EMS Setup - General subsection

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:

EMS Setup - Manage--This permission within the ePCR Setup group is needed to access and modify the General Subsection settings. This permission is typically assigned to system administrators or designated EMS configuration managers who are responsible for department-wide ePCR system management.


Video




Step-by-Step Guide


Step 1: Access EMS Setup
  • Navigate to the Incident Documentation module.
  • Select EMS Setup from the left-hand navigation panel.

Navigate to the Incident Documentation module and select on EMS Setup.



Step 2: Open the General Subsection
  • Within EMS Setup, select the General section.
  • Then locate the General subsection.

Select on the General section and navigate to the General subsection.



Step 3: Set Retention Time for Deleted EMS Reports
  • Use the Time Measure dropdown to select Days or Hours.
  • Enter the desired value for how long deleted reports should remain in the deleted list before permanent deletion.

You are able to set how long to keep deleted EMS reports on the deleted list before they are permanently deleted.

Once you select the Time Measure now set the number of Days or hours to keep deleted EMS reports in the deleted list.



Step 4: Configure Idle Timeout for ePCR Access
  • Enter a number (in minutes) that specifies how long a user can be inactive before being removed from the ePCR.

Set a number in minutes that will remove someone from the ePCR if they remain idle on the screen when documenting.



Step 5: Enable Fire EMS Short Form (Optional)

Enabling the NFIRS EMS Short form will allow users to complete the NFIRS report from within the ePCR.



Step 6: If Fire EMS Short Form Was Enabled Set Requirement Level
  • Choose from the dropdown:
    • Mandatory – Fire Short Form is required in every ePCR.
    • Optional – Users can skip it, but they’ll receive a reminder popup.
    • Never – Users won’t be required or reminded to complete the form.





Step 7: Define CAD Import Confirmation Order
  • From the CAD Import Confirmation dropdown, choose the preferred data import order:
    • Fire Incident – Dispatch Information
    • Dispatch Information – Fire Incident
    • Responder – Fire Incident





Step 8: Enable Calculate Loaded Mileage
  • If enabled, a Calculate Loaded Mileage button will appear in the Response section of the ePCR.

If enabled when completing an ePCR the Calculate Loaded Mileage button will populate within the Response section.



Step 9: Include Custom Questions/Sections in Print Reports
  • Enable this to include Custom Questions and Custom Sections in printed versions of the ePCR.

If selected this will include your Custom Questions or Custom Sections in the Print Reports.



Step 10: Export Crew ID as a Custom Element
  • If selected this will include Crew ID in the export file as a custom element.

If enabled this will export the crew ID as a custom element.



Step 11: Enable Addendums
  • When enabled, an Addendum section will be added to ePCRs and can only be utilized once the report is in the completed status.
  • This allows users to append supplementary info without altering the original report.

Enabling Addendums will create an Addendum section within an ePCR that can be utilized once a report has been completed.



Step 12: Enable Patient's Sex Field
This will enable the Patient's Sex field to populate when completing a ePCR.




Step 14: Return Transport Feature
Enable Return Transport Feature to streamline creation of return journey ePCRs by automatically populating relevant information from initial transports while maintaining compliance requirements for fresh clinical documentation.




Step 15: ePCR Debug Mode
Enable ePCR Debug Mode to provide a self-service debug panel for government customers to verify offline saving functionality without requiring Chrome developer tools access.




Step 16: Allow Download of Multiple CAD Units

Configure Allow Download for Multiple CAD Units by enabling the feature and selecting from two options:

  • Download Apparatus Only
  • Download Crew and Apparatus Information




Step 17: Save Your Settings
  • Once all configurations are complete, select Save to apply changes.

Remember to always select Save if completed with setup.


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.


Related Articles

  1. EMS Setup - Enabling ePCR QA/QI Notifications
  2. EMS Setup - Auto Number Setup
  3. EMS Setup - Default Time Setup
  4. EMS Setup - Setting the Default Measurement Scale
  5. Setting up the ePCR - Auto Estimate of Loaded Transport Mileage
  6. EMS Setup - Certification Levels
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