Common Formats for Event Reporting - Nursing Home Version 1.0 (CFER-NH V1.0) is one in a series of Common Formats released by AHRQ. It is primarily designed for use in the nursing home environment to gain enhanced understanding about the circumstances surrounding patient safety concerns in that setting. The framework applies a structured approach to the analysis of all nursing home events.
Supporting Documents
A users' guide and event descriptions for the Generic and event-specific categories are available for this version of Common Formats.
Users Guide
The Users' Guide is a comprehensive overview of the Common Formats for Event Reporting - Nursing Home Version 1.0 (CFER-NH V1.0) development and implementation, and can be used to understand the AHRQ Common Formats framework.
CFER-NH V1.0R Users Guide Posted on: 03/14/2025, 297 KB
Event Descriptions - National Collection (Core)
The following event descriptions contain core data elements required for event reporting at the local level, by providers, to PSOs and the PSOPPC for national aggregation and analysis.
Generic Event Description
The Generic Module sets out the common information to be collected for all patient safety concerns, regardless of the event type or unsafe condition. This category maps out the type of patient safety concern, the circumstances of the event or unsafe condition, patient information (if applicable), and reporter information.
CFER-NH V1.0R Generic Event Description Posted on: 03/14/2025, 106 KB
Event-Specific Descriptions
Device or Medical/Surgical Supply, Including Health Information Technology (HIT)
A device or supply event or unsafe condition involves a defect, failure, or incorrect use of a device. A Health Information Technology (HIT) - related event or unsafe condition involves a defect in, or failure or incorrect use of, an HIT device. Patient safety concerns for the Device category include incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions that occur in a nursing home.
CFER-NH V1.0R Device Event Description Posted on: 03/14/2025, 185 KB
Fall
A fall is a sudden, unintended, descent of a patient's/resident's body to the ground or other object (e.g., onto a bed, chair, or bedside mat) that can be assisted or unassisted. Patient safety events for the Fall category include only incidents that occur in a nursing home.
CFER-NH V1.0R Fall Event Description Posted on: 03/14/2025, 225 KB
Medication or Other Substance
A medication event or unsafe condition involves the processing and/or administration of medications, biological products, nutritional substances, medical gases, contrast media, or radiopharmaceuticals. Patient safety concerns for the Medication or Other Substance category include incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions that occur in a nursing home.
CFER-NH V1.0R Medication Event Description Posted on: 03/14/2025, 69 KB
Pressure Injury (Pressure Ulcer)
A pressure injury is localized damage to the skin and underlying soft tissue usually over a bony prominence or related to a medical or other device. The injury can present as intact skin or an open ulcer and may be painful. The injury occurs as a result of intense and/or prolonged pressure or pressure in combination with shear. The tolerance of soft tissue for pressure and shear may also be affected by microclimate, nutrition, perfusion, co-morbidities and condition of the soft tissue. Patient safety events for the Pressure Injury (Pressure Ulcer) category include only incidents that occur in a nursing home.
CFER-NH V1.0R Pressure Injury Event Description Posted on: 03/14/2025, 121 KB
Technical Specifications
The technical specifications include the Implementation Guide, Resources Workbook, Data Dictionary, Data Submission Error Messages, Flow Charts, and CDA XML Samples that provide direction on how to implement and submit CFER-NH V1.0 data.
Data Submission Specifications (Implementation Guide, Resources Workbook, Data Dictionary and Error Messages)
Implementation Guide
The Implementation Guide provides specifications for the required CDA XML file format to transmit Common Formats Patient Safety Report data.
CFER-NH V1.0R Implementation Guide Posted on: 03/14/2025, 1,153 KB
Resources Workbook
The Resources Workbook provides a complete mapping of OIDs, templates, data elements, answer values, and validation rules used in the creation of the CDA XML file.
CFER-NH V1.0R Resources Workbook Posted on: 03/14/2025, 63 KB
Data Dictionary
The Data Dictionary provides information on each data element (e.g., name, definition, format, values, etc.).
CFER-NH V1.0R Data Dictionary Posted on: 03/14/2025, 865 KB
Data Submission Error Messages
The Common Formats for Event Reporting - Nursing Home Version 1.0 (CFER-NH V1.0) Data Submission Error Message document contains all possible error messages for CFER-NH V1.0 patient safety data submissions. This document provides the validation rules for each error message to assist in the revision of the CDA XML file.
CFER-NH V1.0R Data Submission Error Messages Posted on: 03/14/2025, 29 KB
Flow Charts
CDA XML File Samples
