|
Frequently
Asked Questions
Click on a question below to read the answer
1.
What is the mandate of the Canadian Outcomes Research Institute?
2. How do I Access CORI Services?
Introduction to CORI and HOMES
Accessing and Getting Training for the HOMES database
Outcome Education Consulting Services
3. How can I get started with the
Database?
4. Is there one major implementation hint I should
know that will increase the successful use of the CORI system within my agency?
5. What commitment do I need to make to set-up my
data file?
6. Is there follow-up support to use the CORI
system?
7. Where is the HOMES Database?
8. Is the database secure?
9. When do I have access to my data?
10. Where can I access my agency account?
11. What is a license?
12. Who owns the data in the CORI databases?
13. Can other agencies see my data?
14. What Type of Research can CORI do with the
entire HOMES data set?
15. What if I release data, then who owns the data?
16. Who has access to my agency data?
17. Can third parties, such as a government, an
insurance company, or marketing firm access the data?
18. If my agency is involved with a group of
agencies for specific research purposes, then can this group use the CORI
system to help with the research project?
19. What technology
do I need?
20.
What should I do if I have a Mac Computer?
1. What is the mandate of the Canadian Outcomes Research
Institute?
The mandate of the CORI is to increase the effectiveness of human service
organizations to meet the needs of those they serve by providing education,
research, training, and services regarding outcomes and evidence-based
practice. The CORI is a not-for-profit charitable organization to provide other
not-for-profit organizations education about outcome monitoring and to provide
research on promising practices arising form the data collected by its service
users. It is not a technology business interested in profiting from database
sales. Our mandate is to provide outcome-oriented services, including the Hull
Outcome Monitoring and Evaluation System (HOMES) database access, at the lowest
possible cost to organizations to encourage the use of outcome monitoring
techniques for overall continuous improvement. Because hundreds of programs are
using the same procedures and resources, CORI can conduct research for the best
interests of people the not-for-profit charitable serves to help improve the
entire sector area.
2. How do I Access CORI Services?
People commonly request 3 main service categories from CORI. These include
providing introduction about CORI and HOMES, training to use the database, and
training and consulting regarding outcome monitoring for organizational use. If
you require services from CORI, then we ask you to be clear as to what you
would like from CORI.
Introduction to CORI and HOMES
If you require an introduction to CORI or HOMES, then please ensure that you
request information about CORI, HOMES or both. If you require a demonstration
of the HOMES software then you will need to ensure that HOMES can be
demonstrated in the location you plan to meet. This may require:
a. An Internet Connection through a outside fax line or Ethernet
connection.
b. A computer that through the Internet connection may access the Internet
using Internet Explorer 5.5.
c. A data projector and screen.
d. Appropriate space for the number of people you hope host.
Accessing and Getting Training for the HOMES database
CORI trainers will not provide training ¬on the database until a user
agreement has been signed. Once signed, then CORI will forward your account ID
and Passwords and you can start using the database immediately. Once you have
your ID’s then you may arrange to have a trainer come to do training for your
organization. CORI will only train people within your organization that are
designated to train other staff or personnel within your organization to use
the database. If you require training for multiple people CORI recommends that
you arrange for:
a. A computer lab with an Internet an Ethernet or Local Area Network
connection.
b. Computers that through the Internet connection may access the Internet using
Internet Explorer 5.5.
c. A data projector and screen.
d. Appropriate space for the number of people you hope host. Initial
training typically takes one full day. Often CORI will break the training into
two days (for example, an afternoon one day, then a morning the next day) so
that people better retain information. It is your agency’s responsibility to
then set timelines with your staff to use the database system. The more
immediate you use the training provided, the more successful you will be. The
longer you delay use after training the more likely you will require retraining
or additional support.
Outcome Education Consulting
Services
CORI also provides services in the following areas:
-
Board Development toward an Outcomes Orientation
-
Organizational Change
-
Management for Continuous Improvement
-
Program Logic Model development,
-
Research Design,
-
Measurement Tool Selection and Design,
-
Data Analyses,
-
Outcome Report Writing, and
-
Continuous Quality Improvement Techniques.
