Purpose Statement

The Degraded Connection Offline feature allows ePCR to automatically operate in offline mode when an internet connection is available but too slow to provide a reliable documentation experience.

This enhancement helps field providers continue documenting patient care using information available on their device without waiting for slow network responses, frozen saves, or delayed ePCR workflows.

The degraded connection behavior applies only to ePCR. Other First Due modules continue to use the available network connection normally.

Background Information

Field providers frequently work in environments where internet connectivity may technically be available but is too slow to support reliable ePCR documentation.

Previously, ePCR could recognize when there was no network connection and fall back to locally available data through offline documentation. However, when a connection was still reachable but significantly degraded, ePCR continued to treat the device as online.

This could result in:

• ePCR lists and management functions waiting for network responses
• Saves appearing to freeze or hang
• Delayed responses while documenting
• Difficulty reliably working from information already available on the device

The Degraded Connection Offline feature allows ePCR to treat a slow-but-reachable connection as offline while leaving the rest of the First Due application online.

Requirements

Before this functionality can be used:

• The individual user's Treat slow connection as offline preference must be enabled.

Note: ePCR Degraded Offline is disabled by default and must be enabled by the individual user.

Required Permissions

No specific user permissions were identified in the provided feature documentation.

Availability of this functionality depends on offline documentation being enabled and the agency-level ePCR Degraded Offline feature being enabled.

Step by Step Guide: 

Step 1: Open the ePCR List

Navigate to the ePCR list view.

Select the Settings cog.

When offline documentation and the agency-level feature are enabled, the degraded connection preference will be available within the ePCR list Settings.

Step 2: Review the User Preference

Locate:

Treat slow connection as offline

This preference is enabled by default and is stored locally in the user's browser.

The preference is currently a local browser setting and is not a server-level user preference.

Step 3: Choose the Preferred Connection Behavior

Leave Treat slow connection as offline enabled if you want ePCR to operate in offline mode when the connection becomes too slow to provide a reliable online experience.

Turn the preference off if you want ePCR to continue treating a slow connection as online.

Changing this preference affects the individual user's browser and does not change the preference for other users.

Click Save. 

Step 4: Continue ePCR Documentation

When all of the following conditions are met:

• Offline documentation is enabled
• ePCR Degraded Offline is enabled for the agency
• Treat slow connection as offline is enabled for the user
• A connection is available but detected as slow

ePCR will operate as effectively offline.

This allows the user to continue working from information available locally on the device instead of waiting for the degraded network connection.

How This Affects Other First Due Modules

Degraded connection handling is isolated to ePCR.

When ePCR switches to offline behavior because of a slow connection, the entire First Due application is not marked offline.

Other modules, including Fire Inspection and Incident Command, can continue using the available live connection normally.

This allows agencies to improve ePCR reliability in low-connectivity environments without unnecessarily changing connectivity behavior throughout the rest of the application.

Use Case Examples

Low-Signal Area

A medic is documenting an ePCR in an area where an internet connection is technically available, but network performance is extremely slow.

With degraded connection handling enabled, ePCR can operate in offline mode rather than waiting for slow network responses, allowing the medic to continue documenting from information available on the device.

Agency-Wide Availability

An agency enables degraded connection handling for ePCR users who routinely work in areas with unreliable network performance.

Individual users receive the Treat slow connection as offline preference while other First Due modules continue using the available connection.

Individual User Preference

A user prefers ePCR to remain online even when the connection is slow.

The user can open the ePCR list Settings and disable Treat slow connection as offline without changing the setting for other users.

Best Practices

• Keep Treat slow connection as offline enabled when regularly documenting in areas with unreliable or degraded connectivity.
• Remember that degraded connection handling applies specifically to ePCR and does not place the entire First Due application into offline mode.
• If you intentionally want ePCR to continue using a slow connection, disable the individual preference from the ePCR list Settings.
• Remember that the user preference is stored locally in the browser rather than as a server preference.

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Why don't I see "Treat slow connection as offline" in the ePCR Settings?

The preference is only displayed when both of the following are enabled:

• Offline documentation
• The agency-level ePCR Degraded Offline feature

If those requirements are not met, the user preference will not be displayed.

Does a slow connection put all of First Due into offline mode?

No. Degraded connection handling applies only to ePCR. Other modules continue using the available network connection normally.

Can I prevent ePCR from treating a slow connection as offline?

Yes. Open the Settings cog from the ePCR list and turn off Treat slow connection as offline.

Does changing my preference affect other users?

No. The preference is stored locally in the user's browser and can be adjusted individually.

Is "Treat slow connection as offline" enabled automatically?

Yes. When the feature is available, the individual user preference defaults to on.

Is the agency-level ePCR Degraded Offline feature enabled automatically?

No. The agency-level feature defaults to off.

Does this feature work if offline documentation is not enabled?

No. Offline documentation must be enabled before degraded connection offline behavior can apply.