To explain how to complete the Disposition & EMS Narrative section of an ePCR, which documents patient disposition throughout the incident and allows completion of the incident narrative. This section ensures proper documentation of patient outcomes, transport details, and provides space for comprehensive incident documentation required for compliance and quality assurance.
Background Information
The First Due ePCR workflow is designed to follow a typical EMS incident progression through eight sequential sections. The Disposition & EMS Narrative represents the seventh step in this workflow, capturing critical end-of-incident information including patient disposition, transport details, destination information, and the comprehensive incident narrative. This section is essential for NEMSIS compliance, billing accuracy, and quality improvement initiatives.
Required Permissions
Users must have ePCR Edit permissions to complete the Disposition & EMS Narrative section. Field users, supervisors, and administrators typically have access to modify ePCR records, while view-only users cannot make changes to this section.
Video
Step-by-Step Guide
Accessing the Disposition & EMS Narrative Section
Within the ePCR, navigate to the Disposition & EMS Narrative Section
IMPORTANT: All NEMSIS required fields are notated with an asterisk (*). Depending on your state protocols, additional information could be required.
Completing the Disposition Section
The Disposition section documents patient disposition throughout the incident. Complete the following fields as applicable:
Unit Disposition* - Select the type of patient contact made
Crew Disposition - Select how care was provided (Initiated, Assumed from another crew, etc.)
Patient Evaluation - Select if patient was evaluated and the outcome of the evaluation
Transport Disposition - Enter how/if the patient was transported and document refusal/release (if applicable)
Disposition Instructions - If applicable select instructions given to patient if no transport
Transported To - Select the facility the patient is being transported to; Address information will auto-populate if built out in set up.
Reason for Choosing Destination - Select the reason the unit chose to deliver or transfer the patient to the destination
Transport Mode From Scene - Indicate the type of transport from scene along with any additional descriptors for that mode
How Pt. was Moved from Ambulance - Select the method by which the patient was moved from the ambulance to the destination
Hospital In-Patient Destination - Enter the location within the hospital that the patient was taken directly by EMS (e.g., Cath Lab, ICU, etc.)
Final Patient Acuity - Select the acuity of the patient's condition after EMS care
Hospital Capability - Choose the primary hospital capability associated with the patient's condition for this transport (e.g., Trauma, STEMI, Peds, etc.)
Return Transport Required - This option can be toggled on should the patient require a return trip back to their original location (See Related Article)
Adding Hospital Team Activation (When Applicable)
Within Disposition, document Hospital Team Activation if applicable:
Select the Add Hospital Team Activation button to capture this information
Complete the following required fields:
Destination Team Pre-Arrival Alert or Activation* - Indicate that an alert (or activation) was called by EMS to the appropriate destination healthcare facility team prior to EMS Unit arrival
Pre-Arrival Alert Date* - Enter the Date/Time EMS alerted, notified, or activated the destination healthcare facility prior to EMS arrival
When finished, select the Save button
Completing the Narrative Section
The Narrative section allows completion of a comprehensive narrative for the ePCR
Enter detailed information about the incident, patient care provided, and any relevant observations or circumstances
Troubleshooting & FAQs
Q: What if required fields are highlighted in red after submission?
A: Complete all fields marked with an asterisk (*) and any additional state-required fields. The system will not allow submission until all required information is entered.
Q: When should I document a Hospital Team Activation?
A: Document when EMS contacted the receiving facility prior to arrival to activate specialized teams (trauma, STEMI, stroke, etc.) based on patient condition and assessment findings.
Q: How detailed should my narrative be?
A: Include comprehensive information about the incident, patient presentation, care provided, patient response to treatment, and disposition. The narrative should tell the complete story for quality assurance and legal documentation purposes.
Q: Can I edit the ePCR after submission?
A: This depends on your agency's workflow settings. Some agencies allow post-submission edits with supervisor approval, while others lock records after submission.
Completing an ePCR - Response Purpose Statement To explain how to complete the Response section of an ePCR (electronic Patient Care Record) in First Due. This section captures critical incident response data including crew information, dispatch ...
Purpose Statement The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how to use A.I.-powered documentation tools when completing an EMS Patient Care Report (ePCR) in First Due. This feature enhances field documentation by allowing users to transcribe ...
Purpose To explain how to complete the Assessment section of an ePCR. Related Articles Completing an ePCR - 1. Response Completing an ePCR - 2. Information Completing an ePCR - 3. Assessment (This Article) Completing an ePCR - General Assessment ...
Purpose Statement To provide comprehensive guidance on completing the Vital Signs section of an electronic Patient Care Record (ePCR) in First Due, ensuring accurate documentation of patient vital signs, lab results, imaging, and medical device ...