If you require services in these areas, then you will need to contact a CORI
certified trainer. The trainer will work with you to determine the type of
services that will be delivered, whether or not it is covered by a third party
payer, the costs involved, and the schedule of activities that will need to
occur. If you want to also use the CORI database, then some of these services
may be included within the user agreement license. You will receive a letter
outlining the services that will be provided and in some cases a separate
contract may need to be drafted and signed before service will be delivered.
3. How can I get started with the Database?
A user agreement with the CORI must be signed prior to any use of an actual
account. The CORI will forward one agency ID and Password and one Personal ID
and Password to the agency manager once a user agreement is signed. After this
point, training for agency in-house trainers will be provided and some
follow-up is recommended.
4. Is there one major implementation hint I should know
that will increase the successful use of the CORI system within my agency?
Yes, Practice! Agency people that commit to actually using an outcome approach
after receiving training have the fewest problems and greatest successes.
Practice reduces the time required to learn the system, eliminates the need for
retraining, and increases the probability your staff will find ways to
eliminate or reduce duplication of work and redundancy in paper work. Often
agency managers will set deadlines for their staff to practice and achieve
specific milestones for the system's implementation.
5. What commitment do I need to make to set-up my data
file?
One person within each site will need to be identified as the designated
"on-site" CORI/HOMES trainer. This person will need to: a. Attend one full day
training session. b. Spend some time setting up the HOMES system for their
agency or project use, including adding in basic agency, program, and staff
information. It may involve adding in data on an initial client set. It may
also include adding in information about program logic models, surveys,
assessments, and report templates so that when staff use the system all of the
necessary tools for their case or project management are included into the
system. c. Spend some time practicing actual client demographic and outcome
data entry. d. Spend some time on follow-up training and data entry to address
concerns or gaps that may have arisen from the initial project pilot test. e.
Commit to eliminating duplication of paper work and redundancy of data
collection and entry for staff. f. Commit to teaching the CORI/HOMES system to
other people within their organization.
6. Is there follow-up support to use the CORI system?
Yes. Agencies must drive the amount of support that they require. When effort
is placed into learning the database, then this will payoff over the long-term
by ensuring that a minimum amount of follow-up is required. The agencies that
become most self-sufficient and require the least follow-up are usually the
most enthusiastic, have a stable staff group, quickly realize the benefits of
outcome monitoring and management, and commit to long-term outcome and case
monitoring and quality improvement. These agencies are not necessarily computer
"experts" but are willing to learn and use their learning to their advantage.
They integrate case and outcome management together as one function and are not
afraid to change their internal systems to reduce inefficiencies. Agencies that
require the most follow-up and who are least self-suffiecient usually have a
high turn-over rate, are not serious or not committed about learning outcome
management and the CORI system, may be afraid of learning new things, or have a
very low computer literacy rate. These agencies require considerable retraining
and are usually pushed by external pressures to learn outcome monitoring
methods. Questions about the HOMES Database
7. Where is the HOMES Database?
The Hull Outcome Monitoring and Evaluation System (HOMES) database is stored on
servers at the Canadian Outcomes Research Institute’s main office in Calgary,
Alberta. CORI is a separate organization from all of its users and holds data
in trust for its associate members.
8. Is the database secure?
Yes, the CORI has spent considerable time and resources to ensure the database
is the most secure possible. Security is based upon similar models found with
internet banking. Data entered in the database must be encrypted. Access
requires a number of confidential ID's and passwords. The database is in a
locked location, backed-up daily, and monitored for unauthorized trials to
enter the database. It is regularly updated to protect security and to ensure
protection from viruses. Only the database managers have the protocol to enter
the actual database and view multi-agency data. This access is to assist in
agency database management only. The public and personnel from member agencies,
including development sites, do not have access to the access protocols. The
most persistent problem with users trying to enter the database is getting
through the CORI security protocols for their own accounts. Once users learn
their correct protocols, then access is typically smooth. It is important to
note that until attention is paid to security protocols users may have
difficulties getting through CORI security.
