Patient Care Portal

This is the central hub of the ePCR Module, from which users can access various actions and functionalities. Opening the ePCR Module from the Navigator Bar opens the Patient Care Portal. All work in the ePCR Module begins with the Patient Care Portal.

The Patient Care Portal provides the functionality for ePCR creation, searches, the Shift Assignment function and the Patient Care Report Queue (for both regular users of the program and also the Facility Patient Care Queue for Facility Users). Certification Notifications are available in the bottom-left of this screen - this will notify either the Personnel Management or the user themselves if any certification or licensure is due to expire depending on the settings selected in Patient Care Configuration Switches Setup. The Batch Export function can also be accessed from this screen.

 Buttons here control most of the ePCR Module data entry and functionality:

• The Create Button allows for data entry of new calls.
• Search allows for finding a specific incident or call based on various identifiers.
• The From Dispatch Call Queue handles calls created in the Dispatch Module (If active). For more information about this section, please see the article regarding the From Dispatch Call Queue.
• The Patient Care Report Queue shows incomplete reports, reports returned for corrections, or reports in a review status. This is where the QA process is managed from.
• The Facility Patient Care Queue is available to Facility Users in order to view reports to/from their facility. See the facility user section for more information.
• Batch Export provides functionality to create a batch export file for manual submission to the state or a third-party billing system.

Patient Care Portal Search

The Quick Search available in the Patient Care Portal can return results on incomplete or finished PCRs by entering a patient's Last Name or a Patient Care Number. Entering a partial number pulls all records with that partial number anywhere in the record.

Example: 123 matches to 123456789 and any PCR number with 123 in it.

If no data is found, “No items found matching” appears beneath the field. If data is found, the list provides links to Patient Care Numbers. In this case it is recommended to search by using other criteria available in the Advanced Search option.

Advanced Search

For additional Search functionality, click the Advanced Search Link. Using the Advanced Search, the user can search with operators, ascending/descending order, and/or two fields. Click Search after entering data.

Find fields are searchable: Date of Birth, Date of Service, First Name, Incident Number, Last Name, Patient Address 1, Patient Care Number, Picked Up Location Address 1, Response Number, Social Security Number and Taken To Location Address 1.

By fields allow the user to select an operator from this list:

= (equals)

> (greater than)

< (less than)

>= (greater and equal)

<= (less and equal)

<> (does not equal)

Criteria field specifies what the search should look for.

And Checkbox gives users another line of search fields to help focus the search.

Order By Drop-Down Field lets the user specify how the results should be ordered.

Search Results

Fifty (50) results appear below the search fields, like the normal search but with these headers: Patient Care Number, and Description. The Description provides the name, date of Service, SSN, Picked Up Location and Taken To Locations for the PCR Number.

ePCR Shift Assignment Functions

Users can use the Quick Shift Assignment section to configure their unit and crew assignments. While active, this information will automatically populate when Patient Care Reports are created. Clicking the Shift Assignments Setup Link from the Patient Care Portal brings the user to the Shift Assignments Setup, where all units' Shift Assignments can be configured. Typically these assignments are configured at the beginning of a shift, or at the end of a shift in preparation for the next one.

Assigning units via Shift Assignments is required in the Dispatch Module if purchased. If not, Shift Assignments will be an optional feature.

The crews themselves, or any other user are typically able to assign all active crew members to vehicles in the Shift Assignments Setup. The benefits to the data entry process from Shift Assignments are great for automatically filling out routinely-entered data throughout a shift but if an agency's shifts change too frequently, Shift Assignments does not have to be used.

It is expected that the unit/crew assignment data is confirmed before beginning a new run.

Once entered, this data remains until changes are made.

Changes to the crew members can be made in the Crew Tab (the first screen of this data entry).

Note: If the changes affect ongoing PCRs, alert a user who has access to make changes in Shift Assignments to avoid needless data re-entry

Shift Assignments

The Shift Assignments Area is where users can assign crew members to vehicles. It is expected that the vehicles and crews are already entered in the appropriate setup areas. Users can access Shift Assignments from General Setup as well as within the Dispatch and ePCR Modules.

What is a Shift?

A shift is the time frame when units are available. It is expected that all available vehicle are assigned for data entry purposes in the ePCR Module during a shift. Shift assignments of crew and vehicle(s) are ongoing activities.

Note:  Because assignments constantly change, Shift Assignments is an ongoing activity. 

Quick Shift Assignment

When selecting the Patient Care Portal from the Dashboard menu bar, users will be prompted with the Quick Shift Assignment option.    You are then able to update and Save your changes or Cancel to move onto the Patient Care Portal.