Data can be transferred securely in one of three ways:

• SFTP (secure file transfer protocol),
• secure email, or
• loading files directly to a private OneDrive for Business folder maintained behind HIPAA-compliant firewall on the Ferris secure server.

Transferred data is maintained behind a Ferris HIPAA-compliant firewall. After the initial extract, additional data can be transferred on a monthly or quarterly basis to be reflected in the dashboard.

Yes, you can download template DUAs for use with Michigan and Illinois partners, or contact us to request a DUA for use in other states. The agreement specifies the extent to which the data is used, and the list of data fields that are extracted from EHR. The CHARM project is reviewed and monitored by the Ferris State University Institutional Review Board (IRB).

CHARM is supported by a grant from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Surveillance for Healthcare-Associated & Resistant Pathogens (SHARP) Unit as well as the Illinois Department of Public Health. As a result, participation and basic reporting services are provided at no charge for health systems and clinics located in Michigan and Illinois. Fees for out-of-state facilities may apply.

Your institution will receive a highly interactive, health system specific dashboard. Within the dashboard, you can apply filters to obtain granular insight into your providers’ antibiotic prescribing practices. You will be able to determine your prescribers’ adherence to published or institutional guidelines and benchmark performance internally among prescribers and externally against other health systems in the state. Depending on the data provided, these reports may include progress toward HEDIS metrics. You can review a quick six minute overview here.

Contact the CHARM team to schedule an initial consultation dashboard demonstration.

Tracking and monitoring outpatient antibiotic use is an element of performance (EP) in the Joint Commission’s Antimicrobial Stewardship in Ambulatory Health Care requirements. Participation in CHARM fulfills this EP.

Data from CHARM allows for generation of antibiotic usage reports that can be used to identify antimicrobial stewardship initiatives and measure the impact of stewardship initiatives.  Additionally provides insights into institutional progress in meeting HEDIS measures.

