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4. System Concepts
4.1. Quality Assurance Levels
Quality assurance levels are used to clarify documentation errors, improve future clinical issues,
and to provide an easy way to follow up on unusual events during a transport.
Every chart starts at the initial entry level, designated by S0 (Service, level 0). This is where the
current crew can add and modify chart information. Once the chart is completed, it is advanced to
the next service level by clicking on the Advance Chart button on page 9. This next level is defined
by the service administrator4. For example, the next level could be a peer review level where the
next shift coming on would review the charts, or an administrator level who reviews all charts.
It is important to note every chart must pass through every service QA level, and once it has, it is
then advanced to the first command facility QA level. However, the command facility will not be
able to view or advance charts that are still in the service QA process. At any point during the
review process, QA flags can be added to draw extra attention to the chart.
Alternatively, the QA process can be automated by using Auto Advance5. This will automatically
advance the chart through the QA levels unless an event defined for that level is listed in the chart.
The chart then stops at that QA level. Auto Advance is discussed more in the Administration Manual
in the QA Levels section.
4.2. Special Reports
Special reports are used to provide additional information about unusual events during a
transport. These reports are part of the quality assurance process, and thus are not legally
discoverable, unlike the chart and any addendums. Special reports are usually created due to
events during a transport, but they can also be created in response to other events. Special reports
can fall into one or more categories, or perhaps none. This is important because individuals can be
assigned to review transports with special reports of certain categories. For example, a clinical
manager could be assigned to review all transports where a defibrillation occurred.
For each special report category, each facility type (Service, Command Facility, and Region) can
choose View, Modify, and Use rights for each facility type. For example, a Service could configure a
category with the service having full rights, but the Command Facility and Region would not be able
to view special reports with that flag (If the special report has another category that the Command
Facility can view then they will still be able to view the report). Another use of this would be for a
Command Facility to define clinical categories that all services can use.
If a service does not want its employees to use categories that were defined by the Command
Facility or Region, they can be excluded through the Special Report Exclusions code table6.
The categories in the special report can be displayed in normal or italic text. If it is normal text,
only people in that facility can view that report. If italic, anyone at or above that facility can view
the report.
4.3. Data Validation
Data Validation lets service, command facility, and region administrators define checks to be run
on chart data before allowing the chart to be locked. These checks are run when a chart is in initial
entry and the user clicks the Complete/Lock Chart button on page 9.
Simple Data Validation lets administrators select fields which the crew are not allowed to leave
blank for any transport.
4
5
Setup: Configuration -> Service -> Code Tables -> QA Levels (Define Service Quality Assurance Levels)
Setup: Configuration -> Service -> Code Tables -> QA Levels -> Enable Auto Advance (Enables/Disables auto advance)
6
Setup: Configuration -> Service -> Code Tables -> Special Report Exclusions (Exclude use of Special Report Categories defined
by the Command Facility and/or Region)
9/30/2009
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