EMS Setup - General subsection
Purpose Statement
The EMS Setup - General Subsection provides fire and EMS administrators with comprehensive configuration options for managing electronic Patient Care Reports (ePCRs) and related EMS documentation processes. This centralized configuration hub allows administrators to customize system behavior, set operational parameters, and enable advanced features that enhance workflow efficiency and compliance with state and federal reporting requirements.
Background Information
The General Subsection within EMS Setup serves as the primary control center for ePCR system-wide settings that affect all users and departments within the organization. These configurations impact critical operational aspects including data retention policies, user session management, integration capabilities with CAD systems, compliance features, and advanced functionality like AI-powered documentation and return transport workflows. Proper configuration of these settings ensures optimal system performance, regulatory compliance, and streamlined user experiences across all EMS operations.
Required Permissions
The following permission are necessary to access and configure EMS Setup:
Video
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Access EMS Setup
- Navigate to the Incident Documentation module.
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Select EMS Setup from the left-hand navigation panel.
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Within EMS Setup, select the General section.
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Then locate the General subsection.
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Use the Time Measure dropdown to select Days or Hours.
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Enter the desired value for how long deleted reports should remain in the deleted list before permanent deletion.
- Enter a number (in minutes) that specifies how long a user can be inactive before being removed from the ePCR.
- Select on the Fire EMS Short Form option.
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This enables users to document the NFIRS report directly from within the ePCR.
- Choose from the dropdown:
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Mandatory – Fire Short Form is required in every ePCR.
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Optional – Users can skip it, but they’ll receive a reminder popup.
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Never – Users won’t be required or reminded to complete the form.
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- From the CAD Import Confirmation dropdown, choose the preferred data import order:
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Fire Incident – Dispatch Information
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Dispatch Information – Fire Incident
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Responder – Fire Incident
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If enabled, a Calculate Loaded Mileage button will appear in the Response section of the ePCR.
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Enable this to include Custom Questions and Custom Sections in printed versions of the ePCR.
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If selected this will include Crew ID in the export file as a custom element.
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When enabled, an Addendum section will be added to ePCRs and can only be utilized once the report is in the completed status.
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This allows users to append supplementary info without altering the original report.
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Ensures that the Patient's Sex field is available during ePCR documentation.
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Required for NEMSIS 3.5.0 compliance.
- ➡️ See also: Configure Gender/Sex Field Workflows for your ePCR
Configure Allow Download for Multiple CAD Units by enabling the feature and selecting from two options:
- Download Apparatus Only
- Download Crew and Apparatus Information
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Once all configurations are complete, select Save to apply changes.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
Q: Users are being logged out of ePCRs too frequently. How can I resolve this?
A: Increase the Incident Auto Timeout value in the General Subsection. Consider setting it to 20-30 minutes to balance security with workflow efficiency.
Q: The fire short form popup reminders are not appearing when expected. What should I check?
A: Verify that the Fire EMS Short Form is enabled and set to "Optional" rather than "Never." Also confirm that users have the appropriate permissions to access the fire short form functionality.
Q: CAD information is importing in the wrong order. How can I fix this?
A: Check the CAD Import Confirmation dropdown setting and select the appropriate order for your department's workflow: Fire Incident then Dispatch Information, Dispatch Information then Fire Incident, or Responder then Fire Incident.
Q: Custom sections are not appearing in printed reports despite being configured. What's wrong?
A: Ensure that "Include Custom Questions/Sections in Print Reports" is enabled in the General Subsection. If the issue persists, verify that the custom sections are properly configured in the EMS Form Builder.
Q: The return transport feature is not working as expected. What should I verify?
A: Confirm that the "Enable Return Transport Feature" is activated and that users have been trained on flagging initial transports for return trips. Also verify that the initial transport ePCR was completed properly before attempting to create a return transport.
Q: Export functionality is not including crew member IDs as expected. How can I resolve this?
A: Enable "Export Vitals Crew Member ID as Custom Element" in the General Subsection. This setting adds crew member names and IDs to the XML upon export, which is required by some states for reporting compliance.
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