Center for Mental Health Services

MHSIP Ad Hoc Group Meeting

August 20, 1997

Addendum to Charge

Data elements and their definitions are a critical aspect of MHSIP, both because the primary goal of MHSIP is a common data language and the field demands concrete, specific advice on the development of data dictionaries for management information systems. Therefore, the development of data definitions and classifications with respect to use are a priority for FN-11.

The MHSIP Ad Hoc Group requests that the FN-11 Task Force undertake the following efforts:

1. Beginning with the definitions and classifications in FN-10, build an extended data dictionary by incorporating the following:

• Children's Task Force Report
• MHSIP Consumer-Oriented Mental Health Report Card
• Performance Indicators Report
• Enrollment/Encounter TF work in progress

Within this effort, identify elements and definitions that can currently be recommended to the field and those that should undergo review.

2. Employing other MHSIP documents, as well as similar reports, identify needs for data elements that are not included in the extended data dictionary described above and identify definitions for those data elements.

3. Develop a classification scheme (including but not limited to the categories in FM-10) for grouping data elements according to purpose. This scheme is intended to be overlapping (e.g., client data set, enrollment data set), reflecting the fact that different people approach the development of data dictionaries with different purposes in mind.

It is further recommended that the Task Force have the support of an analyst under contract to assist in these efforts.