Release Notes February 2024

Release Notes February 2024


App

  1. Current Version:
    1. iOS: 5.5.4
      1. Added radio channel field on dispatch details view.
      2. Reworked menu usability. Now you can pin your favorite/most used sections from to shortcuts!
      3. Updated menu options reflect the new Scheduling menu and sub-menu.
      4. Unit Filter option allows for filtering by unit type, agency, or name. This will allow users to have more control both the unit list and units visible on the map.
      5. Permission based status response. Now, agencies can control who is allowed to status themselves responding to an incident or not based on user roles.
      6. Minor bug fixes related to image quality.
    2. Android: 6.6.6
      1. Updated menu options reflect the new Scheduling menu and sub-menu.
      2. Unit Filter option allows for filtering by unit type, agency, or name. This will allow users to have more control both the unit list and units visible on the map.
      3. Permission based status response. Now, agencies can control who is allowed to status themselves responding to an incident or not based on user roles.


Assets

  1. New Feature:
    1. Preventative Maintenance Management
      1. Agencies can enable automatic Work Orders to coincide with Preventative Maintenance Programs.
      2. Create Maintenance Schedules in Assets Setup -> Preventative Maintenance
      3. For Step by Step instructions, refer to this article: Configuring Preventative Maintenance for Apparatus

           

      1. Several new permissions have been added to the Assets bucket for management of Preventative Maintenance and the list view.
  

    1. Add to Restock List Within a Check
      1. Users can now add an inventory item to the Restock List while completing a checklist.
      2. If the item has a minimum quantity defined, and the user enter a quantity less than the minimum, the "Add to Restock List" option will appear.


    1. Checklist Configuration - Signature Options
      1. A new setup option for checklists allows users to NOT require a signature upon completion of the check.
      2. Toggle on indicates a required signature. Toggle off indicates no signature prompt will appear. 
      3. By default, this option is ON (the current status of all checks in First Due prior to this release)


    1. Checklist Association 
      1. Now, users can associate compartments with checklists regardless of whether or not equipment/inventory is assigned.
      2. This allows users to create compartments and immediately associate them with checklists.
      3. As equipment and Inventory move into or out of the compartment, those items will appear or stop appearing in the associated checks accordingly. 
    2. Location Search Enhancement 
      1. Search for a assigned location by either field:
        1. Apparatus or compartment
        2. Station or storage
        3. Kit or Pouch
  

    1. Log Book - Additional Details
      1. Log book entries now include both the location and sub-location of an assigned piece of equipment or kit.


    1. Barcode Scanning - Inventory 
      1. Users can now use the barcode scan feature to receive inventory.
      2. The feature is available in both the Web and Mobile device UI.
      3. The scanner will search/populate the SKU# field inside the receiving modal.
        1. If the scan matches an existing SKU#:
          1. If the SKU matches a single inventory: Name field is populated and locked.
          2. If the SKU matches more than one inventory item: Name field will populate a dropdown list.
        2. If a user types in an inventory name...
          1. That matches an existing SKU: The field is populated
          2. That already exists but has no SKU: the field remains empty and is editable
          3. That does not exist: The inventory is added as a new item and all fields are editable.




Activities

  1. Enhancement:
    1. The requirement of "at least one participant" to create an event has been removed.
    2. Events can be created and saved without participants, and those participants can be added at another time as needed.
      

Community Connect

  1. New Feature:
    1. Permits - Show Custom Data Fields in Community Connect Portal
      1. Agencies can now enable specific custom data fields within each permit to be visible to CC users when applying for a permit.
      2. To configure, a new toggle is available when editing the Permit Type: "Show Question in CC".

  1. Enhancement:
    1. CC Users Page Additional Filter and Columns
      1. Several new filters and columns have been added to assist agencies in sending bulk notifications to more specific groups of users.




