eMEDS Elite

Announcing the New ePCR Computer: Panasonic FZ-G2

As you may have heard, MCFRS is replacing all of the Panasonic CF-20 ePCR machines with a new model, the FZ-G2. (This does not affect Elite or anything else you may run on the machine.) The replacement is occurring one battalion at a time over the summer and early fall of 2023. Here are some important notes:

Stability and Docking

  • The new machines are sturdier than the current CF-20s.
  • Docks have been outfitted with wings to help keep the ePCR from dropping to the ground. (Note: You will mount it vertically.)
  • The new machines are top-heavy, so you should use the handle as an outrigger to balance it and prevent it from falling backward.FZ-G2 ePCR Model

Networking

  • The machines are no longer stand-alone computers. The FZ-G2 will connect to the county public safety network using the same technology as the MDC (a program called NetMotion and protected by iBoss).

Keyboard

  • The connection between tablet and keyboard is manual (for a more reliable connection).
    • There is no auto-locking, so please follow the instructions on the keyboard base to avoid gravity-related problems.
    • The DC cover on the bottom-left side of the tablet must be closed prior to placing the tablet into the keyboard base. The tablet must be pressed firmly into the keyboard base while the locking mechanism is slid to the left.FZ-G2 Keys

USB

  • There is an easy-access USB port on the left side of the keyboard base for you to connect the Airtraq camera.
  • The port is protected by a sliding door.

PSTrax

  • Attention, ALS Providers: There is a shortcut for PSTrax on the desktop. As a reminder, you must have completed your training to use the system. (Training deadline is 08/01. See here for the training and please use your tech training login credentials.)PSTrax logo

 

Running the ePCR/Elite Cache Clear

EMIHS has made a change to speed up the load time for eMEDS/Elite. (It will also clear out the dashboard. The down-side to that is that, when it runs at 0300 hours each day, it will also clear out the unit and crew. If you run any calls between 0300 and shift change, please re-input your information as needed.)

If your system seems to be running slowly throughout the day and you would like to run this process on your own:

  • Log out of Elite.
  • Find and double-click the BrowserClear shortcut on the Windows desktop.
    ePCR Browser Clear Desktop Shortcut
  • Note the window that appears and click the Clear Cache button.
    ePCR Browser Clear Warning
  • Click the Yes button if you would like to proceed. (If not, click the No button and close the Clear Cache box you saw before.) You will know the process is complete when the window disappears.

Completing an ALS to BLS Downgrade Checklist in Elite

Are you downgrading a call from ALS to BLS? While there has been a procedure in place for your documentation, the EMIHS group has added a new page (called Worksheet in Elite) for you to fill out, as well. Here are the basics:

Find and click the (new) black and gray Worksheets button, now located a few buttons below the Times button on the right side of the screen (above the Power Tools). This will toggle the Power Tools with the (new) Worksheets buttons.

Elite Worksheets button

 

 

Find and click the green Downgrade button, located on the right side of the screen where the Power Tools were a moment ago.

Elite Downgrade button

 

 

Note that a new screen has appeared. There is a menu on the left side with six headings. Clicking any of the headings takes you down the page to that particular section.

Elite downgrade page menu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answer the questions.

Elite - ALS to BLS Downgrade Form Graphic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elite - ALS to BLS Downgrade Form GraphicElite - ALS to BLS Downgrade Form GraphicElite - ALS to BLS Downgrade Form GraphicSign the bottom (both the ALS provider and BLS provider must sign).

Understanding the Billing Tab in Elite

Are you at a loss with the Billing tab in Elite when you’re working on a patient report? Here is a TechTip that might help.

Elite Billing Tab

 

 

 

Specifically, let’s talk about the CMS Service Level field.

CMS Service Level Elite Field

 

 

When you see this field, ask yourself: What is the level of service provided to the patient during transport? (Because of how we assemble resources, it is not always obvious if a patient was transported ALS or BLS.  We need to identify if the paramedic upgraded a call or if it was downgraded to BLS.)

  • If the patient received ALS service during transport, pick any option that contains ALS (ALS1, ALS1 Emergency or ALS Level 2 – it doesn’t matter which).
  • If the patient received BLS service during transport, pick any option that contains BLS (BLS or BLS Emergency – it doesn’t matter which).
  • Disregard other choices.

Note: The choices in this field are driven at the national level but not all of the choices apply to how we do business.  We have adapted what you enter to get the information we need locally, which is why you can choose any ALS, any BLS and disregard the rest.

