Learn how AngelTrack collects the barcode from state-issued trauma tags, and how it reports the data to the state trauma registry.
Barcode Scan the Tag to Enter the PCR
If a dispatch record does not yet have a patient record attached, then when the crew opens the PCR, it will prompt them to find the patient's existing record, or else create a new patient record for them.
At that moment, one of the options available for finding/creating the patient record is a barcode scan of the patient's ID wristband or token. AngelTrack can decode any 1-D barcode from such wristbands; the crew just needs to use their mobile device to photograph the wristband, and then AngelTrack will decode it, and find or create a patient record to match it.
When that occurs, AngelTrack will place the wristband's barcode into the patient record's "Barcode" field, for future reference, in case you see the patient again on a later date.
Although this system is intended for persistent ID wristbands as you might find in a nursing home or other closed facility or event, it will also suffice for single-use trauma tags, where it is acceptable to create a new patient record for each incident.
To learn more about barcode scanning on PCR entry, read the OCR Barcode Scanning Guide.
Input a Trauma Tag Barcode Manually into the PCR
If you didn't get a chance to scan a barcode upon PCR entry, you can always add it later.
If the patient's barcode is a nursing home ID band, or admission ticket or token for a closed facility or event, such that you want to use it again to find the patient's record on a future date, then input the barcode into the "Barcode" field of the PCR-Patient page.
Whereas if the barcode is a single-use trauma tag, of the sort issued by your state or county, then there is no need to store it permanently in the patient's record; instead, record it in the "Armband / Patient ID" field of the PCR-Hospital page.
Supervision
Supervisors can monitor the collected data using the QI for ER Dropoffs Compliance Report, available under City and State Reports on the Supervisor Home page. The tag numbers appear in the "External ID" column. The column will be blank if no tag was recorded.
You can also pull trauma tag data using Report Builder's "Dispatches-PatientCare" dataset.
Trauma Tag State Reporting
AngelTrack reports trauma tag barcodes to your county/state trauma registry via the NEMSIS specification, in the field named "eOutcome.04", along with the descriptor value "4303017" in the companion field "eOutcome.03". This is the standard way to transmit a trauma tag to a trauma registry.
But, as noted above, there are two different places within the PCR where a trauma tag might be input:
- In the "Barcode" field of the PCR-Patient page, if the barcode is going to be used again in the future; or
- In the "Armband / Patient ID" field of the PCR-Hospital page, if the barcode is a single-use armband or wristband.
When both datafields are present for a trip, AngelTrack preferentially reports the single-use barcode from the PCR-Hospital page. Only if that field is empty, does AngelTrack instead report the persistent barcode from the PCR-Patient page.