential attendee has exhibited the skills that would normally be taught during that class. "System Administration" is an all day training session.

COBRA Case Management & Billing (direct from AIRS) -- This class is for those staff members who will be processing billing in AIRS for COBRA Case Management services (and/or Adult Day Health Care). This class includes information on the billing setup, the addition of initial and subsequent Medicaid pay rates, processing of billing, reconciliation of billing, and processing of remittances including re-bill, void, and adjusted claims.

In addition to their primary billing clerk, agencies performing AIRS billing should have at least one backup billing staff person trained.

The AIRS Basic class is the pre-requisite for this class. This class is not necessarily for COBRA staff that will be delivering services but for those involved in the actual billing process. "COBRA Case Management & Billing" is an all day training session.

Counseling, Testing and Referral (Also known as CTR)-- This class is for agencies with Counseling and Testing programs that choose to use the AIRS emulation of the CDC scannable forms as opposed to the familiar bubble Forms A, B1 and B2. This class will include the initial CTS setup for sites and staff members as well as the addition of the initial and subsequent batches of Form ID’s. Participants will enter the Counseling and Testing encounter form with it’s associated Forms A, B1 and/or B2. Creation of the CTS Extract, for reporting of CTS Forms, is also discussed.

The AIRS Basic class is a pre-requisite. Any staff member that is responsible for the entry of Counseling and Testing encounters/services and CDC Forms should attend. "CTS" is a half-day class.

We have a video tutorial of this course available online. Click HERE to view the tutorial.

Reports in AIRS-- This class is dedicated to the different ways of extracting information from the system. Many of the "canned" reports are demonstrated and discussed. This includes discussions of filters and report selection options. A stronger focus is placed on the use of the AIRS Data Extract for Ad Hoc reporting than in the System Administration class. Examples of ad hoc reports are shown in MS Access. (Defran Systems can assist in the linking of the AIRS Data Extract to your external report writer but cannot be responsible for training on your selected report writer or for troubleshooting of queries/reports written with selected report writer).

AIRS Basic is normally the pre-requisite although some staff members who have a general knowledge of the information collected in the AIRS are able to follow along without difficulty. "Reports in the AIRS" is a half-day class.