News

April 25, 2013

Preview of New Primary Care Physician and Substance Use Screens

At today's NYC User Group meeting, we gave our users s a preview of the redesigned Substance Use History screens found in the Agency Intake and Historical Information modules. Additionally, we highlighted the new HIV Medical Provider Historical screen which is a redesign of the Primary Care Physician (PCP) History screen.

We have posted these screenshots for everyone to review and we welcome all feedback.These screens are expected to be included in the next release (May/June). Below is the link to the screenshots and please give us feedback by sending us an enhancement request (click HERE).

New HIV Medical Provider Historical screen and new Substance Use screens

April 1, 2013

Rapid HIV Testing Online Training Course for Non-Clinical Providers

The CDC has a new on-line “Rapid HIV Testing Training Course” that will offer an opportunity for HIV Prevention Providers working in non-clinical settings to gain knowledge and skills on administering rapid HIV testing. Rapid HIV Testing will allow providers greater reach into places where HIV testing has not been available. To learn more and access the training modules, click HERE.

April 1, 2013

Need to Import Data into AIRS?

We are developing a new Interface that will allow other applications such as electronic medical record systems or lab tracking applications to import data into the AIRS database.

We have previewed screenshots of this new interface with users at our user group meetings. If you did not have a chance to see the presentation, click HERE for the powperpoint slides. These slides will give you a brief overview of what import opportunities exist and the initial steps that would
be required to import data into AIRS. If you are interested in using this new interface or have any questions, please log a support ticket at https://airs.freshdesk.com.

March 12, 2013

How to get in touch with the AIRS Staff

Check out our Contact page if you want to get in touch with our AIRS staff. If you have questions about any AIDS Instituted funded programs, feel free to contact our AIRS Technical Assistants. Their names and job functions are listed right on the page and you can send an email just by clicking their names. Check it out!

February 19, 2013

Did You Miss the RSR Submission Deadline?

The RSR was due on February 15th. If you have not yet submitted your RSR to the Office of Systems Development, please let us know why you are late and when we can expect your extract. Send us an email at the Office of Systems Development. If you are experiencing any difficulties upgrading or generating the extract, log a support ticket at https://airs.freshdesk.com.

February 4th, 2013

Version 8.9.368 is Now Available for Download!

The following is an important message from Ron Palau at Netsmart Technologies:

Good Afternoon,

On behalf of the New York State Department of Health, AIDS Institute, Netsmart Technologies is announcing the AIRS Upgrade to Version 8.9.368 is now available for download from the Netsmart Customer support website. This can be accessed via https://airs.freshdesk.com or http://support.defran.com.

Attention Ryan White Funded Agencies!!!

This upgrade is mandatory for your final 2012 RSR submission which is due to the AIDS Institute Friday February 15th 2013.

HRSA strongly recommends that client level data be uploaded to the EHB by March 4 2013

Included in this upgrade are improvements, fixes, and changes including the following:

2012 Ryan White Services Report (RSR)

A number of updates and additions have been made in this upgrade to ensure that all appropriate services, lab tests and client information are captured.

See the v8.9 Release Notes for full details.

CLIENT LIST FOR RSR UNKNOWN RESPONSES NEW REPORT!!!

This new report will allow users to generate a list of clients (by tc_id) reported in the RSR who have "Unknown" or "Missing Information" reported anywhere in the RSR. When the report is run, a spreadsheet file output will be automatically created to the AIRS\RSR_Extracts folder.

NOTE: As with all new system functionality, users will need to have their security schemes updated to generate this new report.

See the v8.9 Release Notes for full details.

HCV RAPID TESTING NEW SCREEN!!!

For those directly funded Hepatitis service providers, a new screen has been added for capturing HCV Rapid Testing.

This screen includes Test Date, Program, Worker, Site, Identified Risk Factors, Test Technology, Testing Method, Results, Results Provided, and Referral.

See the v8.9 Release Notes for full details.

NOTE: As with all new system functionality, users will need to have their security schemes updated to have access to this new area of the system!

SYRINGE EXCHANGE

The checkbox Search Mode has been added to the Previous Exchange(s) tab. This will allow the user to enter only one or more of the selection criteria to complete a search of previous exchanges.