• Klepser M, Rauch H, Woodwyk A, Altom A, Schauer M, MacCallum C, Klepser D. Benchmarking outpatient antibiotic prescribing patterns and adherence to published guidelines in an academic medical clinic. American College of Clinical Pharmacy 2017 Annual Meeting. Phoenix, Arizona. 
• Woodwyk A, Rauch H, Schauer M, Wan F, Dregansky G, Klepser M. Assessment of Oral Antibiotic Prescribing Practices in WMed Outpatient Clinics. 36th Annual Kalamazoo Community Medical and Health Sciences Research Day. May 2, 2018. Kalamazoo, Michigan. 
• Woodwyk A, Rauch H, Schauer M, Wan F, Dregansky G, Klepser M. Assessment of Oral Antibiotic Prescribing Practices in WMed Outpatient Clinics. 2018 Women in Statistics and Data Science Conference. October 19, 2018. Cincinnati, Ohio. 
• Hammershaimb B, Chung D, Tracey J, Dregansky G, Schauer M, Woodwyk A, Rauch H, Klepser ME. Assessment of Outpatient Antibiotic Prescribing to Guide Antibiotic Stewardship Initiatives at University Affiliated Health Clinics. American College of Clinical Pharmacy 2018 Annual Meeting. October 20, 2018. Seattle, Washington. 
• Bixman L, Tran S, DeShelter M, Bates J, Wolfe A, Woodwyk A, Rauch H, Elder J, Klepser M. Comparison of Outpatient Antimicrobial Usage Among Ambulatory Clinics using Standardized Methods. American College of Clinical Pharmacy 2018 Annual Meeting. October 20, 2018. Seattle, Washington. 
• Hammershaimb B, Winterholler JE, Chung D, Tracey J, Dregansky G, Schauer M, Woodwyk A, Rauch H, Klepser ME. Assessment of Outpatient Antibiotic Prescribing to Guide Antibiotic Stewardship Initiatives at University Affiliated Health Clinics. MSMS Foundation Annual Scientific Meeting. October 26, 2018. Novi, Michigan. 
• Winterholler JE, Hammershaimb B, Leist C, Kucera M, Trombley M, Rauch H, Woodwyk A, VanLoo D, Klesper ME. Assessment of Antimicrobial Prescribing Patterns in an Outpatient Clinic System to Promote Outpatient Antimicrobial Stewardship. MSMS Foundation Annual Scientific Meeting. October 26, 2018. Novi, Michigan. 
• Leist C, Kucera M, Trombley M, Winterholler J, Rauch H, Woodwyk A, VanLoo D, Klesper ME. Retrospective Assessment of Antimicrobial Prescribing Patterns in an Outpatient Clinic System. American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting and Exposition. March 23, 2019. Seattle, Washington. 
• Stultz-Griffey H, Weaver P, Woodwyk A, Sohn M, Wallington D, Warner A, VanLoo D, Klepser M. Impact of pharmacist-led education and prescriber report cards as outpatient antimicrobial stewardship initiatives in a community health system. American College of Clinical Pharmacy Annual Meeting. October 26-28, 2019. New York, New York. 
• Goldsworthy J, Elliott M, Woodwyk A, Dregansky G, Sohn M, Klepser ME. Impact of prescriber education and report cards on outpatient antibiotic prescribing for UTIs at a Federally Qualified Health Clinic (FQHC). American College of Clinical Pharmacy Annual Meeting. October 26-28, 2019. New York, New York. 
• Grubbs E, Ford J, Ho H, Sohn M, Klepser M. Utilization of the Collaboration to Harmonize Antimicrobial Registry Measures (CHARM) Dashboard To Support Outpatient Antimicrobial Stewardship. American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting and Exposition. 2021. 
• Sohn M, Dubbert C, Dixon G, Pontefract B, Van Loo D, Klepser M. CHARM Dashboard: A standardized tool for state-wide benchmarking of outpatient antibiotic use. American College of Clinical Pharmacy Annual Meeting. October 2021. 
• Grubbs E, Pontefract B, Sohn M, Ford J, Klepser M. Leveraging visual data through CHARM dashboards to identify and track the impact of stewardship interventions. American College of Clinical Pharmacy Annual Meeting. October 2022. San Francisco, California.
• McDonnell J, Pontefract B, Sohn M, Klepser M. Infectious Diagnoses and Antibiotic Concordance Compared Between White and Non-White Populations Within Three Michigan Health Systems. American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists MidYear Clinical Meeting. December 4-8, 2022. Las Vegas, Nevada.
• Randall Parat, Kyle Andrew Brillantes, Paul Thill, Michael E. Klepser. Concordance of Pediatric Amoxicillin-Clavulanate Suspension Formulation Selection and Dosing Regimen. American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists MidYear Clinical Meeting. December 10, 2023. Anaheim, California.
• Claire Richardson, Kayla Backus, Michael Klepser, Benjamin Pontefract, Kushal Dahal, Minji Sohn.  Low Rate of Concordant Antibiotic Selection among Ambulatory Patients with Renal Impairment.  American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists MidYear Clinical Meeting. December 10, 2023. Anaheim, California.
• Hollyann Holmquist, Ashley Mesman, Minji Sohn, Michael Klepser. Utilizing Collaboration to Harmonize Antimicrobial Registry Measures (CHARM) Data to Assess Trends of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Outpatient Clinics. American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists MidYear Clinical Meeting. December 10, 2023. Anaheim, California.
• Michael Hallada, Andrew de Voest, Jeffery Sundell, Minji Sohn, Michael Klepser. Validation of CHARM at Trinity Health Muskegon. American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists MidYear Clinical Meeting. December 10, 2023. Anaheim, California.
• Hollyann Holmquist, Minji Sohn, Michael E. Klepser. “Utilizing the Collaboration to Harmonize Antimicrobial Registry Measures (CHARM) Data to assess prescribing trends for amoxicillin during a shortage.” Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy. April, 17, 2024. New Orleans, Louisiana.
