Step 1: Navigate to EMS Setup
From the Incident Documentation module, go to EMS Setup.
Step 2: Select the Custom Elements Section
- Click on Custom Elements in the sidebar.
Step 3: Add a New Custom Question
- Under Custom Questions, click the Add button.
Step 4: Review Required Fields
- Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*).
Step 5: Enter a Custom Element ID
- This unique ID can be from your agency or a NEMSIS State Data Set (e.g.,
emsa.E1
).
Step 6: Enter a Title
- The title is the label providers will see on the ePCR form.
Step 7: Select Data Type
- From the Data Type dropdown, choose Text/String.
- This allows for either:
- Free text input (memo field)
- A custom dropdown list
Step 8: Set Recurrence
- Choose Yes if the question can be answered more than once in a report.
Step 9: XML Export Option
- From the dropdown, select Yes or No to include this field in the XML export.
Step 10: Define Usage Level
- Choose whether the field should be:
- Mandatory
- Required
- Recommended
- Optional
Note: Required and Recommended options allow you to define Not Values.
Step 11: Set Not Values (if applicable)
Use the dropdown to select which Not Values apply (e.g., Not Applicable, Not Recorded).
Step 12: Set Pertinent Negatives (if applicable)
- Choose any relevant Pertinent Negatives from the dropdown.
Step 13: Add a Definition
- This internal field explains the purpose of the custom question.
Step 14: Define the Path
- Choose to add the question to:
- A Custom Subsection (recommended for agency-specific workflows)
- A Data Set field (DEMDataSet or EMSDataSet)
Step 15: Add to Custom Subsection (optional)
- If selected, use the dropdown to choose a subsection.
Step 16: Select a Data Set
- Choose a Data Set if Add to Custom Subsection is not selected.
- DEMDataSet - will compare against a state specific Demographics set.
- EMSDatatSet - will compare against the national NEMSIS standard.
Step 17: Set the After Field
- Select the field after which your custom question should appear in the ePCR.
Step 18: Choose Dropdown or Memo Field
Dropdown: Users pick from a list of preset options.
Memo Field: Allows open-ended text entry with a narrative style field.
If Not Values or Pertinent Negatives were selected earlier, you can now set defaults.
Neither Value has to be selected but note this limits the users to a single line entry field.
Step 19: Configure Memo Field (if selected)
- Set:
- Minimum characters
- Maximum characters
- Default value (optional)
- Example of Memo Field enabled and when not enabled within an ePCR.
Step 20: Configure Dropdown Field (if selected)
- Create a custom list of options.
Step 21: Add Dropdown Choices
- For each option:
- Code: Used for tracking
- Value: Displayed to users to choose
- Set one as the Default (optional)
- Enabled: Will display the value within the ePCR.
- Use + to add and – to remove items
Step 22: Save the Custom Question
- Click Add to finalize and create your new custom question.
Best Practices
- Use clear and consistent naming conventions for Custom Element IDs.
- Group related questions into custom subsections for ease of use.
- Always test new fields in a Test environment before deploying to production.
- Use dropdowns to standardize data input.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
What’s the difference between Text/String and Memo?
Text/String refers to the data type. Memo is a display option for entering free text.
Can I edit a custom question after saving?
Yes, but you are limited to what is editable.
Areas that are not able to be edited once created are:
- Data Type
- Recurrence
- Usage
- Not Values
- Pertinent Negatives
- Min/Max Characters
Why don’t I see the question in my ePCR?
Ensure that the Custom Question is set to Active.