You can add custom PCR data validation rules for EMS reports. This is a private schematron, aka an agency schematron.
Data validation for EMS data is accomplished using a technology called "Schematron". You can create your own schematron for your agency, by choosing rules from AngelTrack's schematron rules library, 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."
License Required
This feature is part of the Enterprise PCR license bundle, and so is a paid add-on to AngelTrack. You must visit your Feature Buffet, available from the Authorization page, and activate that add-on license before you can begin using it.
To learn more, please visit the Feature Buffet Guide.
Building a Schematron
AngelTrack has a library of pre-written rules, from which you can make selections and assemble a ruleset (i.e. a schematron) for your agency.
The rules will apply to all PCRs that are state reportable, which means your custom rules will not apply to wheelchair cars, fire calls, car service, labs, telemedicine, or gurney.
(If you require super-customized rules not already available in the library, please contact your AngelTrack sales rep and ask about a Professional Services engagement to build new rules to your liking.)
You can do all of this from the Custom Data Validation Rules page, accessible under the Settings page.
Whenever you add or subtract rules from your ruleset, or activate or deactivate existing rules, AngelTrack regenerates your agency schematron, which takes effect in the PCR within five minutes... unless it is your very first rule, in which case your agency schematron will take effect at 03:00 the next morning.
Scores
Whenever a crew member submits a completed or corrected report to QA, AngelTrack applies all relevant data validation rulesets (aka schematrons) to it:
- National schematron
- State schematron
- County schematron if any
- Agency (custom) schematron if any
If any rule throws an error, the submission fails, and the crew member must make the necessary corrections.
If any national, state, or county rule throws a warning, AngelTrack counts off three points from the report's starting score of 100, and offers the crew the option to "submit anyway" or else continue making corrections. There is a preference setting allowing you to configure this penalty amount, if you want to assess a higher or lower penalty for the national and state data validation warnings.
Your agency (custom) data validation rules have configurable point values which you control, ranging from -1 to -50 points apiece.
You can also create bonus rules which, when satisfied, add points to the report's total score -- anywhere from +1 points to +50 points. For example, you could create a rule which adds a bonus of +10 points to any report where at least two sets of vital signs both include an SPO2 reading.
Testing Your Rules
To test your custom ruleset against real PCRs to see how well it works, you will use the NEMSIS Workbench. The workbench is available as a link from the Custom Data Validation Rules page (the place where you picked your rules). It is also available from the "Search" popover, by entering any dispatch ID and then pressing "W".
The workbench is powerful and so it looks intimidating. Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it! Have a look at the NEMSIS Workbench Guide for a walkthrough and explainers.
Rule Deactivation and Reactivation
At any time you may disable or re-enable specific rules within your agency ruleset, or add more. When you save changes, AngelTrack will regenerate all remaining active rules into a new agency schemtron, which will take effect in the PCR within five minutes.
Your modifications will apply to all EMS reports at the following validation points, regardless of the age of the call:
- Crew member finishes report and sends to QA
- QA finishes a report and sends onward to billing
- Crew member finishes corrects and sends back to QA
Remember, your agency rules do not apply to state uploads, which are subject only to county, state, and national data validation rules.
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.
Reporting
Data about schematron warning counts for every crew member, across any date range, is available in the "PCR-Schematron" dataset in Report Builder.
The data is broken out by:
- National schematron warning counts
- State schematron warning counts
- Agency schematron warning counts
- Agency schematron point totals
If you don't have a Report Builder license, then you can download the raw data from the Data Hub, and perform the analysis yourself in your favorite spreadsheet application.
County-Specific Agency Schematrons
If you operate in multiple counties and wish to have different data validation rules for each county, you can have county-specific schematrons. If present, a county-specific agency schematron will run in addition to any agencywide schematron that you've installed, plus of course any state and national schematrons that apply.
For each county-level schematron you provide, you can specify whether it overrides or supplements your agency-wide schematron. County-level schematrons must be installed on your server for you by AngelTrack Support.