Frequently Asked Questions
1. In the past we have used files named 'RMTPRD.MED.DSS.SAS.FY??.V1TO5I.PHA' through 'RMTPRD.MED.DSS.SAS.FY??.V17TO22I.PHA'. However, it appears that these files no longer exist. Where did they go?
Below is a message to data users from the VA Decision Support Office, adapted for posting on this web site.
DSS NDE File Structure Changes
DSS recently changed the National Data Extract file structure. These changes have been implemented for FY 2004 files and forward.
In order to make DSS NDE files more readily accessible, DSS has moved those files from tape to Direct Access Storage Devices (DASD) at the Austin Information Technology Center (AITC formerly: CFD; formerly: AAC). In the process of moving the files, structural changes were also made. Security requirements for access remain unchanged.
Moving the NDE files to DASD reduces user waiting time and increases the ease of repeated passes through the data since there will no longer be delays waiting for tapes to be mounted. Some of the files as they were structured in the past took more than 6 tapes, causing user delay while empty tape drives were found and the multiple tapes loaded.
The structure changes consist of creating separate files for each VISN for each NDE and merging the inpatient and outpatient files. The file masks are below. No longer will multiple VISNs be included in a single file. The name mask is
RMTPRD.MED.DSS.SAS.FY##.VISN&&.ndename.
where ## refers to the two-digit fiscal year and && refers to the two-digit VISN number.
As an example, the complete file name listing for VISN 01 for FY07 is:
- RMTPRD.MED.DSS.SAS.FY07.VISN01.ALBCC
- RMTPRD.MED.DSS.SAS.FY07.VISN01.ALBHR
- RMTPRD.MED.DSS.SAS.FY07.VISN01.ATTEND (future )
- RMTPRD.MED.DSS.SAS.FY07.VISN01.DISCH
- RMTPRD.MED.DSS.SAS.FY07.VISN01.ECS
- RMTPRD.MED.DSS.SAS.FY07.VISN01.IPD
- RMTPRD.MED.DSS.SAS.FY07.VISN01.LAB
- RMTPRD.MED.DSS.SAS.FY07.VISN01.LAR
- RMTPRD.MED.DSS.SAS.FY07.VISN01.NOSHOW
- RMTPRD.MED.DSS.SAS.FY07.VISN01.OBS
- RMTPRD.MED.DSS.SAS.FY07.VISN01.OIPD
- RMTPRD.MED.DSS.SAS.FY07.VISN01.OPAT
- RMTPRD.MED.DSS.SAS.FY07.VISN01.OPAT2
- RMTPRD.MED.DSS.SAS.FY07.VISN01.PHA
- RMTPRD.MED.DSS.SAS.FY07.VISN01.RAD
- RMTPRD.MED.DSS.SAS.FY07.VISN01.RAI
- RMTPRD.MED.DSS.SAS.FY07.VISN01.TRT
- RMTPRD.MED.DSS.SAS.FY07.VISN01.WARD
BOLD denotes the Clinical NDEs documented by VIReC.
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