Frequently Asked Questions

A significant advantage of the FieldSaver system is the ability to run on the Android mobile operating system which is the operating system of the new generation of tablet Smartphone’s.  The Smartphone are designed to have cellular and WiFi connections and you do not need to pay for an expensive ‘tethered’ plan in addition to the cellular charges you are already paying for.  The mobile phone operating systems are currently the leading edge of mobility and connectivity. FieldSaver has developed a highly customizable “template approach” to build user screens. This enables fast deployment without software programming to support localization requirements.

Connects to a secure (HTTPS) web portal and back-end database (ms-SQL)Ability to use templates to create system allowing the collection of wide range of data on a small screen.

Includes:

✔ Navigation
✔ Printing
✔ Flagging certain data items
✔Searching certain data items
✔Inserting a unique identifier for certain data items
✔Deleting screens
✔Editing screens
✔Controlling syntax and structure of screens

Can meet the needs of all the diverse requirements of medical levels of care, types of care, documentation needs, data collection needs, and geographical differences in medical documentation.

The FieldSaver system is capable of gathering all required field-based patient data for each ambulance call.  FieldSaver’s patented technology provides fully customized patient care record data screens. The system collects all data elements to achieve NEMSIS or other data set point compliance (such as State compliance).  Briefly, described below are 3 (three) powerful features designed to provide easy to deploy system configurations for PCR records.

FieldSaver provides ‘Templates’ that produce the patient care record documentation. Each one of the PCR templates is able to be configured to collect any data set points or produce any medical legal documentation required.  The templates ‘guide’ the narrative and provide benefits which include better overall data integrity.  For example on a ‘Chest Pain” patient the templates display all medically relevant information for chest pain with all the pertinent data points standardizing the data collection process.  As the crews complete the template their patient care documentation and data collection are essentially completed simultaneously.

FieldSaver has a highly configurable “required field’s” functionality.  The required fields can be based on the patient disposition type such as, ‘transport’, or ‘cancelled en-route’.  In addition, any documentation based on any individual item selected can be made “required”.  For example, if an end user intubates a patient and the system requires ED tube confirmation then the system will make it “required”. Users can complete an entire call except for a signature using just one hand with a device that fits in their pocket or a mobile tablet.

Our system provides ICD-9 codes.  We can ‘guide’ the crews to document the proper documentation at the time of entry.  Our system creates a ‘Recommended Field Impression’ list which creates a list of recommended field impressions with ICD-9 codes that are based on the EMT end-user documents.

What are examples of the type of information collected by the FieldSaver system?

FieldSaver collects:

✔ dispatch
✔ location information
✔ patient information
✔ patient assessment
✔ patient BLS and ALS treatments
✔ EMS provider comment and narratives
✔ care and patient dispositions
✔ extraction and local storage of the electronic patient record data from cardiac monitors,
✔ billing and patient insurance information.
✔ all required signatures (i.e., crew, patient and hospital)

FieldSaver has been designed with embedded business logic to minimize the complexity of data collection while ensuring all the appropriate data points are collected. For example, a “Destination Reason” only needs to be documented when a patient is transported. Therefore, this screen will only appear after a user selects “Patient Transported”.  If the destination reason “trauma protocol” is selected as the destination reason, then a 3rd screen could be designed to prompt a selection from the “Nearest Hospital” menu list to document what hospital was bypassed.

In addition to its patent-pending template system, FieldSaver has the ability to allow field personnel to enter “narrative” sections.  In addition, every list box allows a user to enter “free text” to ensure complete and extensive documentation.

FieldSaver can capture multiple electronic signatures in the field.  The system prompts users using “Cascading Logic” to guide them to collect the proper signatures and documentation for the different type of signatures types required (i.e., patient, witness, procedure verification etc).

Reports are generated using Crystal Reports.  FieldSaver provides a report generator allowing users to create reports based on date range and other parameters.  Additional report types can be provided (customized) as needed during implementation. All HIPAA data from a PCR can be hidden before it is printed.  Also a “report” of multiple PCRs that have had their HIPAA data removed can be generated.  This feature enables the display of a collection of calls without any HIPAA data for tape reviews, QA review, etc. In the field, decisions need to be made quickly.

