AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

2005 NH "Dear Administrator " Letters

April 8, 2005

ADSA: NH #2005-009
NEW PC MINIMUM REQuirements

Dear Nursing Facility/Home Administrator:

CMS has scheduled an upgrade of the computer architecture and software that supports improved resident assessment submission technology and improved reporting (e.g. Nursing Home Quality Indicator (QI) Reports).

CMS has found that many nursing homes currently use old computers that are unable to support the planned upgrades.  CMS is asking facilities to meet or exceed the following minimum system requirements by December 31, 2005 to ensure continued access to QI Reports and the error and submission reports.  CMS will also post notices about these requirements and planned upgrades on the QIES and QTSO websites.

End User CPU:	Pentium 3, 500 MHz
PC Memory:	256 Mb
PC Operating System:	Windows 2000 or XP
PC Hard Drive:	500 Mb free space
Internet Browser:	Internet Explorer v5.5 SP2

See the related memo, S&C 05-22, sent to state agencies, on the CMS website at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicaid/survey-cert/sc0522.pdf.

If you have any questions, contact Shirley Stirling, MDS Automation Coordinator, at (360) 725-2620 or stirlsa@dshs.wa.gov.

Sincerely,

Joyce Pashley Stockwell, Acting Director
Residential Care Services