Incident Documentation

  1. New Features:
    1. Fire Incident Report - Apparatus Section
      1. Apparatus documentation has been redesigned and separated into its own report section.
      2. Within the Apparatus section, users can document everything related to each specific company/apparatus in one place:
        1. Incident Times
        2. Personnel
        3. Actions Taken
        4. Unit Narrative
      3. See the following Knowledge Base Article for more details: Fire Incident Report - Apparatus





    1. NFIRS Fire Incident List - Concurrent Data Entry
      1. Multiple Users can now contribute to NFIRS documentation simultaneously.
        1. Specifically, Apparatus information can be documented directly from the fire incident list if another user is currently accessing the full fire report.
        2. Example: Company Officers from 2nd, 3rd in apparatus can document their own apparatus section while the 1st in officer completes the full fire form.
      2. For more details see the following Knowledge Base Article: Concurrent Data Entry of Apparatus within Incident Documentation


  1. Enhancements:
    1. Fire Incident List - Sort by Incident Number
      1. Clicking on the column label "Incident #" will sort the records by the Incident Number in ascending or descending order.
    2. Fire Incident List - Use the "Enter" Button
      1. Users can now use the "Enter button on the keyboard to initiate a search after after filling in filters.

ePCR

  1. New Feature:
    1. ePCR Signature Blocks
      1. The new ePCR Signature Configuration was released on February 19th.
      2. Signature Blocks give agencies more control over signature language & and requirements.
      3. For more information, refer to these Knowledge Base Articles:
        1. EMS Signature Setup
        2. Completing the ePCR - Obtaining Signatures


    1. Printed Reports - Configure Header & Logo
      1. Similar to NFIRS, agencies can configure the printed form under EMS Setup -> Form
      2. Add a logo + text or a header image as well as header information to the top of the form.

  1. Enhancements:
    1. Permissions - Print/Edit/Read
      1. In order to allow users who do not have permission to edit an ePCR the ability to access & print an ePCR, these permissions have been separated.
      2. Each action is now a separate permission - a user can access the incident list to print, even if they are unable to add or edit reports.
    2. QA/QI - Print Report with all QA Comments Included
      1. Users can now print reports from the QA/QI List.
      2. From the QA/QI List, printed reports include comments and messages on the last page of the printed form.
      3. New Permission: Print QA/QI EMS Incident (ePCR Bucket)
  
    1. Workflows - Default Values for Groups
      1. Users can now target form groups with Default Value Workflows. The ability to set a group default has been added to:
        1. Information | EMS | Medications Group
        2. Vital Signs | Vitals Group
        3. Treatments | Medications Group
        4. Treatments | Procedures Group


    1. EMS Setup - Treatment and Medication Management
      1. The management of treatment and medication settings has changed.
        1. Adding or removing individual treatments has been moved to Field Customization. 
          1. Treatments | Medication | Name
          2. Treatments | Procedures | Name
        2. Treatment and Medication Settings are still accessed from the protocols tab. Continue to use the protocols tab to:
          1. Change the display labels for treatments or medications
          2. Change the Procedures or Medications list order.
          3. Set default dose, interval and occurrence ranges, and other settings.
    2. Monitor Import - Import Treatments and Medications.
      1. Users can now import treatments and medications directly from their cardiac monitors.
      2. Currently, only Philips cases are supported.
      3. To configure, first navigate to EMS Setup -> Devices -> Code Marker Mapping to associate a monitor code with the appropriate treatment or medication.
    3. ePCR Form - Protocols Used
      1. Protocol Used has been moved to the Treatment section of the ePCR form.


    1. NEMSIS 3.5 - Disposition Fields
      1. Disposition fields have been reorganized into a more intuitive workflow at the top of the section.


    1. Assessment - "Normal" Findings
      1. All "normal" findings are now located at the top of each body system assessment.


    1. QA/QI - Infinite Scroll
      1. Supervisors can now scroll all the way through a report when performing review. The view will "jump" from one section to another by simply scrolling down or up. 
    2. Narrative - Spacing
      1. Narrative formatting has been enhanced to preserve spacing, line breaks, etc when printed or when sent to QA/QI.
    3. Crew Member Import
      1. Integration with Aladtec is now supported for importing crew members into the ePCR. For more information, contact your Client Success Manager.
    4. Other Enhancements:       
      1. [CAD] - Map EMD card Number from CAD.
      2. [Export] - Change file type for PDFs on endpoint page for 3.5.0 clients to eOther.09 - Code: 4509027
      3. [CAD] - Map eTimes.09- Unit left scene from nfirs_notification for started NFIRS reports.
      4. [EKG][Zoll] - Process all 12 leads received in the case file.
      5. [Export] -  Update the URL in the XML file when generating from the Incident List.
      6. [Import] - Update the import tool to process and import the "Birth Date" field.
      7. [Kno2] -Add new logs to the PDF generation process.
      8. [Workflows] – Include the option to set Default Values from Workflows for eOutcome.10 & .13.
      9. [Export] - Remove criteria fail code from conditions for resend.
      10. [Print] - Add Ending Odometer field to Print report.
      11. [Export] - Include in the XML values of 0 for mileage nodes.
      12. [EMS Setup] - Change label of Form Language to "Signature Setup" .
      13. [EMS Setup] - Re-name "Validation" section to "Schematron Setup". 