9. When do I have access to my data?
24 hours a day. Access to the database occurs at any time.
10. Where can I access my agency account?
Anywhere. Agencies can access their data from any location they conduct their
work. Access simply requires access to a computer with an internet account. To
enter the database, ID's and Passwords are required. In some cases, a secure
internet account is required and you will be informed of how to access your
internet service by your internet host or provider.
11. What is a license?
A license is an indicator on the amount of data you can submit and store within
the database. Each license can be calculated based on the number of client
admissions that occur within your program each year. Some programs require more
or less download time and storage space depending on the types of data use for
case management. One license for services that require very detailed storage,
such as with Service Plans or IPP's, accommodates approximately 80 clients per
year. For only minimal client storage, basic demographic information and a
simple pre and post design for program evaluation, approximately 750 client
files can be accommodated per year with one license. Separation of an agency's
services into these two types of program needs with a listing of yearly client
volume will give an indication of the number of licenses required to use the
CORI system. Questions about My Data
12. Who owns the data in the CORI databases?
You do, agencies own information about themselves. The CORI simply stores your
data but you have full control and access over the data entered into the
system. You can use reporting functions within the CORI system to generate the
data in a wide variety of case, program, and aggregate reports. As part of the
agreement with the CORI, you also become part of a much larger evaluation
project to investigate best practices. These investigations will group your
data with other agencies but only for best practice investigations. In these
cases, the CORI owns and manages grouped data. This ensures that CORI
parameters set by the project's ethical guidelines and policies are followed
for all multi-agency data aggregation. Keep in mind that although you store
information for program evaluation purposes, at a client level, client and/or
their guardians own information about themselves. In these cases, clients will
have the right to access their information, sometimes through Information
Access, Freedom of Information, and Protection of Privacy legislation.
Consequently, no data should be stored that is not being used specifically for
program evaluation or case management purposes. It is your responsibility to
ensure that extra data unrelated to these purposes are not entered into the
CORI system.
13. Can other agencies see my data?
No. All agencies only have access to their own data sets.
14. What Type of Research can CORI do with the entire
HOMES data set?
CORI cannot do research on your data set alone. Your data set is identifiable
so doing research on your data set alone would require your agency’s consent.
The agreement with CORI refers to research with the “HOMES data.” This means
that CORI can only do research if it aggregates enough data together from
across Canada so that each client, person, staff, program name, agency name,
and other identifiable information is made anonymous. CORI can only do research
if it is approved by an ethics committee. Canada-wide research can only occur
to determine the best practices within specific service areas or to assist
human service professionals to better address specific client-related problems.
It can only occur if minimum sample sizes are met both across numbers of
programs and across numbers of records to assure anonymity of data. Data can
only be reporting in an aggregate form (counted up and summarized), not in a
individual raw data form. Finally, all analyse must occur on the CORI site, and
no raw data can be released to researchers. Requests to use data for commercial
interests cannot occur and will automatically rejected and not sent for ethics
approval.
15. What if I release data, then who owns the data?
Once you submit data to another party, then the data that is submitted may be
also owned by the party receiving the data (i.e. government). Consequently, you
should never submit data to another party unless you must for contractual
purposes and only after you have consent from your clients. Data that you
submit for evaluation purposes, should be controlled by persons contracted to
follow ethical guidelines. The CORI requests that all evaluations must only
occur after review of an ethics committee. The CORI follows the Tri-Council
Policy statement on Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans.
16. Who has access to my agency data?
You do. Other agencies cannot access your agency data and you cannot access
other agency's data. Within each agency there is the capability to create
multiple security levels. So, even within your own agency, you can restrict
access to data. Even in the case of best practice reporting, aggregations must
follow strict guidelines so that it is conducted and reported in an anonymous
manner. No agency, program, or client can be identified in any best practice
investigation. No raw data can be released to any party, including
investigators. Investigators can simply request analyses results and cannot
have access to raw data. Database managers only have access to the database for
technology development and maintenance purposes or for giving assistance to
agency members.