Viewing a Patient’s Previous 12-Lead EKGs

ImageTrend (ELITE) recently added the functionality to view a patient’s previous 12-lead EKGs and other vitals.  Here are the steps you need to take:

  • Begin entering demographic information for you patient:
    • Use as much personally identifying information as possible (minimum of 2 pieces) to identify the correct patient including Name, Social Security Number, Date of Birth, Home Address.
    • Note that, if the system finds a matching record, a yellow bar with a blue Find a Repeat Patient link will appear at the top and the Find a Repeat Patient button will turn blue — Use this button whenever possible to keep multiple patient encounters grouped together.
      Repeat PT Button

 

 

 

  • Click the Find a Repeat Patient button.
  • Select the proper patient from the list of possible matches.
  • Click on the Timeline power tool at the right of the screen. (This allows you to view information from previous incidents, such as vitals, EKGs, previous dispatch reasons, and provider impression.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Select the Medical Devices in the filter criteria to view a list of EKGs, and click the eye icon to view the EKG, itself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Questions about how to use this function may be directed to Captain Tim Burns or FF Benjamin Brighton.

Writing a Patient Report for the Obvious DOA

Scenario: You arrive at the scene to find the patient obviously deceased and the family member present said that the patient had a heart attack in his sleep. In this scenario, you did not attempt to resuscitate the patient. Here are the fields you will need to change in Elite that differ from the typical patient report, but this TechTip does not address all of the other fields you should be filling in that are typical of any call in your talented report writing skill.

MenuTabFieldBest Entry
Call InfoDispositionPrimary RoleNon-Transport - Other Reason
Call InfoDispositionT&T DispositionDead at Scene Without Interventions (No Transport)
Call InfoConditionsCardiac ArrestYes, Prior to EMS Arrival
Chief ComplaintDate/Time of Onset(Use, if known)
PatientChief ComplaintPrimary SymptomCardiac Arrest
PatientAssessmentPrimary ImpressionObvious Death
PatientAssessmentAssessment(Whatever led you to pronounce death)
PatientCardiac ArrestResuscitation Attempted by 911No
PatientCardiac ArrestEnd of EMS EventPronounced in Field
Provider ActionsVitalsVitals(Need one set, including 0 for pulse and 0 for respiration rate)
Provider ActionsTOR/PODCriteria for PODRigor Mortis

Writing a Patient Report for John Doe (or Not)

Scenario: Your patient is unconscious and has no ID in his wallet. Aside from being the worst mime act you have seen today, you have no information on him. How to record his name in Elite?

Contrary to what some will tell you, you should not call him John Doe (or anything punny but close) when you need to input a first and last name. Doing so implies that this is his actual name and you took that specific person to the hospital, as far as the people who are analyzing the reports are concerned.*

Instead, remember that you have options (Refused for people who refuse and Unable to Complete when you just don’t have the name and he is incapable of providing it).

Click the No/Not button next to the First Name.

Elite No Button

 

 

Click the appropriate choice thereafter.

Elite No Options

 

 

 

 

Repeat for the Last Name field.

Then again, if you actually run the real John Doe to the hospital, you should record the name. You just may want to reiterate in the narrative that it’s his real name.


* – Per EMS-Ops: “When you have not values available to you and you enter a name of John Doe, you are documenting that you took someone to the hospital whose name was John Doe, not that you took someone to the hospital whose name you do not know.”

Recording Meds That Are Not in Elite

Scenario: Your patient has a bottle of medicine that you need to record but one that is not in Elite. There’s no Other option in the drop-down list. How should you record it?

Click in the Other Medical History input box and add the medicine(s) there.

Other Medical History Input Box

 

 

 

 

Follow this up with e-mailing the name of the medicine(s) to Tim Burns (Tim.Burns@montgomerycountymd.gov) and he will have the medicines added to the Current Medications drop-down list. Please double-check your spelling.

Identifying a Patient with No Phone Number

Scenario: Your patient has declined (however forcefully) to share his/her phone number with you and it’s a required field in Elite. What to do?

If you leave the field blank: You will lose five (5) points toward your completion total.

Elite Phone Number Warning

 

 

 

If you type all 9s (999-999-9999, consistent with the SSN approach): You will not lose any points toward your completion total but you will still get a validation error, which explains that is it preferable to get a valid phone number.

Elite Phone Number Warning

 

 

 

 

 

Reporting a Downgrade in Elite

Scenario: You are an ALS provider who needs to report a downgrade in Elite. The BLS provider has transported the patient in his/her ambulance and you intend to try to return to Station 8 without being dispatched. What do you need to report?

Ensure you are writing the report with the Unit/Call Sign as the ALS unit on the call.

Switch to the Call Info menu and Disposition tab to change the Primary Role of the Unit at the End of Incident  to Non-Transport-Other Reason and The Treatment & Transport Disposition field to Operational Support Provided – Patient Contact (if there was PT contact).Disposition Fields for a Downgrade in Elite

 

 

 

Leave the Patient Side Time blank. (Yes, it will be red, but it won’t trigger the additional validation rules this way.)

Remember, just as with the previous version of eMEDS, you still need to write a narrative to explain why you chose to downgrade the patient.