Purpose Statement

This article explains how to add and manage multiple patients within a single Electronic Patient Care Report (ePCR) incident in First Due. This feature allows EMS personnel to document information for multiple patients associated with the same incident while easily navigating between individual patient reports.

Background Information

When responding to an incident involving multiple patients, EMS personnel may need to document patient care for more than one individual.

First Due allows users to add multiple patients to an incident, making it easier to organize patient documentation without having to create a separate incident for each patient.

Users can add patients when creating a new EMS report or when editing an existing EMS report.

Required Permissions

Users must have the appropriate permissions to create or edit EMS reports within First Due.

Note: The specific permission names and settings required to add multiple patients should be verified with your department's First Due administrator.

Video

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Open an EMS Report

1. Navigate to ePCR in the module stack, then to either the EMS Homepage

2. Select Add New to create a new EMS report, or open an existing EMS report to edit it.

Step 2: Locate the Patient Information

1. At the top of the EMS report, locate the incident number.

2. Next to the incident number, you will see two dashes (--) representing the patient information before a patient name has been entered.

3. As you enter a patient's name into the report, the name will appear at the top of the screen.

Step 3: Add an Additional Patient

1. Select the patient information area at the top of the report.

2. Click Add Patient.

3. A new patient will be added to the incident, allowing you to document information for that individual.

4. Enter the appropriate patient information into the report.

Step 4: Navigate Between Patients

1. Locate the patient selection area at the top of the EMS report.

2. Select the patient you want to view or edit.

3. The report will display the selected patient's information.

4. Continue documenting patient information as needed.

5. Repeat this process to navigate between all patients associated with the incident.

Best Practices

- Verify Patient Information: Confirm that the correct patient is selected before entering or updating documentation.

- Maintain Accurate Documentation: Ensure each patient's information is documented in the appropriate patient report.

- Use Patient Names for Identification: Enter patient names when available to make navigating between patients easier.

- Review All Patient Reports: Before completing documentation, verify that the necessary information has been entered for each patient associated with the incident.

- Avoid Duplicate Patients: Review the existing patients associated with the incident before adding another patient.

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Can I add multiple patients to an existing EMS report?

Yes. You can open an existing EMS report and use the Add Patient button to add another patient to the incident.

How do I add another patient to my incident?

Select the patient information area at the top of the EMS report and click Add Patient.

How do I switch between patients?

Use the patient selection area at the top of the EMS report to navigate between the patients associated with the incident.

Why do I see two dashes next to the incident number?

The two dashes (--) represent the patient information before a patient name has been entered. Once you enter a patient's name, it will appear in that location.

Can I document different information for each patient?

Yes. After adding another patient, you can document information for that patient and navigate between patients as needed.

Why can't I add another patient?

Verify that you have access to create or edit EMS reports. If the Add Patient option is unavailable, contact your department's First Due administrator to review your permissions.