Q1:

What are the system requirements for the PIRT program?

A:

It requires Windows98 SE/ME, Windows 2000 (Service Pack 3 or higher), Windows XP or Vista.

Please click here for more detailed instructions to run PIRT program under Vista.

If your PC system does not satisfy with the PIRT program requirement, please contact ACHS POS staff on 02 9281 9955.

Important: Before you install the PIRT program, you also need to make sure that you have full administrator rights, which is a must requirement, to performance the installation.

The first half (January - June) 2008 clinical indicator data is due by 31 August 2008.

Please click here to download the PIRT 1.4 upgrade file.

Q2:

I am unable to upgrade the PIRT 1.3 to PIRT 1.4 because an Error 429 message pops up.

A:

First of, please copy the PIRT database, that is, PIRTData.mdb file, to another folder for backup.

Secondly, uninstall the PIRT program (via Control Panel/Add or Remove Programs) and then do a full install of PIRT 1.4.

Finally, you copy the database back to the folder where the file is originally saved.

Q3:

I have got an Error 430 message during the upgrading process.

A:

Same as above

Q4:

I am using PIRT 1.4, but I cannot change the collection period to the first half 2008

A:

Import the Indicator Set Update zip file into the PIRT Program. (Please refer to Step 3 in the PIRT 1.4 Instructions)

Please DO NOT attempt to OPEN the zip file

Please click here to download the indicator set update zip file

Q5:

I have the “+” sign next to ACHS Clinical Indicators, but the PIRT program does not allow me to tick the “□” to select indicators

A:

You need to click on the “+” to expand the Indicator Set list and then tick each indicator individually. (Please refer to the Step 5 in the PIRT 1.4 Instructions)

Please ensure that you only tick the indicators for which you wish to enter data because the PIRT program will not allow you to export your data before you enter data for all indicators selected

Q6:

I have no data to enter for the indicator that I have selected, how can I get rid of it?

A:

Simply click on the tick box next to the indicator that you want to de-select and the tick will disappear. (Please refer to Step 5 in the PIRT 1.4 Instructions)

Q7:

I need empty booklets in printable form to allow manual recording of indicator results. Where can I obtain them?

A:

Empty booklets for each clinical indicator set are now available in PDF and Excel format.

Q8:

Can PIRT be installed on a network? Can the data be shared among two or more users?

A:

Yes.

The PIRT program must be installed on each user’s computer and the PIRT database needs to be installed on a network-accessible drive so that its data can be shared by among users.

Please note: the PIRT program only allows a single entry to be made for a particular data collection period, indicator and organisation. It means that if two people attempt to enter the same result for the same collection for the same organisation, the later entry will overwrite the former one.

(For more detailed instructions, please click here.)

Q9:

Can I report my clinical data monthly or quarterly rather than for the entire default Six-monthly period?

A:

Yes. (Please refer to Step 6 in the PIRT 1.4 Instructions)

However, there are several important things that you need to understand before you change the data collection frequency:

Monthly collection frequency requires you to report the data for each and every month within the 6-month data collection period. Quarterly collection frequency requires data entry for both quarters. If the data does not comply with this rule, an error message will show up and you will not be able to submit your data.

All indicators within an indicator set within the 6-month data collection period need to be collected at the same frequency. Again, if the data does not comply with this rule, an error message will show up

Important: Please select the desired collection frequency before you start entering any data, otherwise changing the collection frequency will result in the deletion of all previously entered data for that indicator set.

You can always tick Part Period and enter the start date and end date for the time period that the data was collected if you do not wish to enter data for the entire six month period. Only a single part period is allowed per six month collection period.

Q10:

The PIRT program asks me the enter Peer Group Stratification Variable. What is the Peer Group Stratification variable? How can I enter it in the program?

A:

Please refer to the ACHS Clinical Indicator Data Cleaning Rules and Peer Group Stratification Variables for Use in 2008 and consult Step 7 in the PIRT 1.4 Instructions.

Q11:

I have an error message pop up during data entry. What should I do?

A:

In most cases there may appear three types error messages, which are High or Low Expected rates, Out of range data and Data Cleaning Rule Violations, during data entry. (Please refer to Step 11 in the PIRT 1.4 Instructions)

Please click here to download the ACHS Clinical Indicator Data Cleaning Rules and Peer Group Stratification Variables for use in 2008.

For any other error messages, check elsewhere in this FAQ, or if not mentioned there, contact the ACHS POS staff on 02 9281 9955.

Q12:

Can I add more indicators results later on before I send the data to the ACHS?

A:

Yes.

Please consult Step 5 in the PIRT 1.4 Instructions

Q13:

I followed up the PIRT 1.4 Instructions to export my data, but I have got an “Error 70 Permission Denied” message pop up.

A:

The export process from PIRT program requires files to be created in two places:

The target folder where the you wish the zip file to be created and temp folder used for temporary storage of data while the zip file is being created

If you do not have permission to write data to either folder, the “Permission Denied” message will appear. This requires intervention by your IT support.

Q14:

I have got an “Error 53 export file not found” message pop up when exporting the data.

A:

Same as above.

Q15:

My data is ready to go now. What is the next step?

A:

Please consult Step 12 in the PIRT 1.4 Instructions.

Q16:

I have exported my data successfully, but I can’t find where I saved the file.

A:

By default, the PIRT program saves the exported data file in C:\Program Files\PIRT\Export

The data file that you need to send to the ACHS is PIRT_organisation code_1H2008.zip

Please note: you can nominate the target folder where you wishes the file to be saved so that it will be easy for you to find the data file.

Q17:

I need to import the historical details, but the PIRT program asks me to enter the security code. Is it same as my organisation code?

A:

No.

Please contact ACHS POS staff on 02 9281 9955 to have the security code for your organisation. The security code is necessary to avoid accidentally loading data for the wrong organization and this potentially breaching privacy considerations.

Q18:

How can I backup my data?

A:

Please consult Step 9 in the PIRT 1.4 Instructions.

Q19:

Can I produce the comparative reports from the PIRT program by myself?

A:

Yes.

You can print all reports from the PIRT program once you have loaded your Historical and Aggregate Data.

There are three types of reports that can be produced, that is, Numeric and Question Results Reports, Organisation Details, and Comparative Reports. (Please refer to Step 14 – 16 in the PIRT 1.4 Instructions)