OASIS Buddy FAQ


What is OASIS Buddy ?
What makes OASIS Buddy so unique?
How do we get our data into OASIS Buddy ?
What are the chances that OASIS Buddy will mess up my OASIS files?
Is it legally and ethically okay to copy data out of the OASIS and use it in this way ?
Are there times when it doesn't work?
How long does it take to set up?
How often should we update our data files?
What support is available?
Do we need to buy any other software to operate Buddy?
What can I expect in terms of upgrades?
Can I customize Buddy with other variables from my MIS?
I like graphs; how does Buddy support them?
Does Buddy offer help on financial management?
What is OASIS Buddy?

OASIS Buddy is an extension to your OASIS data gathering software. It includes all the tools you need to analyze, pose what-if questions, and determine outcomes using your OASIS data. Its primary emphasis is on analyzing you OASIS data enabling you to use it as the backbone of your OBQI program.

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What makes OASIS Buddy so unique?

OASIS Buddy allows you to import and analyze your OASIS data before it is locked or submitted. The software also offers numerous useful reports that were left out of Haven and extensive on-site OASIS analysis. The error trapping offered in OASIS Buddy is also far beyond that provided using the CMS standard edits.

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How do we get our data into OASIS Buddy?

OASIS Buddy uses our custom interfaces to import data that already exists in your OASIS system. We have developed this capability for the majority of the OASIS systems in use today.

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What are the chances that OASIS Buddy will mess up my OASIS files?

None. OASIS Buddy never changes your OASIS data.

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Is it legal and ethical to copy data out of the OASIS system and use it this way?

The data in your OASIS system is yours, not the vendors'. Most vendors provide you with a means to copy data for use in spreadsheets or for benchmarking.

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Are there times when it doesn't work?

No. Some OASIS systems make it easier than others to copy data for other uses. However, in the worst case you can still input your Medicare/Medicaid data from the files you submit to the state.

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How long does it take to set up?

You can set OASIS Buddy up in a matter of minutes.

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How often should we update our data files?

Most agencies refresh the data in OASIS Buddy on a daily basis.

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What support is available?

The purchase of OASIS Buddy includes eight hours of phone support. If you have questions about how to run a report or if the data looks wrong to you, please call. Also, we will not count any time spent resolving errors in our installation of OASIS Buddy.

We are prepared to communicate by phone, email, fax and the US Mail. If we identify a bug in your installation we can usually fix it by accessing your system via a remote hookup or by sending you a corrected program file via the Internet.

We offer a OASIS Buddy training CD. For $78 dollars you receive 3½ hours of instruction on using the tools and reports in OASIS Buddy. From setup to error-trapping to advanced

OBQI analysis.
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Do we need to buy any other software to operate OASIS Buddy?

No. OASIS Buddy is installed with a "run-time" version of Visual FoxPro.

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What can I expect in term of upgrades?

The general model under which OASIS Buddy is distributed is that it will operate the same in all agencies. When OASIS Buddy is changed for one agency, it will be changed for all. It is difficult to estimate the frequency with which these updates will occur. Historically, we have produced upgrades at least twice a year to respond to suggestions and regulatory changes.

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Can I customize Buddy with other variables from my MIS?

OASIS Buddy enables you to export your assessments in a usable format to a spreadsheet or database. You can then integrate that output with other data available to you.

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I like graphs; how does Buddy support them?

In recent years it has become astonishingly easy to produce graphs in spreadsheets such as Excel. Most agencies have at least one person on staff who is adept at building graphs. OASIS Buddy allows you to take advantage of this. The export feature of OASIS Buddy mentioned above allows you to apply this skill to your OASIS data.

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Does Buddy offer help on financial management?

OASIS Buddy is designed to give you maximum assistance in managing PPS episodes. When you examine an OASIS assessment, you can immediately learn what Medicare case-mix group the patient belongs to as well as the per-episode payment rate. And, by entering the expected number of visits by discipline you can compare costs to revenue. Reports also show how items on a patient's assessment have affected the case-mix group assignment.

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