Project CROWNWeb Latest News

QIMS Registration Now Live for All CROWNWeb Users

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Users who will access CROWNWeb when it is released nationally can now register for an account in QIMS. You must have a QIMS account in order to access CROWNWeb. To register for an account, go to http://www.qualitynet.org, and click on the ESRD tab. Once there, click the "Register for a QIMS Account" link on the left to set up your QIMS account today!

If you need assistance when registering, you can view the informative QIMS Training Videos. These caption-enabled videos guide users through the application process as an initial SO, initial EUM, or regular End User. They provide step-by-step instructions on how to complete the required QIMS Part A form, CROWNWeb Part B form, and CMS' annual Security Awareness Training (SAT).

QIMS Initial SO and Initial EUM Training Videos Now Available

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

To help clarify the process of registering for the QIMS system as an initial Security Official (SO) or an initial End User Manager (EUM), a QIMS registration training videos are now available!

These caption-enabled 12-minute videos guide Initial SO and Initial EUM applicants through the process from the moment they first access the QIMS system to the moment that their forms are sent to the QualityNet Help Desk. They provides a step-by-step walkthrough of each screen in the application process, each form that users must complete and submit, and the mandatory Security Training process.

You can access these helpful videos here: http://goo.gl/15M8N

QIMS Online Help System

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Do you need help with completing the QIMS account registration process or need an overview of each QIMS role? If so, the QIMS Online Help System can provide you with a complete breakdown of the QIMS system, step-by-step instructions to help you properly complete the QIMS application process, and detailed instructions on the various tasks you will perform in QIMS. This online tool highlights the steps users must follow to register and perform their tasks as a QIMS Security Official (SO), End User Manager (EUM), or regular End User. Click here to access the QIMS Online Help System.

QIMS is LIVE: Phase III Participants May Begin On-Boarding

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Are you going to be a CROWNWeb Phase III participant? On December 20, 2011, CMS issued a memo that announced the QualityNet Identity Management System (QIMS) on-boarding dates for all CROWNWeb Phase III participants. According to the announcement, any Security Official (SO), End User Manager (EUM), or regular End User who will be participating in the Phase III Pilot should begin to register for a QIMS account as soon as possible, beginning with the SO for each facility.

Phase III participants will have until January 17, 2012 to establish a QIMS account, which will also be the first day of the Phase III Pilot project. Registration for the national release of CROWNWeb (users not participating in Phase III) begins on January 30, 2012. You can learn more about the QIMS system and the on-boarding process for initial Security Officials and initial End User Managers by attending this month`s "CROWNWeb and the HHS Triple Aim" Town Hall meeting. Click here to register for this educational event.

Not participating in Phase III? A future QIMS On-Boarding WebEx will be held for non-Phase III participants.

CROWNWeb Phase II Expansion Pilot Ends Nov. 30

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

November 30, 2011 officially marks the end of the Phase II Expansion Pilot. This is the last day that facilities currently using CROWNWeb 1.2 will be required to enter their data into the system. Details regarding the start of CROWNWeb Phase III and the National Release will be available on www.ProjectCROWNWeb.org.

CMS and NRAA to Begin Testing HIE Solution

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0400

CMS and the National Renal Administrators Association (NRAA) are testing the Health Information Exchange (HIE) - an electronic data submission solution that is designed to help meet the CROWNWeb data submission needs of small- and medium-sized dialysis organizations. CMS and the NRAA will start to analyze HIE data submitted via the Nationwide Health Information Network (NwHIN) gateway as a limited proof-of-concept project during CROWNWeb's Phase III release. As part of this solution, the NRAA will work with electronic medical record (EMR) vendors that meet the project's technical requirements. According to the NRAA, seven EMR vendors will participate in the pilot release. CMS and the NRAA will review the HIE pilot results, and determine the feasibility of making this solution widely available. Further details regarding the NwHIN gateway will be shared via www.projectcrownweb.org as work continues with NRAA to explore a solution that will help benefit the ESRD community as a whole.

QIMS Registration Update

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Over the last few days, CMS has identified an issue with the QIMS registration process that is preventing users from successfully registering for QIMS/CROWNWeb accounts. In addition to this, other questions surrounding the registration process have arisen that necessitate an immediate but temporary delay in QIMS registrations.

Already Registered Users

If you have already registered in the QIMS system and sent your notarized form to the Help Desk, please retain your copy of the QIMS Account form Part A. When the QIMS system returns online, instructions will be provided as to the process you must follow to complete your account activation.

