The Technical Specifications page contains information regarding event related technical specifications, data submission specifications, flow charts, Clinical Document Architecture (CDA) Extensible Markup Language (XML) file samples and paper forms including data element notations. The information provided on this page will assist reporting organizations develop, maintain and map their existing reporting system to comply with AHRQ's Common Formats.
The Data Submission Specifications documents provide direction for creating an appropriate file format to transmit patient safety data to the PSOPPC.
The Implementation Guide provides specifications for the required CDA XML file format to transmit Common Formats Patient Safety Report data.
CFER-H_V1.2_Implementation_Guide Posted on: 04/20/2020, 907 KB
The Resources Workbook provides a complete mapping of OIDs, templates, data elements, answer values, and validation rules used in the creation of the CDA XML file.
CFER-H_V1.2_Resources_Workbook Posted on: 01/01/2022, 159 KB
The Data Dictionary provides information on each data element (e.g., name, definition, values).
CFER-H_V1.2_Data_Dictionary Posted on: 04/20/2020, 2,008 KB
The Common Formats for Event Reporting - Hospital Version 1.2 (CFER-H V1.2) Data Submission Error Message document contains all possible error messages for CFER-H V1.2 patient safety data submissions. This document provides the validation rules for each error message to assist in the revision of the CDA XML file.
CFER-H_V1.2_Data_Submssion_Error_Messages Posted on: 04/20/2020, 81 KB
The Local Specifications provide specifications for facility or PSO level implementation, to include guidance on processing, linking, and storing of Common Formats information.
The Data Collection Order Flow Charts detail an efficient method of data collection for patient safety reports that involve more than one event category.
CFER-H_V1.2_Data_Collection_Order Posted on: 04/20/2020, 659 KB
Local Case Management provides information about identifying and managing cases at the provider level.
CFER-H_V1.2_Local_Case_Management Posted on: 04/20/2020, 153 KB
The Use Case Model provides a software development model for defining a Patient Safety Data Reporting System at the local level to support AHRQ's Common Formats.
CFER-H_V1.2_Use_Case_Model Posted on: 04/20/2020, 287 KB
The Logical Data Model document provides information about the data requirements for local implementation of the Common Formats along with the associated data mapping for the development of Patient Safety Data Reporting software in support for AHRQ's Common Formats.
CFER-H_V1.2_Logical_Data_Model Posted on: 04/20/2020, 398 KB
The Report Specifications documents are created to serve as a reference for new software development, but may also provide value to those with existing automated systems who are interested in an individual event summary report which reflects the CFER-H V1.2 elements.
CFER-H_V1.2_Event_Summary_Report_Specifications Posted on: 04/20/2020, 545 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Report_Specifications_Report_Maps Posted on: 04/20/2020, 222 KB
The Common Formats Flow Charts outline the valid paths for a complete patient safety report. Each report type and event category contain a variable number of data elements that comprise a complete report. Depending upon the response to each of the data elements, each patient safety report may follow a separate data element path within the flow. At a minimum, a patient safety report must include the Validation Data Set (i.e., Minimum Data Set) which is required to be included in the CDA XML file.
The Common Formats Flow Chart Introduction document describes the data element and flowchart symbols used in the flow charts. The following section contains the Common Formats Flow Charts for incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions.
CFER-H_V1.2_Flow_Chart_Introduction Posted on: 04/20/2020, 177 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Incident_Flow_Chart Posted on: 04/20/2020, 282 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Near_Miss_Flow_Chart Posted on: 04/20/2020, 112 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Unsafe_Condition_Flow_Chart Posted on: 04/20/2020, 112 KB
The CDA XML File Sample documents provide sample patient safety concerns and associated CDA XML file output. The file samples contain all recommended data elements for the patient safety report and conform to CFER-H V1.2 Technical Specifications. At a minimum, a patient safety report must include the Validation Data Set (i.e., Minimum Data Set), which is required to be included in the CDA XML file. CDA XML files missing one or more required data elements will be rejected.
CFER-H_V1.2_Provider_to_PSO_Submission_CDA_XML_File_Sample Posted on: 04/20/2020, 378 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Validation_Data_Set_CDA_XML_File_Sample Posted on: 04/20/2020, 304 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_CDA_XML_File_Samples Posted on: 04/27/2018, 38 KB
This section includes the flow chart for the SIR and the annotated paper forms for the HERF, PIF, and SIR.
