Mental health grouping methodology
The System for Classification of In-Patient Psychiatry (SCIPP) grouping methodology categorizes patients based on Resident Assessment Instrument–Mental Health (RAI-MH) data submitted by participating organizations to CIHI’s Ontario Mental Health Reporting System (OMHRS).
Overview of the methodology
SCIPP was developed by the Ontario Joint Policy and Planning Committee and interRAI in 2003. The grouping methodology sorts patients, based on their RAI-MH assessments, into categories and groups according to their clinical characteristics and estimated resource use.
Get an overview of the SCIPP clinical hierarchy:
Read a summary of the key steps used to assign inpatient mental health care episodes to SCIPP groups:
Accessing the methodology
Get detailed specifications on the SCIPP grouping methodology and associated Case Mix Index (CMI) values, as well as the SCIPP grouping methodology SAS code, flowcharts and CMI values:
Methodology in action
For facilities that submit data to OMHRS, CIHI produces SCIPP Weighted Patient Day (SWPD) reports quarterly to summarize clinical information and estimated resource use, both for each patient and at an aggregate level for the organization. SWPD reports are used by financial and decision-support analysts, RAI coordinators, facility administrators and management teams in health regions and ministries of health.
Education materials
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How to cite:
Canadian Institute for Health Information. Mental health grouping methodology. Accessed April 25, 2025.
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