Investigations

  1. Enhancements:
    1. Scene Information - Cause of Ignition
      1. A new field has been added in the Scene Information section: Cause of Ignition.
      2. This field is included in both the export and printed report.


Inspections

  1. New Features:
    1. Occupancies - Complex Name
      1. Users can use the Complex Name field to group multiple locations under a common name.
      2. New Permission: "Field Management - Manage Complex Name" (Others Bucket)
        1. All Users who currently have "Fire Inspections - Delete" have been given this permission already.
      3. "Complex Name" has been added as a column and filter in the following places:
        1. Pre Plan Organizer
        2. Inspection Organizer
        3. Inspection List
        4. My Inspections
        5. Invoices
        6. Permits
        7. Complex names are included as an option when cloning an address from the Pre Plan Map
      4. For more information, see the following Article: Complex / Common Names


    1. Inspections - Delete Completed Inspections
      1. Users can now delete completed inspections.
      2. New Permission: "Fire Inspections - Delete Completed Inspection" (Fire Prevention Bucket)
      3. In order to be deleted, a completed inspection cannot have any associated re-inspections, permits, or invoices. Those associated items must be deleted or unlinked.
      4. Users must confirm deletion in each instance and provide a reason.



    1. Inspection Reminder - Previous Inspection Report
      1. For reinspections, if/when a reminder is sent a copy of the last completed inspection report is attached with the reminder.
      2. The attachment will be the last report in the inspection series:
        1. For 1st reinspections, the initial inspection is attached.
        2. For 2nd, 3rd, etc the previous inspection is attached.
    1. Inspection Reminder - Tags
      1. When writing an inspection reminder, users can now add one or more tags to the email.
      2. Tags will display corresponding inspection fields, similar to how tags are used in the Form Builder.
      3. Users can use the bottoms on the bottom of the reminder box to add tags with the format dtf_<tag name>. Once the email is sent, the tag text is replaced by inspection data.


    1. Inspection Scheduling - Field Management
      1. Users can now manage the list of timeframes available to schedule an inspection within Admin -> Field Management and editing the field "Schedule To".



  1. Enhancements:
    1. Choose Contact Type when Sending Inspection Reminders
      1. Users can now choose which contact(s) receive inspection reminders. Choose between:
        1. Primary Occupancy Contact
        2. Inspection Contact
        3. Both Primary Occupancy Contact & Inspection Contact
      2. To assist with this feature, a new filter was added to the Inspection List: Contacts with Email




  1. Fixes:
    1. Inspection Checklist Items - Taking a picture with device camera
      1. The component is now only initialized when the user wants to take a picture and taps on the picture button. This avoids having to grant access to the camera every time an inspection is opened.


Invoicing

  1. New Feature:
    1. Void an Invoice
      1. Users now have the ability to void an invoice if necessary.
      2. New Permission: Invoice - Void (Fire Prevention Bucket)
        1. All users who currently have the "Invoice - Delete" permission have this new permission enabled.
      3. An Invoice can be voided if it is locked.
        1. Invoices become locked when they are printed, emailed, or paid (partially or fully).
        2. If a payment for the invoice exists, a refund should exist. In order to void, the user must refund any paid amount.
      4. Users can void the invoice from either the Invoice List or within the individual invoice.
      5. Once the invoice is voided:
        1. Only actions available are print/email.
        2. The printed invoice will clearly display "VOID"
        3. The invoice UI within First Due will display the user who voided and the reason provided.
        4. The Invoice List grid item will be displayed in red.




