11. Reserved Tags

This document defines the Department reserved tags used to identify specific records types in the Primary Mental Health Care Minimum Data Set (PMHC MDS). Tags beginning with an exclamation mark (!) are reserved for future use by the Department.

Tags field definitions for each record type are available in Record formats.

11.1. Reserved tags currently in use

The following tags can currently be used in PMHC MDS uploads and data entry:

!br20 - Australian Government Mental Health Response to Bushfire
!covid19 - Episode occurred as result of COVID-19 pandemic

11.1.1. !br20 - Australian Government Mental Health Response to Bushfire

PHNs in fire affected communities are funded through the Australian Government Mental Health Response to Bushfire Trauma to deliver services including:

Front line emergency distress and trauma counselling, with up to 10 free mental health support sessions for individuals, families and emergency services personnel

‘Surge capacity’ mental health services to individuals and families who are affected, and

Increased demand for headspace sites in fire affected areas.

The PMHC MDS reporting changes are designed to capture this funded service activity through the reserved Episode tag !br20.

11.1.1.1. PHNs who received funding

PHNs funded through the Australian Government Mental Health Response to Bushfire Trauma must apply the bushfire response tag to all episodes where one or more service contacts is funded by the response.

For these PHNs, the service provider should apply the bushfire response tag to:

11.1.1.1.1. New clients

Who are accessing services funded through the Australian Government Mental Health Response to Bushfire Trauma

Whose access to a mental health service was prompted by exposure to bushfire (e.g. their stated reason for approaching a service is their recent exposure to bushfire), and/or

Whose mental health service need was significantly increased by their exposure to bushfire (e.g. based on the judgement of the service provider).

11.1.1.1.2. Existing clients

i.e. clients with an open episode.

Who are accessing services funded through the Australian Government Mental Health Response to Bushfire Trauma, and/or

Whose mental health service need was significantly increased by their exposure to bushfire (e.g. additional or higher intensity services are required).

11.1.1.2. PHNs who did not receive funding

PHNs who did not receive funding for Australian Government Mental Health Response to Bushfire Trauma activities may use the PMHC MDS reporting changes to capture the service response to bushfire trauma.

For these PHNs, the service provider should apply the bushfire response tag to:

11.1.1.2.1. New clients

Whose access to a mental health service was prompted by exposure to bushfire (e.g. their stated reason for approaching a service is their recent exposure to bushfire), and/or

Whose mental health service need was significantly increased by their exposure to bushfire (e.g. based on the judgement of the service provider).

11.1.1.2.2. Existing clients

i.e. clients with an open episode.

Whose mental health service need was significantly increased by their exposure to bushfire (e.g. additional or higher intensity services are required).

11.1.1.3. How to apply the tag in the PMHC MDS Data Entry interface

The bushfire response tag is available for use on an episode record and is denoted !br20.

There are two ways to apply the tag through the PMHC MDS data entry interface:

Manual data entry by typing the tag !br20 to the Episode tag field.

When entering data directly, episodes will need to be tagged with the string !br20. The data entry system already allows for the tagging of records and therefore it is possible to implement this immediately by communicating the instructions to users.

Please note the free text nature of the tag system increases the opportunity for errors because it is easy to mistype a tag. This should be emphasised in communications with users.

Tick the box labelled ‘Australian Government Mental Health Response to Bushfire’.

This tick box automatically adds/removes the tag when ticked/unticked. This functionality will be available by 24 January 2020.

The checkbox is on the Episode add and edit screen:

Ticking the checkbox will add the !br20 tag to the tag field

Typing the !br20 tag into the tag box will also tick the checkbox

Unticking the !br20 checkbox will remove the !br20 tag

Deleting the !br20 tag from the tag field will also untick the checkbox

11.1.1.4. Considerations for applying the !br20 tag in data uploads

Please refer to Considerations for applying reserved tags in data uploads

11.1.2. !covid19 - Episode occurred as result of COVID-19 pandemic

The !covid19 tag was originally used for indicating that an episode occurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s use was then changed for the purpose of implementing the Head to Help Version 3 specification as documented at !covid19 - Australian Government HeadtoHelp hubs.

When migrating data during the Version 4 rollout, NSW and Victorian pop-up clinics data was identified using the Head to Help Version 3 extension and !covid19 tag. Any historical or new records that are identified this way will be mapped to this to the 2: Head to Health Program Type field under the Version 4 specification.

The !covid19 tag will remain as a reserved tag for the original purpose of indicating that an episode has occurred as result of the COVID-19 pandemic once the Head to Help Version 3 extension reaches it’s end of life date.

11.2. Reserved tags no longer in use

The following tags have previously been available to be used in PMHC MDS uploads and data entry. They still remain on existing data but must not be used for new data uploaded after their retirement date. The following information is provided for historical reference only.

Tag	Retirement Date
!amhc - Australian Government Mental Health Centres	Week of 1st August 2022

11.2.1. !covid19 - Australian Government HeadtoHelp hubs

The usage for the !covid19 tag is changing when the Head to Help Version 3 specification is phased out. The ongoing use for the !covid19 tag is documented at !covid19 - Episode occurred as result of COVID-19 pandemic . The following documentation is being maintained for historical purposes.

The Australian Government is providing funding to Victorian PHNs to deliver services through HeadtoHelp hubs as part of its response to the mental health impact of COVID-19.

The department is implementing a new tag in the PMHC MDS to capture activity associated with the HeadtoHelp hubs.

This change only applies to PHNs in Victoria.

The department will introduce further data collection requirements for HeadtoHelp activity in the coming weeks and is consulting with PHNs. The Department will advise Victorian PHNs of new data collection requirements in future circular/s.

