Skilled Nursing Facilities

MDS 2.0 - Submissions - Export a Batch

After a batch is created to capture MDS assessments for a specific quarter or month (for Alberta facilities), it can then be exported from PointClickCare into a folder or area on your computer. From there the file can be retrieved and submitted to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) or your Health Authority/Provincial submitting body.

  1. Hover over the Clinical tab.

  2. Under the Care Management section, select MDS to access the MDS Portal. 

  3. In the MDS Submission Batches section, edit your open batch to confirm that all assessments are in Export Ready or Exported status

  4. Select the Export button to export the MDS batch, or click the Back button and select the export link to the left of the batch. The Export Results window shows the Description, Created On info, Created By info, and the File Name. 

    • Selecting Save As allows you to save the file in the area you specify (you can create a folder specifically for the MDS files. After you specify where save the file, click Save.

  5. Click Open Folder to see/access the file. If the file ends in .zip (XML Document type) then it is ready for submission. If the file ends in .txt, zip that file. You can do this by right-clicking the file, send to, compressed zipped folder. This creates another file with the same name, ending in .zip. If this is your first time compressing (zipping) files, be sure to verify the process with your IT person.

  6. Log into the CIHI site with your credentials as per your training from CIHI. Retrieve the .zip file from where you it saved on your computer and submit. If you are required to submit contact information to your Health Authority/Provincial submitting body other than CIHI, follow their guidelines for submission.

  • If you try to export a batch that contains an In Progress assessment, you see a warning and the batch is not exported.

  • After a batch it exported, it changes from Open to Exported status.

  • If you cannot find where the file is saved or encounter some other issue, repeat the Export File process again and save the file on your desktop or another location again.

  • Reminder for submissions to CIHI - if you are submitting for Q1 of the fiscal year, ensure that the Contact Information (CI) Record is submitted to CIHI first. If this is not done before submitting Q1 batches, all assessments will be rejected by CIHI.

  • After your file is submitted to CIHI via the Electronic Data Submission Service (eDSS) you see a success message. This does not mean that the files are processed or accepted by CIHI; it simply means they received the file.

  • The steps for exporting are based on Internet Explorer and may vary depending on the browser you are using.

  • The system automatically creates a .zip or .txt file depending on the province you are in and who you are submitting your assessments to.

  • If you submit to CIHI you need credentials to access their website for submission.. These credentials come from CIHI.