Installation Instructions:

1) Log into Netsmart Technologies' Customer Support: https://airs.freshdesk.com -- A login and password will be required. If you do not know your login, please contact: AIRS Support, airssupport@defran.com.

2) From the Solutions Menu -> AIRS Knowledge Base ->AIRS Release Packages

3) Locate/download the following files:

AIRSvu8_9_368.zip
(This is the version upgrade file.)

AIRS v8.9.368 Upgrade Instructions (UpgInstruct89-2.pdf)
( This document will detail the steps necessary to upgrade to version 8.9.368.)

Release Notes to AIRS v8.9.368 upgrade package (Release Notes_v89-2.pdf )
(Contains V8.9-2 Release Notes complete with detailed descriptions of additions, changes, and corrections)

Please print/read the upgrade instructions. (Upginstruct89-2.pdf). This document will provide the steps you must take to successfully install this upgrade. We also ask that you fax or contact Netsmart Technologies to let us know that you have successfully upgraded your system. We keep a log and forward this to the AIDS Institute so everyone knows where each agency is in terms of the version.

If you have questions, require additional information, or need to report an issue, please contact us at:

Netsmart Technologies/AIRS Support

Internet: https://airs.freshdesk.com or http://support.defran.com (Login & Password Required)

Email: airssupport@defran.com

Phone: (212) 727-8342 Option #3

January 17, 2013

Counseling and Testing Agencies: How to Submit Your HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Extract

An important message from Larry Speigel about the new reporting requirements for the Statewide HIV/AIDS Surveillance...

Hello Counseling and Testing agencies:

Surveillance is the word today. And no, I don't mean the next episode of "Homeland". I'm referring to Statewide HIV/AIDS Surveillance under Public Health Law that requires named case reporting of new HIV infected clients.

In AIRS V8.9, we have added the “HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Extract”. Located in the 'Extracts' menu under the 'Extracts' option (please refer to the attached instructions), the HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Extract (fondly known as the 'Epi Extract') gathers information formatted to meet case reporting requirements for newly diagnosed HIV clients. Specifically, if the client has a Confirmed Positive Test for HIV entered in the CTR (Counseling, Testing, & Referral) section of AIRS, the client is included in the Epi Extract.

Because you are in the select company of agencies who perform HIV Testing, the AIDS Institute requests that you run and submit the "HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Extract" via the HCS. This will ensure that the named data is transmitted securely.

The instructions for creating and submitting this extract is in the document HOW2-Create-Epidemiology Extract which can be found on the FAQ page.

FYI: Please note the following:

Confidentiality & Security: Since client names and PHI (Protected Health Information) are included in the “HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Extract”, it is extremely important to have the information protected. To accomplish this, the extract from AIRS is packaged into a secure password protected zip file. You will not be provided the password, so you will not be able to review the content of this extract. This zipped and password protected file must be submitted using the NYSDOH Secure Health Commerce System (HCS). This will automatically be relayed to the NYSDOH - AIDS Institute - Bureau of HIV/AIDS Epidemiology.

The first Epi Extract will include all the Confirmed HIV Positive Clients entered in CTR since January 1, 2011.

Subsequent Epi Extracts (we will inform you of the frequency in follow up communications) will include only new entries of CTR Confirmed HIV Positive Clients plus any client information that changed.

AIDS Institute Epidemiology staff are eagerly awaiting this information, so please help us out. Please contact Vida or Larry if you have any questions or concerns. Thanks.

January 14, 2013

Defran Systems Acquired by Netsmart!

A couple of weeks ago, Defran Systems, Inc., was acquired by Netsmart, a national vendor of electronic health records and billing systems. Netsmart management has assured us that work on the AIRSNY system will continue with the same personnel for technical support, training and development, under contract to the AIDS Institute.

We look forward to continuing our work with the AIRS Development and Training team, and our new vendor, Netsmart, and we will be monitoring progress closely as this transition proceeds over the coming months. Please feel free to contact Vida Behn Chernoff, Director of the Office of Systems Development and manager of the AIRS project, if you have any questions, concerns or feedback.

Humberto Cruz, Director
NYSDOH AIDS Institute