11.2.1.1. New ‘Australian Government HeadtoHelp hubs’ tag (!covid19)

The Department has introduced an ‘Australian Government HeadtoHelp hubs’ tag to the PMHC MDS.

All clients who either call the 1800 HeadtoHelp number or present in person at a HeadtoHelp hub and are identified as HeadtoHelp hub clients will be assessed through the ‘HeadtoHelp Victorian Mental Health Hubs Intake Assessment and Referral Model of Care’ as outlined in the contract. Clients will be referred to the most suitable service, which may be at a HeadtoHelp hub.

The PHN must apply ‘Australian Government HeadtoHelp hubs’ tag (!covid19) to episodes of care initiated for clients who have been referred to the hub through the IAR process and are receiving services funded through the HeadtoHelp hubs contracts.

11.2.1.2. How to apply the tag in the PMHC MDS Data Entry interface

The HeadtoHelp hubs tag is available for use on an episode record and is denoted !covid19.

There are two ways to apply the tag through the PMHC MDS data entry interface:

Manual data entry by typing the tag !covid19 to the Episode tag field.

When entering data directly, episodes will need to be tagged with the string !covid19. The data entry system already allows for the tagging of records and therefore it is possible to implement this immediately by communicating the instructions to users.

Please note the free text nature of the tag system increases the opportunity for errors because it is easy to mistype a tag. This should be emphasised in communications with users.

Tick the box labelled ‘Australian Government HeadtoHelp hubs (!covid19)’.

This tick box automatically adds/removes the tag when ticked/unticked.

The checkbox is on the Episode add and edit screen:

Ticking the checkbox will add the !covid19 tag to the tag field

Typing the !covid19 tag into the tag box will also tick the checkbox

Unticking the !covid19 checkbox will remove the !covid19 tag

Deleting the !covid19 tag from the tag field will also untick the checkbox

11.2.1.3. Considerations for applying the !covid19 tag in data uploads

Please refer to Considerations for applying reserved tags in data uploads

11.2.2. !amhc - Australian Government Mental Health Centres

11.2.2.1. Scope of new interim data collection requirements

The Australian Government is providing funding to a number of PHNs who are responsible for the operation of the AMHC trial sites.

The department is implementing a new tag in the PMHC MDS to capture activity associated with AMHCs from December 2021, until the new version 4 data model is available in March 2022.

This change only applies to the following PHNs implementing AMHCs from December 2021:

West Victoria PHN
Northern Territory PHN
ACT PHN
North Perth PHN
Nepean Blue Mountains PHN
North Queensland PHN
Tasmania PHN

The department will provide further advice to these PHNs regarding new version 4 data collection requirements in a future circular. PHNs implementing AMHCs will still be expected to retrospectively update AMHC data when the version 4 data model is introduced. The department will work with PHNs and Logicly to ensure that PHNs have sufficient time to make these retrospective data updates.

11.2.2.2. New ‘Australian Government Adult Mental Health Centre’ tag (!amhc)

The department is introducing an ‘Australian Government Adult Mental Health Centre’ tag to the PMHC MDS. It will be available before December 2021.

The PHN must apply ‘Australian Government Adult Mental Health Centre’ tag (!amhc) to episodes of care initiated for clients who have been referred to the AMHC hub through the IAR process and are receiving services funded through the AMHC hubs contracts.

A tick box will be added to the PMHC MDS interface to simplify data entry.

11.2.2.3. How to apply the tag in the PMHC MDS data entry interface

The AMHC tag is available for use on an episode record and is denoted !amhc.

There are two ways to apply the tag through the PMHC MDS data entry interface:

Manual data entry by typing the tag !amhc to the Episode tag field.

When entering data directly, episodes will need to be tagged with the string !amhc. The data entry system already allows for the tagging of records and therefore it is possible to implement this immediately by communicating the instructions to users.

Please note the free text nature of the tag system increases the opportunity for errors because it is easy to mistype a tag. This should be emphasised in communications with users.

Tick the box labelled ‘Australian Government Adult Mental Health Centre (!amhc)’.

This tick box automatically adds/removes the tag when ticked/unticked.

The checkbox is on the Episode add and edit screen:

Ticking the checkbox will add the !amhc tag to the tag field

Typing the !amhc tag into the tag box will also tick the checkbox

Unticking the !amhc checkbox will remove the !amhc tag

Deleting the !amhc tag from the tag field will also untick the checkbox

11.2.2.4. Considerations for applying the !amhc tag in data uploads

Please refer to Considerations for applying reserved tags in data uploads

11.3. Considerations for applying reserved tags in data uploads

Users of local third-party or in-house developed systems will need to address varying issues depending on the capability of the system. When considering options please be aware the PMHC MDS specification does not require that data is captured in the same manner as it is supplied during upload.

For example, an ideal solution could be to add an extensible multiple choice “Tags” field to local episode data entry screens. This could initially include an “Australian Government Mental Health Response to Bushfire” option thereby providing the organisation control over the possible tags that can be captured. By ensuring that additional options were easily added in the future such a field would support future special access programs without significant changes, as well as other purposes local or as requested by the Department.

An alternative approach, requiring less development, would be to extend an existing local field at the episode level with an “Australian Government Mental Health Response to Bushfire” option. This gives the organisation control over the values that may be selected.

In both of the above examples, development work would also be required in the data extraction process used to produce PMHC MDS compliant upload files. An endorsement of “Australian Government Mental Health Response to Bushfire” via either method would be converted to the tag !br20 on the extracted episode records where appropriate.

An alternative but not preferred option is that episode records could be uploaded and then subsequently manually tagged via the data entry interface. This would require significant manual processes and double handling but it is a use case supported by the PMHC MDS.

If you have queries about managing data upload processes please contact the PMHC MDS helpdesk at support@pmhc-mds.com.