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EMS Setup - Rapid Intervention Tools

Purpose Statement

This article explains how administrators create and configure Rapid Intervention Tools in EMS Setup. A Rapid Intervention Tool is a preconfigured template that lets EMS providers document several interventions at once during an active incident, such as procedures, medications, airway management and vital signs. Building these tools ahead of time reduces documentation time, keeps patient care records more accurate, and lets providers stay focused on treatment.

Background Information

  • What it is: Rapid Intervention Tools are templates that providers open from the ePCR during an incident. Each tool combines the interventions you choose, with shared fields and default values already filled in.
  • Why it matters: Documenting interventions one at a time slows providers down and makes it easier to miss information, especially when several treatments happen at once.
  • Common use cases:
    • Cardiac arrest, where CPR, medications, airway and vitals are documented together
    • Trauma and respiratory distress calls
    • Multi-patient and other high-acuity incidents
  • Prerequisites:
    • The EMS Setup - Manage permission (see Required Permissions)
    • A list of the interventions and default values that match your department's protocols

Required Permissions

  • EMS Setup - Manage: Allow
    • This permission has a single Allow toggle. Turning it on gives the user full access to create, edit and configure Rapid Intervention Tools.

To check or grant access:

  • Click the First Due logo to open the module stack.
  • Select Admin, then select Roles & Permissions.
  • Open the user's role and turn on Allow for EMS Setup - Manage.

Note: Changes to a Rapid Intervention Tool affect every provider who uses it in the ePCR.

Video

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Open Rapid Intervention Tools

  • Click the First Due logo to open the module stack.
  • Select ePCR, then click EMS Setup.
  • Select Rapid Intervention.

Step 2: Create or Edit a Tool

  • To create a new tool: Click + Add Rapid Intervention Tool.
  • To edit an existing tool: Click the Pencil icon in the Actions column.

 
 

Step 3: Enter the Tool Name

  • Enter a Tool Name. This field is required.
  • Use a name that clearly describes the scenario, such as "Cardiac Arrest."
 
 

Step 4: Add an Icon (Optional)

  • Click the Pencil icon in the Icon box.
  • Choose an icon that represents the tool.
  • Click Save.
A new modal will appear for you to select an icon that will represent this tool, once selected click on Save.
 
 

Step 5: Turn On Active Tools

  • Toggle On each Active Tool you want to include, such as Procedures, Medications, Airway, Vitals or Labs.
 
 

Step 6: Select Shared Fields

  • Use the Shared Fields dropdown to choose the fields that are shared across all of the Active Tools you turned on.
 
 

Step 7: Set Default Values for Shared Fields

  • Select a shared field.
  • Use the dropdown to choose its Default Value.
  • Repeat for each shared field.
 
 

Step 8: Configure Each Active Tool

  • Select an Active Tool.
  • Click + Add. The button's label matches the Active Tool, such as + Add Procedure.
  • Choose the fields you need from the dropdown.
  • Entry limits for each Active Tool:
    • Procedures and Medications: up to 3 entries
    • Airway and Vitals: 1 entry
    • Labs: no limit
 
 

Step 9: Set Default Values for Tool-Specific Fields

  • Select each field you configured.
  • Use the dropdown to choose its default value.

 
 

Step 10: Create or Save the Tool

  • For a new tool: Click Add.
  • For an existing tool: Click Save.

Best Practices

Do:

  • Build tools around your most common high-acuity scenarios, such as cardiac arrest, trauma and respiratory distress.
  • Choose icons that are easy to recognize under stress.
  • Set default values that match your department's protocols.
  • Test new tools with field personnel before rolling them out.

Don't:

  • Don't turn on Active Tools that the scenario doesn't need. Extra tools slow providers down.
  • Don't add fields that aren't essential to documenting the intervention.

Common mistakes to avoid:

  • Looking for a Save button on a new tool. New tools use Add.
  • Setting default values that don't reflect current protocols
  • Leaving out shared fields, which leads to inconsistent documentation across providers

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Can I change a Rapid Intervention Tool after I create it? Yes. Click the Pencil icon in the Actions column to edit the tool.

How many entries can each Active Tool have? Procedures and Medications allow up to 3 entries. Airway and Vitals allow 1 entry each. Labs have no limit.

Why don't I see a Save button? New tools use the Add button. The Save button only appears when you edit an existing tool.

Can I change shared fields and default values later? Yes. Edit the tool to update its shared fields and default values.

How do I keep documentation consistent across providers? Use shared fields and default values to standardize key data points in all of your Rapid Intervention Tools.

I can't see EMS Setup or Rapid Intervention. Your role may not have access. Ask an administrator to turn on Allow for EMS Setup - Manage in Admin > Roles & Permissions.