Pop-up help for emsCharts Page 2

To use these helps, move your mouse over a box or a symbol like the magnifying glass. A window with an explanation should pop up. If you see something that needs explaining, but there is no pop-up window, contact Kirk Schmitt.

Page 2 initiates your report of your initial patient assessment. What you enter on this page does not need to be repeated in the activities narrative unless you need to explain something in more detail or the assessment changes.

Brief statement. Your assessment, not the dispatch.

If you have misspelled a word, it will be underlined in red. To get suggestions for correct spellings right-click (PC) or control-click (Mac) on the word with the red underline.

Optional. Enter if relevant or put in "History of Present Illness"

This space for detailed history including SAMPLE and OPQRST. This may be up to 4000 characters.

You should not repeat what you write here in the activities on page 9. Do not include allergies, medicines, and past pertinent medical history here unless it is important to your narrative. These are covered in drop down lists on the "patient page."

If you have misspelled a word, it will be underlined in red. To get suggestions for correct spellings right-click (PC) or control-click (Mac) on the word with the red underline.

DO NOT use this spell checker. The dictionary is corrupt.

If you have misspelled a word, it will be underlined in red. To get suggestions for correct spellings right-click (PC) or control-click (Mac) on the word with the red underline.

The boxes you see in this area of the chart vary.

Usually select injury or non-injury.

The boxes you see in this area of the chart vary.

If you select alcohol and/or drugs, the "Indicators" box appears. Click on the blue and white icon to get a list. If the items you select cover what you saw to your satisfaction, you don't need to repeat the information elsewhere in the chart.

The boxes you see in this area of the chart vary.

If injury is appropriate, click on the blue icon to get a list. You may use this list to minimize the typing you do elsewhere in the chart, but you may still need to repeat some of it for a complete description. If you cover everything in a narrative, the list is optional.

The boxes you see in this area of the chart vary.

If cardiac arrest is appropriate, click on the blue icon to get a list. You may use this list to minimize the typing you do elsewhere in the chart, but you may still need to repeat some of it for a complete description. If you cover everything in a narrative, the list is optional.

The boxes you see in this area of the chart vary.

If motor vehicle incident is appropriate, click on the blue icon to get a list. You may use this list to minimize the typing you do elsewhere in the chart, but you may still need to repeat some of it for a complete description. If you cover everything in a narrative, the list is optional.

If you logout without clicking one of these, your changes will be lost.

Detailed description of the scene which should include description of how you found the patient positioned, what sort of surroundings (bedroom/front seat of car/lying in ditch etc). For trauma describe everything that is needed to establish mechanism of injury or lack of injury. If other EMS units were on scene and they turned care over to you, make a note of it here. What had police done? Brief description of weather; note temperature, wind, precipitation.

Do not include your patient care. You do not need to repeat this information elsewhere in the chart.

If you have misspelled a word, it will be underlined in red. To get suggestions for correct spellings right-click (PC) or control-click (Mac) on the word with the red underline.

To enter other EMS units on the scene, click on the blue and white icon, select from list, click add, click done.

To add the ALS unit number (795, LS1 etc) select from list, type the number in the box after "MICU," click add, then click done.

To delete an EMS unit, click on its name in the box then click on the red X.

If the police are on scene, click "law" in the list you get by clicking on the blue and white icon. Select as many others as apply.

You will usually want more detail in the "Scene Description."

If it is a disaster, select the type from the list you get when you click the blue and white icon.

Do not check "mass gathering" (Pennington Day?) unless one of the other disaster events occurs during the mass gathering.

"Exposure" is to be filled out if crew, bystanders, fire personnel, ALS, or mutual aid EMS personnel are exposed to potential infectious agents, to chemicals, or to heat during the call. For example, a fireman exposed to chemicals or heat during a fire stand-by is not an exposure, but a fireman sprayed with blood during extrication is an exposure. There are several layers of lists to make entries in this form.

If an exposure takes place or is suspected, you MUST also fill out a special report for "exposure."

Document all the patient's personal items that were carried on the ambulance. If they were delivered to the hospital, say so.

Factor affecting care is devoted to things that delayed your access to the patient or delayed getting the patient to the ED. Click on other at the end of the list and you will get a box you can type in. If you require a very long statement, you will probably need to use a special report or addendum to the chart.

Pop-up helps for emsCharts Page 2

Kirk Schmitt 23-Jan-2009