New Users

If you are a new user who has not yet registered in the QIMS system, please refrain from doing so until further instructions are provided to you by CMS and/or your ESRD Network.

If you have further questions, please send your questions to craft@projectcrownweb.org or continue to visit www.projectcrownweb.org.

We thank you for your patience as we work to make the QIMS registration process as efficient for CROWNWeb's end users as possible.

Register for QIMS Town Hall and Training Sessions

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Beginning with CROWNWeb's Phase III release, users will need to utilize the QualityNet Identity Management System (QIMS) to create and manage CROWNWeb user accounts.

Learn more about the QIMS system, its benefits, and how to complete the registration process by attending upcoming QIMS On-Boarding Town Hall and Training events.

On Thursday, September 22, 2011, join CMS, the CROWNWeb Outreach, Communication and Training Team (OCT), and the QualityNet Help Desk for “QIMS On-Boarding: Getting Access to CROWNWeb”. This WebEx will introduce you to the QIMS system, walk you through the process required to submit, review, and activate a QIMS account, and introduce you to the QualityNet Help Desk. Visit the Presentations page to register for this educational meeting.

On Friday, September 23, 2011, join the OCT team at 2pm ET for a one-hour WebEx training session that will take you screen-by-screen through the QIMS application process to help Security Officials get their QIMS accounts ready for Phase III and the CROWNWeb National Release. Visit the Upcoming Training page to register for training.

CROWN Help Desk Transition

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Effective September 1, 2011, CMS transitioned the CROWN Help Desk to the QualityNet Help Desk. The QualityNet Help Desk will now serve as the support arm of the CROWNWeb system. The QualityNet Help Desk will use Remedy to track CROWNWeb service requests, including those previously opened under the Siebel ticketing system. All unsolved requests opened prior to this implementation will be transferred to the Remedy application and will continue to be worked. The QualityNet Help Desk hours of operation will remain unchanged. However, please make note of the new mailing address, phone number and email address:

QualityNet Help Desk
1401 50th Street, Suite 200
West Des Moines, IA 50266
Phone: 1-866-288-8912
Fax: 1-888-329-7377
Email: qnetsupport-esrd@sdps.org
Hours of Operation: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST,
Monday through Friday

CMS and NRAA NwHIN Project Update

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the National Renal Administrators Association (NRAA) are steps closer to releasing an electronic data submission solution that will help meet the CROWNWeb data submission needs of small- and medium-sized dialysis organizations (SDOs and MDOs). CMS and the Nationwide Health Information Network (NwHIN) project team are currently working with the Office of the National Coordinator of Health IT (ONC) to complete the process of on-boarding CMS to the NwHIN gateway. Additionally, CMS' Information Systems Group (ISG) recently signed the DURSA (a multi-party data exchange agreement) and its Office of Information Systems (OIS) is reviewing all security documents and testing activities required to launch this solution. Further details regarding the NwHIN project will be shared via www.ProjectCROWNWeb.org as work continues with NRAA to develop a possible solution that will help benefit the ESRD community as a whole.

CROWNWeb Reports Your Way

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Beginning with CROWNWeb's full national release, users will be able to create reports in CROWNWeb via two new formats - Comma Separated Values (CSV), and Excel Spreadsheet (XLS); this is in addition to the current Portable Document Format (PDF) option. The CSV format will allow users to open reports via several applications, such as Microsoft Excel or Notepad, and displays the data using commas to separate the different values. The XLS format will allow users to customize the format and display of the data using Excel's built-in functionality. XLS will also allow users to insert various filters to display only the desired data. Additionally, if users update their current Adobe Reader software to Adobe Reader X they will be able to highlight text and insert notes to call attention to a certain area on the report when using the PDF format. For more information on upcoming CROWNWeb system enhancements, visit the Release Documents page.

Completing a CMS-2746 Form After a Discharge: A Look Ahead

Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Beginning with CROWNWeb's full national release, users will be able to generate a CMS-2746 Death Notification form for a discharged patient without needing to change the patient's discharge reason. Currently, if a patient is discharged with a reason such as "Discontinue" and dies within 30 days of the discharge date, users must change the discharge reason on the Admit/Discharge page from "Discontinue" to "Death" and enter the cause of death details on the Patient Attributes page before they can access the 2746 page in CROWNWeb. This enhancement will eliminate a step, allowing the system to indicate that the patient was first discharged and died thereafter. With this change, CROWNWeb will display the Add 2746 link after users indicate the date and cause of death on the Patient Attributes page without requiring them to edit the discharge information on the Admit/Discharge page. For more information regarding the upcoming changes to the CROWNWeb system, visit the Release Documents page.

