Custom EMS PCR Validation Rules

You can install your own custom PCR validation rules (your own private schematron) for EMS reports.

Data validation for EMS data is accomplished using a technology called "Schematron". You can create a schematron for your agency, and upload it to AngelTrack, to impose your own validation warnings and errors for your crews.

What is a Schematron?

A schematron is a computer-readable datafile that specifies rules for validating a different datafile.

EMS data is stored in the NEMSIS XML format. A schematron can digest that format, inspect various elements, and then throw warnings or errors based on what it finds.

Schematrons can include very complex if/then expressions. For example, a schematron might say, "If the service requested is BLS, and if transport occurred, then at least one set of vital signs must be collected after arriving at destination."

Writing a Schematron

It is difficult to write a schematron. The task requires extensive knowledge of the NEMSIS XML data format, as well as XSLT skills.

Few people on the planet can write a schematron from scratch, and AngelTrack LLC does not presently provide any schematron authoring tools. Probably you will want to contract the job to a specialist, or to AngelTrack LLC.

Uploading Your Agency Schematron to AngelTrack

Before you can upload your agency schematron to AngelTrack, it must first be compiled into XSL. The instructions for doing this are posted on the NEMSIS TAC website here: 

https://nemsis.org/technical-resources/version-3/version-3-schematron/

Once you've got it compiled, login to your AngelTrack server with administrator privileges, go to the Settings page, and click the "NEMSIS Upload Status" item. Scroll down and find the "Upload an agency schematron" link, and follow the instructions.

Your uploaded schematron will take effect at approximately 03:00 CST the next morning, as this is when AngelTrack rescans its schematron repository.

Each time you revise your agency schematron and upload it, it will automatically supercede any older agency schematron that you uploaded earlier.

County-Specific Agency Schematrons

If you operate in multiple counties and wish to have different data validation rules for each county, you can install county-specific agency schematrons. If present, a county-specific agency schematron will run in addition to any agencywide schematron that you've installed.

When you upload an agency schematron, AngelTrack will ask you which county it's for, or if it applies to all counties.

For each county-level schematron you provide, you can specify whether it overrides or supplements your agency-wide schematron.

Removing Your Agency Schematrons

If you wish to remove your agency schematrons from AngelTrack, you must contact AngelTrack Support.

Agency Schematrons and Custom PCR Fields

Your agency schematron can utilize the custom PCR fields that you and/or your state have added to AngelTrack. Together, these two features allow you to create any datafields you like, and then impose any data validation rules you wish onto those fields.

For this purpose, your custom PCR fields must be marked ☑ Include this field in NEMSIS exports and trauma registry uploads.

AngelTrack emits your custom PCR fields in the NEMSIS XML in a regular way; to see how they look in the data, use the NEMSIS XML Workbench. Further information is available from the Custom Fields Export Guide.