• Sydney Starmer, Michael Klepser, Benjamin Pontefract, Kushal Dahal, Nicholas Torney, Minji Sohn. Outpatient Fluoroquinolone use in a Michigan Health System. Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy. April, 17, 2024. New Orleans, Louisiana.
• Kushal Dahal, Michael Klepser, Benjamin Pontefract, Minji Sohn. Collaboration to Harmonize Antimicrobial Registry Measures (CHARM). American Medical Informatics Association. May 21, 2024. Minneapolis, Minnesota.
• Tiasha Nandi, Kathryn, M. Pawlowski, Benjamin Pontefract, Michael Klepser, Minji Sohn. Patterns of Clostridioides difficile Treatment in Outpatient Settings Using the Collaboration to Harmonize Antimicrobial Registry Measures (CHARM). ID Week. October 17, 2024. Anaheim, California.
• Helen Mishreky, Cameron Smith, Minji Sohn, Benjamin Pontefract, Kushal Dashal, Michael Klepser. Use of Collaboration to Harmonize Antimicrobial Registry Measures (CHARM) to Assess Antibiotic Prescribing in Dental Practices. ID Week. October 17, 2024. Anaheim, California.
• Brianna VanHouten, Owen Eckardt, Benjamin Pontefract, Minji Sohn, Michael E. Klepser. Comparison of Antibiotic Prescribing for Urinary Tract Infections (UTI), Sinusitis, Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis, and Pyelonephritis by Provider Type. ID Week. October 17, 2024. Anaheim, California.
• Ben M Zalupski, Zeina S Elroumi, Austin Brown, Minji Sohn, Michael E. Klepser. Association Between Maintenance Medication Adherence and the Likelihood of Receiving Antibiotics Among Adults. American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists MidYear Clinical Meeting. December 9, 2024. New Orleans, Louisiana.
• Cameron Lakatos, Jessica Swailes, Kushal Dahal, Minji Sohn, Michael Klepser. Tracking HEDIS measures for Acute Bronchitis with the Collaboration to Harmonize Antimicrobial Registry Measures (CHARM). American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists MidYear Clinical Meeting. December 9, 2024. New Orleans, Louisiana.
• Tiasha Nandi, Kathryn, M. Pawlowski, Benjamin Pontefract, Michael Klepser, Minji Sohn. Patterns of Clostridioides difficile Treatment in Outpatient Settings Using the Collaboration to Harmonize Antimicrobial Registry Measures (CHARM). American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting and Exposition 2025. March 22, 2025. Nashville, Tennessee.
• Helen Mishreky, Cameron Smith, Minji Sohn, Benjamin Pontefract, Kushal Dashal, Michael Klepser. Use of Collaboration to Harmonize Antimicrobial Registry Measures (CHARM) to Assess Antibiotic Prescribing in Dental Practices. American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting and Exposition 2025. March 22, 2025. Nashville, Tennessee.
• Brianna VanHouten, Owen Eckardt, Benjamin Pontefract, Minji Sohn, Michael E. Klepser. Comparison of Antibiotic Prescribing for Urinary Tract Infections (UTI), Sinusitis, Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis, and Pyelonephritis by Provider Type. American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting and Exposition 2025. March 22, 2025. Nashville, Tennessee.
• Minji Sohn, Anne Hadaad, Kushal Dahal, Brenda Brennan, Michael Klepser. Enhancing Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship through the CHARM Project: A Collaborative Initiative between Ferris State University and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists Annual Conference. June 9, 2025. Grand Rapids, Michigan.
• Michael Klepser and Minji Sohn. Collaboration to Harmonize Antimicrobial Registry Measures (CHARM). EpiVision Session. Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists Annual Conference. June 10, 2025. Grand Rapids, Michigan.
• Tan Vo, Kushal Dahal, Michael Klepser, Benjamin Pontefract, Minji Sohn.  Collaboration to Harmonize Antimicrobial Registry Measures (CHARM) Database Analysis of Antibiotic Prescribing in Urgent and Non-urgent Care: A Retrospective Study on Demographic Factors. American Public Health Association Annual Meeting.  Sunday, November 2, 2025. Washington, D.C.
• Jonathan Guerin, Kushal Dahal, Michael Klepser, Benjamin Pontefract, Minji Sohn. “Use of Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) through Collaboration to Harmonize Antimicrobial Registry Measure (CHARM) to Assess Differences in Prescribing Patterns Among Patient Populations For Upper Respiratory Infections.” American Public Health Association Annual Meeting.  Sunday, November 2, 2025. Washington, D.C.
• Madeline Gardner, Minji Sohn, Benjamin Pontefract, Kushal Dahal, Michael E. Klepser. “Disparities in Antibiotic Avoidance for Acute Bronchitis: The Role of Patient Race and Insurance Status.” American Public Health Association Annual Meeting.  Sunday, November 2, 2025. Washington, D.C.

• Klepser ME, Altom A, MacCallum C, Nordquist E, Klepser DG. Description of the methods for describing and assessing the appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing and adherence to published treatment guidelines in an academic medical clinic.  Innovations in Pharmacy. 2016;7:1-8. 
• Sohn M, Chung D, Winterholler JE, Hammershaimb B, Leist C, Kucera M, Trombley M, Tracey J, Dregansky G, Schauer M, Rauch H, Woodwyk A, VanLoo D, Warner A, Klepser ME. Assessment of antibiotic use and concordance with practice guidelines within three diverse ambulatory clinic systems. JAPhA. 2020;60:930-6. 
• Sohn M, Pontefract B, Dahal K. Klepser M. Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship during the COVID-19 era: Analysis of Prescribing Trends and Guideline Compliance. Antimicrobial Stewardship and Healthcare Epidemiology. 2025. doi:10.1017/ash.2025.10081