CROWNWeb Phase II Expansion to Resume on May 4

Wed, 04 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Once notified by their ESRD Network, participating Phase II Expansion facilities should prepare to resume entering data in CROWNWeb on May 4 ,2011, while continuing to submit their data to their ESRD Networks as they did prior to the launch of Phase II Expansion. CMS has identified the cause of the data inconsistency issues that caused the current delay, and has implemented solutions to resolve these issues. If you need further information, please contact CRAFT@projectcrownweb.org.

CROWNWeb 4.0 Release Notes

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Release Notes in support of CROWNWeb 4.0 are now available in the Public Documents section. These notes outline the additions and modifications to CROWNWeb's functionality that will be available to users when version 4.0 is released. You can access the CROWNWeb 4.0 Release Notes and other supporting CROWNWeb documentation here.

CROWNWeb Phase II Expansion Announced

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

On February 24, 2011, CMS announced a CROWNWeb Phase II Expansion that will tentatively expand the existing body of participating facilities from 180 to approximately 630 beginning in April 2011. CROWNWeb Phase II Expansion users will work in the existing CROWNWeb 1.2 system to submit their patient and facility data directly to CMS. Additionally, system access will be established and/or maintained via the existing QualityNet Identity Provisioning System (QIPS).

CMS will provide WebEx-based training to all Phase II Expansion participants, consisting of two 2-hour sessions repeated over a period of four weeks. CROWNWeb Phase II Expansion training will begin March 22, 2011 and run through April 13, 2011. Register for Phase II Expansion training by visiting the Upcoming Training page on the Project CROWNWeb website.

New Interactive CROWNWeb Simulations Available

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

CMS is proud to announce that five new CROWNWeb simulations are now available on the Project CROWNWeb website. Users can interact with these simulations to step through procedures and/or explore CROWNWeb's screens in a way that replicates how the system behaves. These new simulations, which accompany eight previously offered simulations, can be accessed by visiting the "CROWNWeb Simulation" page (under "Training"). The new simulations include:
- Admit a Transient Patient
- Complete a 2746
- Discharge a Patient
- Edit Existing Personnel
- PART Verification
Have an idea on other CROWNWeb simulations that would benefit facility users? Share your thoughts by sending an email to CRAFT@ProjectCROWNWeb.org today.

CMS Meets with NRAA to Discuss Electronic Data Submission Pilot

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Earlier this month, CMS met with the National Renal Administrators Association (NRAA) to discuss an electronic data submission solution that would help meet the CROWNWeb data submission needs of small and medium-sized dialysis organizations (SDOs and MDOs). As a follow-up to the proposal that NRAA submitted to CMS in Spring 2010 in which NRAA proposed acting as a third-party Health Information Exchange (HIE) gateway for the SDOs and MDOs, the two entities reviewed the technical requirements to develop this "clearinghouse" solution to manage CROWNWeb's patient data submission requirements. This solution would permit the SDOs and MDOs to submit their information to NRAA, who would then format and submit the data to CROWNWeb. This limited production pilot would ensure proper formatting and submission of the electronic data, and NRAA would need to demonstrate a proof of concept and prove success. CMS and NRAA briefly discussed this effort during a joint presentation at the Annual QualityNet Conference on November 30th in Baltimore. Further details regarding this pilot will be shared via www.ProjectCROWNWeb.org as CMS continues to work with NRAA to develop a possible solution that will help benefit the ESRD community as a whole.

Security Officials and Some End User Managers Need Two User IDs

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Individuals who will serve as their Network or Facility Security Officials (SO) will always need two User IDs in order to access CROWNWeb.In contrast, an End User Manager (EUM) needs only one ID, unless he/she will also serve as a CROWNWeb Facility Administrator (for role and scope management). In this instance, the EUM's first User ID will allow him/her to sign in as a Facility Editor, and the second will allow him/her to sign in as the CROWNWeb Facility Administrator. An SO or EUM will need to fill out a separate QIPS form and have it notarized for each User ID. If an EUM has never had a User ID before and requires the role of Facility Administrator, he/she will need to fill out two QIPS forms and have each one notarized. These User IDs will allow the EUM to separate work tasks as required by CMS Security Regulations. This requirement is a part of CROWNWeb's new robust security protocol, outlined in the QualityNet Identity Management System (QIMS). More information regarding this requirement will be shared as the Phase III release approaches and details become more concrete.