  




Reports
  1. New Features:
    1. Data Set Permissions
      1. Data Set Permissions allow agencies to restrict specific roles from creating Ad-Hoc reports using specific data sources.
        1. This scope currently applies to report creation - reports are still visible to all roles with the "Ad-Hoc Reports - Read" permission
      2. Associated Required Permission: Ad-Hoc Reports - Setup (Reports Bucket)

      1. Inside Data Set Permissions, choose which roles have access to a particular data source. Uncheck roles to revoke access.


    1. Report Criteria in PDF Results
      1. New option was added to include a report's criteria in the pdf report form.


  1. Enhancements:
    1. FY2023 AFG Report Published as a First Due Report
      1. The FY2023 AFG Grant Application call volume data report is published in the Ad-Hoc report list as FDR-NFIRS-070: FY2023 FEMA Assistance for Firefighters Grant (AFG) 
        1. This report can be used to complete the FY2023 AFG grant application on the FEMA website. The data in this custom query applies to page 6 of the AFG Application Checklist and evaluates a variety of metrics in 2023, 2022, and 2021. 
        2. For a full description of this report as well as all First Due Reports, refer to this article: First Due Reports (FDR)
    2. Ad-Hoc - Additional Columns Available for Incident Reports
      1. Time Intervals in seconds
        1. Total Call Duration (seconds)
        2. Time to First Arrival (seconds)
      2. Casualties
        1. Civilian Casualties
        2. Civilian Deaths
        3. Firefighter Casualties
        4. Firefighter Deaths
      3. Personnel Counts
        1. Total Apparatus Personnel: Count of all individuals on an apparatus for an incident, regardless of if they arrived on scene or not.
        2. Total Station Response Personnel: Count of all individuals documented in Station Response on each incident.
        3. Total Dept Personnel: Sum of "Total Apparatus Personnel" and "Total Station Response Personnel"
        4. Total Mutual Aid Personnel: Sum of the number of people on mutual aid apparatus for each call.
        5. Total Incident Personnel: Sum of Total Apparatus + Total Station Response + Total Mutual Aid
      4. Incident Type Description Options
        1. If pulling Incident Type information, users can choose to display Code only, Description only, or Code + Description


    1. All Scheduling Data Source
      1. Reports with no start date criteria are now defaulted to the previous year and the current year. 
    2. Canned Report - Inspections Completed Weekly
      1. Three new columns:
        1. Address
        2. District
        3. Occupancy Class

Scheduling

  1. Enhancements:
    1. Shift Sign Up - Partial Shifts
      1. Users can now sign up for partial shifts in the shift board. When clicking on "Sign up" users can select the hours they are available by switching from "Full" to "Hours".








    1. Scheduling Deputy - Sort Time Off
      1. New option to sort time off entries within the Scheduling Deputy.
      2. Three sorting options:
        1. Default: Reflects the Time Off Type list order within Scheduling Setup.
        2. Ascending: Sorts time off types A-Z by name.
        3. Descending: Sorts time off types Z-A by name.  
      3. All time off entries are always displayed, with pending requests at the top with approved entries below. With every sorting option, the second sort element is the request date.


    1. Notification Setup Options
      1. Users with scheduling responsibilities can now turn on/off notifications for vacancy signups and off-roster approval requests.
      2. Scheduling -> Settings -> Notification Options
      3. If enabled, the user will receive an email notification.


    1. Qualifier Added to Shift Reminders
      1. Qualifiers have been added to the reminder notification for a work shift.
      2. Shift reminders can be created both manually and automatically. In both cases, an email and SMS are generated and sent to the user.
      3. The qualifier required by the position being filled in the work shift has been added to the end of the message sent to the user.




    1. Call Shift Message Update SMS
      1. The SMS message a user receives for a call shift has undergone the following changes:
        1. Includes the Date and Time the shift will be awarded (the time the user has to respond)
        2. Includes the name of the assignment if the call shift was initiated from the shift board.

Training

  1. New Feature:
    1. Template Inactivation
      1. Users now have the option of toggling templates between active and inactive.
      2. Training -> Setup -> Templates
        1. Use the Active/inactive button in the actions column.
      3. Filtering on the template list is available for template status. 




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