17. Can third parties, such as a government, an insurance
company, or marketing firm access the data?
No. All requests for data and analyses must be forwarded to the CORI Ethics
Review Committee for consideration. Strict guidelines and policies have been
created to protect and restrict access to multi-agency data through data
aggregation. The CORI's HMRP has adopted the Tri-Council Policy statement on
Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans to develop its policy statements,
ethics review procedures, and to act as the basis for ethical decision-making.
All releases of data must be for case management, program management or
evaluation at an agency level and only to the agency member. Multi-agency
aggregations can only be for the purposes of investigating best practices
within specific service areas to assist human service professionals to better
address specific client-related problems. Any requests outside the parameters
within this mandate or outside the CORI policies will be automatically
rejected.
18. If my agency is involved with a group of agencies for
specific research purposes, then can this group use the CORI system to help
with the research project?
Yes. Agencies can register their research projects with the CORI, and then
aggregation on multi-agency projects can occur as requested by the research
group. On a geographic basis, groups of agencies can partner together to create
CORI user groups. A CORI user group requires 3 or more agencies within a
geographic area that wish to partner together to conduct various multi-agency
analyses. User groups can then create ethical guidelines, research parameters,
and data transfer guidelines for their group. The CORI will then support the
user groups by facilitating multi-agency aggregation and analyses for the user
group. User groups may submit recommended policies to the larger CORI network
for consideration of overarching CORI policies and national CORI outcome
accreditation standards. Questions about CORI Technology
19. What technology do I need?
You will need a computer that can use Internet Explorer (Version 5.5 SP2 or
newer is best); a connection to the internet; and training to use the system.
It is your responsibility to acquire computer technology and Internet access to
connect to the HOMES system. CORI cannot help you purchase computers, support
your computer network or operating software, or configure software to work with
the HOMES system. However, CORI can recommend how to connect to the CORI
system, based upon current users' experience using HOMES. CORI further suggests
that your computer consultant follow Mircosoft's hardware guidlines for the
Internet Explorer version(s) you may be using. CORI suggests that your agency
regularly downloads relevant security and other patches for Internet Explorer.
Mircosoft recommends specific computer requirements for their software. These
include a, "Computer with a 486/66-MHz processor or higher (Pentium processor
recommended)," (for Version 6 refer to:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/evaluation/sysreqs/default.asp). CORI has
users accessing HOMES with less than these requirements, but as the computer
becomes older, the speed of Internet access and computer processing speed
reduces. If new computers are required, then CORI recommends an "off the shelf"
computer be used that can be purchased from any computer retailer.
Your computers will also need a connection to the Internet. This means that
your computers require modems or ethernet cards with connection to your local
area network. Although dial-up Internet is used by many CORI associate members,
users repeatedly state that the best access is through a dedicated cable line
or ADSL internet connection. CORI recommends that you contact your computer
consultant and a local Internet provider to help you establish your connection
to the Internet.
20. What should I do
if I have a Mac Computer?
Mac computers may have difficulty accessing HOMES. To minimize problems with Mac's, you may need to select the Apple icon, then Chooser, then ensure AppleShare
is present, and that AppleTalk is set to active. Also, look at the address
bar and if there is a semicolon ";" in the address bar, remove it and hit
enter. Then if you receive a security message, click OK. You may also want to
visit these sites to ensure any upgrades to your Mac has been completed. If
there is evidence of evidence of IE 5.x bugs in your Mac, visit:
http://www.macedition.com/cb/ie5macbugs/
http://developer.apple.com/internet/css/ie5cssbugs.html
Look for the IE 6 release soon:
http://thinksecret.com/news/internetexplorer6.html
http://www.thinksecret.com/features/msieupdate2.html
|