QIMS to Expedite Account Approval Process

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The QualityNet Identity Management System (QIMS) will speed up the time it takes to establish new CROWNWeb accounts because the applicant's credentials will be confirmed by the facility's End User Manager and Security Official. This new process eliminates the requirement, in most cases, for a notary public to verify an applicant's identification. The QIMS account approval and activation process will be completed in-house by the End User Manager and Security Official. Starting with CROWNWeb Phase III, new users will initiate the account approval process by accessing, completing and printing the QIMS Account Form. The applicant will then take the completed form to his/her End User Manager for approval. Once approved, the account will be activated by the facility's appointed Security Official. (Note: Users will need to obtain notarization on the form if their identification cannot be verified in-person by the Security Official - for example, remote users for which Network in-person identification verification is not possible). Click here for more information.

CROWNWeb Phase III: Multi-Factor Authentication

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Due to the sensitivity of the data available via CROWNWeb, the system must adhere to federal guidelines highlighted in Section 5.3.3.2 of the QualityNet System Security Policy (published November 2009). This segment of the policy indicates that automated user identification and authentication mechanisms must be in place and well supported for all QualityNet information systems. To meet this requirement, during Phase III, CMS will implement an identity verification process that will provide users with a one-time pass code via a phone call, text message, or e-mail. A new code will be required for each CROWNWeb session, and will be automatically generated once the user enters his/her correct username and password on the login screen of the QualityNet Identity Management System (QIMS). Once CROWNWeb issues the pass code, users will have up to 30 minutes to enter it on the log in screen to gain access to the system, and users will be able to have their computers "remember" the code so that it is valid for that one user at that one computer for up to 12 hours. Further details regarding CROWNWeb security protocol will be discussed prior to the release of CROWNWeb Phase III and the full national implementation.

CROWNWeb FOCUSed Program

Fri, 28 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Is your organization making an effort to help ease the transition to CROWNWeb for your users or customers? If so, you should be a part of the CROWNWeb FOCUSed program. Let your customers know that your organization is going above and beyond to assist them, offering tools and resources to help them with using the CROWNWeb system. Show the renal community that your facility is Focused On CROWNWeb User Simplification. Find out how you can participate in the CROWNWeb FOCUSed program by clicking the FOCUSed tab above.

Project CROWNWeb RSS Feeds

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Did you know that you can receive the latest CROWNWeb news automatically, right in your browser's favorites? Also known as "Really Simple Syndication," RSS feeds provide you with an opportunity to automatically receive the "Latest News" available on the Project CROWNWeb website. Click the RSS feed icon next to "Latest News" to subscribe to receive Project CROWNWeb RSS feeds in your browser.

Project CROWNWeb Updates

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Stay in the loop with the latest CROWNWeb news, development efforts, requirements, tips, and more by signing up to receive weekly Project CROWNWeb Updates. These notifications contain information related to the CROWNWeb system's national release, learning events, and more. Sign up to receive these announcements by creating a new CROWNWeb Learning Management System (LMS) account or by updating your current account. Click one of the LMS account buttons to create or update your LMS account.

Six-Part CROWNWeb WebEx Series

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500

How are facilities using the CROWNWeb system in the REAL WORLD?

Join other renal community stakeholders, CMS and the Renal - Requirements, Communications and Training team (RCT) as we present the latest information related to the CROWNWeb system via a six-part WebEx series. These sessions will be held the last Thursday of each month, January 28, 2010 - June 24, 2010.

For details on all six presentations and to register, click on the presentations link.

Vascular Access WebEx

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500

The recording and PowerPoint presentation for the Vascular Access WebEx conducted by the RCT Team on Thursday, November 5, 2009 are now available! This recording covers navigating the Vascular Access section of the CROWNWeb system, and provides detailed information on required fields. (Note: The presentation is in PDF format and requires Adobe Reader. To view the recording, you must have Window Media Player).

UPDATE: CROWNWeb Release 1.2 and QIPS 1.1.01

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500

CROWNWeb Release 1.2 has been implemented (for Phase II users) and QIPS Release 1.1.01 has been updated. If you experience any complications regarding these updates, please contact the CROWN Help Desk.

CROWNWeb Reference Library Released

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500

CMS is proud to announce the availability of the CROWNWeb Reference Library. This "one stop" informational resource will contain information and instructional procedures for CROWNWeb, the QIPS Account Form, and the CROWNWeb LMS.

New content is being added frequently. You can access the CROWNWeb Reference Library by clicking here.