FieldSaver does not pre-empt human decision making or prevent conscious override of system error checking. The FieldSaver system provides error checking logic at the data entry level with range- based norms.  For example, a user cannot enter a patient age over 120 years or a systolic blood pressure over 400.  All data validation parameters are configurable and can manually be overridden.

The FieldSaver system can be completely customized to your departments needs.  We are not a set design with limited changes to drop down lists.  Our entire system will be customized and built around your department’s needs, work flow processes and documentation requests.  Our basic technical support includes unlimited ongoing customizations and changes so the system will evolve over time to meet your needs.

FieldSaver can provide mapping and GIS capabilities with our business partner with FirstWatch®. We are capable of providing a best of breed approach with our field documentation system and the FirstWatch real-time data reporting and GIS capabilities that are unequaled in existing ePCR systems.

We are scheduling our testing when the NEMSIS 3 new data structure is available later this year.  We can collect data in ICD-9 and ICD-10 formats. In addition, our entire system is customizable allowing us to collect any additional variables requested. We can customize the interface to ensure there is 100% data compliance with requested formats.

Since Android is a relatively new operating system, FieldSaver is currently investigating with the OEMs of typical medical devices used in the field on updates to their interface software’s.  Previously, with the Windows operating system, the FieldSaver system could be interfaced and connected with external medical devices to link and download ECG reports.

FieldSaver can receive data from CAD systems over a TCP/IP connection.  The FieldSaver system can be configured to interface with any standards compliant CAD system.

FieldSaver can create multiple ePCR’s for each CAD assignment. FieldSaver is also capable of ‘combining’ the calls from multiple units on a single call and displaying them in a hierarchical format on the server.  Call information can be beamed from one unit to another.  FieldSaver allows multiple access capabilities to PCRs where multiple agencies or units are involved.   For example, the system may be configured such that the PCR will carry through to each department that interacts with the patient even if each department has a different run number.  In some cases all units may provide inputs, or appended inputs, to a PCR prior to finalization.  In this scenario, PCRs can be copied from one device or EMS provider agency to another, using the FieldSaver web server as a hub and cellular connections as the conduit.

Information about assessments and treatments completed by the “sending” unit are visible on the PCR, but appear as read-only for the receiving unit.  All PCRs that are uploaded to the FieldSaver server may be appropriately stored, reported, and/or billed as required. All of the involved department PCRs will be displayed in a hierarchical format to the ‘Master PCR’.   If PCRs are created by multiple agencies for the same incident/patient, they are still matched on the FieldSaver server (using the incident ID, patient identifier, and other designated EMS business partner identifiers).  FieldSaver allows up to 20 identification fields.  When a single PCR is desired and multiple agencies are involved, instead of “copying” data into the PCR as it is transferred to other agencies, all time and care information is transferred and uploaded as a single PCR when the PCR is finalized and approved.

We assign a system leader to coordinate and communicate your implementation needs.  FieldSaver provides voice and web based technical support during normal business hours.  Web-based meetings are provided throughout your relationship as a Customer with us as a part of our basic technical support. FieldSaver provides complete end user documentation including system defining errors, recovery procedures and sample tutorials. A windows PC-based tutorial is available.

We have found the best approach is to train the system administrators during the initial customization and set up meetings.  Then we provide the end users with abbreviated training material (2 pages) and some sample calls to perform.  This allows them to ‘play’ with the system and learn what their questions and needs are.  Then we hold an onsite training class where we can answer questions and fill in any performance gaps.  This allows the discussion of system logistics issues such as printing, charging, beaming calls, etc. in a group setting.

Each department is different and we try to accommodate each departments needs.  Some departments have required only web-based training and others have required multiple on-site formal classes.   Our goal is to get everyone trained for maximum effectiveness.  Web-based training is provided at any time during or after initial deployment.

FieldSaver has a query tool that allows customized queries and reporting on any data element collected.  In addition, unlike other systems, our field application can be customized so that custom data fields can be selected for query and reporting.     Our patented “Template Manager” enables a non-programmer to configure an entire ePCR reporting system.  Many current fire department clients configure their systems internally after receiving the basic system training.