CFER-H_V1.2_Sample_Event_Summary Posted on: 04/20/2020, 79 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Summary_of_Initial_Report_(SIR)_Flow_Chart Posted on: 04/20/2020, 171 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Healthcare_Event_Reporting_Form_(HERF)_Form_-_Annotated Posted on: 04/20/2020, 205 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Patient_Information_Form_(PIF)_Form_-_Annotated Posted on: 04/20/2020, 194 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Summary_of_Initial_Report_(SIR)_Form_-_Annotated Posted on: 04/20/2020, 251 KB
This section includes the flow chart, CDA XML file sample, and the annotated paper form for a Blood or Blood Product-related event.
CFER-H_V1.2_Blood_or_Blood_Product_Flow_Chart Posted on: 04/20/2020, 371 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Blood_or_Blood_Product_CDA_XML_File_Sample Posted on: 04/20/2020, 314 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Blood_or_Blood_Product_Form_-_Annotated Posted on: 04/20/2020, 221 KB
This section includes the flow chart, CDA XML file sample, and the annotated paper form for a Device or Medical/Surgical Supply, including HIT-related event.
CFER-H_V1.2_Device_or_Medical_Surgical_Supply_including_HIT_Flow_Chart Posted on: 04/20/2020, 376 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Device_or_Medical_Surgical_Supply_including_HIT_CDA_XML_File_Sample Posted on: 04/20/2020, 280 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Device_or_Medical_Surgical_Supply_including_HIT_Form_-_Annotated Posted on: 04/20/2020, 221 KB
This section includes the flow chart, CDA XML file sample, and the annotated paper form for a Fall-related event.
CFER-H_V1.2_Fall_Flow_Chart Posted on: 04/20/2020, 173 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Fall_CDA_XML_File_Sample Posted on: 04/20/2020, 315 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Fall_Form_-_Annotated Posted on: 04/20/2020, 198 KB
This section includes the flow chart, CDA XML file sample, and the annotated paper form for an HAI-related event.
CFER-H_V1.2_Healthcare-associated_Infection_Flow_Chart Posted on: 04/20/2020, 186 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Healthcare-associated_Infection_CDA_XML_File_Sample Posted on: 04/20/2020, 316 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Healthcare-associated_Infection_Form_-_Annotated Posted on: 04/20/2020, 245 KB
This section includes the flow chart, CDA XML file sample, and the annotated paper form for a Medication or Other Substance-related event.
CFER-H_V1.2_Medication_or_Other_Substance_Flow_Chart Posted on: 04/20/2020, 280 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Device_or_Medical_Surgical_Supply_including_HIT_and_Medication_or_Other_Substance_CDA_XML_File_Sample Posted on: 04/20/2020, 368 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Medication_or_Other_Substance_Form_-_Annotated Posted on: 04/20/2020, 289 KB
This section includes the flow chart, CDA XML file sample, and the annotated paper form for a Perinatal-related event.
CFER-H_V1.2_Perinatal_Flow_Chart Posted on: 04/20/2020, 237 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Perinatal_CDA_XML_File_Sample Posted on: 04/20/2020, 320 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Perinatal_Form_-_Annotated Posted on: 04/20/2020, 230 KB
This section includes the flow chart, CDA XML file sample, and the annotated paper form for a Pressure Ulcer-related event.
CFER-H_V1.2_Pressure_Ulcer_Flow_Chart Posted on: 04/20/2020, 147 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Pressure_Ulcer_CDA_XML_File_Sample Posted on: 04/20/2020, 324 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Pressure_Ulcer_Form_-_Annotated Posted on: 04/20/2020, 226 KB
This section includes the flow chart, CDA XML file sample, and the annotated paper form for a Surgery or Anesthesia-related event.
CFER-H_V1.2_Surgery_or_Anesthesia_Flow_Chart Posted on: 04/20/2020, 273 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Surgery_or_Anesthesia_CDA_XML_File_Sample Posted on: 04/20/2020, 329 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Surgery_or_Anesthesia_Form_-_Annotated Posted on: 04/20/2020, 253 KB
This section includes the flow chart, CDA XML file sample, and the annotated paper form for a Venous Thromboembolism (VTE)-related event.
CFER-H_V1.2_Venous_Thromboembolism_Flow_Chart Posted on: 04/20/2020, 152 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Venous_Thromboembolism_CDA_XML_File_Sample Posted on: 04/20/2020, 178 KB
CFER-H_V1.2_Venous_Thromboembolism_Form_-_Annotated Posted on: 04/20/2020, 205 KB