Georgia Emergency Medical Services Information System (GEMSIS)

List of NEMSIS v3.5 resources that are available for our EMS Agencies, Medics, and ePCR Vendors. We will update this section regularly to help with the transition. 

Resources for EMS Agencies 

• NEMSIS Website
• Georgia NEMSIS Page
• NEMSIS v3.5 Data Dictionary
• Extended Data Definitions
• NEMSIS List of v3.5 Resources 
• v3.5 Key Changes Flyer 
• Why Move to v3.5? 
• NEMSIS v3.4.0 to v3.5.0 Value Changes - A NEMSIS spreadsheet comparing the differences in values between v3.4.0 and v3.5.0, with an additional tab displaying the new v3.5.0 elements with code list values.
• NEMSIS v3.4.0 to v3.5.0 Translation - A NEMSIS Word document translating datasets, elements and values.
• Defined Lists and Other Resources - NEMSIS Defined Lists in an XLS format.
• NHTSA Timely Data Submission Letter  
• Georgia EMS Data Compliance and ePCR Vendor Compliance Policies

All EMS agencies currently licensed by the Department or seeking licensure must utilize an ePCR software system that is listed below.  

Last updated 3/26/2024

• Who must submit data?
  • All licensed EMS Agencies (Ground Ambulance, Neonatal Ambulance, Air Ambulance, Medical First Responder)
• What EMS responses must be submitted?
  • All EMS responses made by any licensed vehicle of any licensed EMS agency.
  • All vehicles on each incident must submit ePCRs with appropriate data based on the activity of the personnel on that vehicle.
• Who must fill out the ePCR?
  • The medics who run the call MUST be the ones to complete the ePCR, either in GEMSIS Elite directly or in the agency's software that is NEMSIS V3.4 compliant with all National and Georgia Schematron rules visible.
  • The medics who run the call MUST complete the ePCR before the end of their current work shift. It is NOT acceptable for the medic to go home before they complete the ePCR and address all validation rules.
• What are the requirements related to data validation?
  • All ePCR data must be submitted to GEMSIS Elite directly or via web services single-call import by your software vendor, and must comply with the current NEMSIS National Schematron for Version 3.4 and the current Georgia Schematron. 
  • Click HERE for the current Georgia Schematron (validation rules).
  • Data validation rules are designed to address proper transmission, format, accuracy, completeness, uniformity, integration, validity and accessibility.
• When do EMS responses need to be submitted to DPH via GEMSIS Elite?
  • Within 24 hours of call completion (based on eTimes.13)
• Is it acceptable to use paper PCRs as the primary means of collecting data by the medics and transfer that later?
  • No, this is not acceptable.
• What if my hardware or software fails?
  • In the event of a failure of the EMS Agency’s ePCR software or the hardware used to access the software, the responding crew must complete a paper PCR that is substantially similar to the EMS Agency’s ePCR and the response information must be entered into the EMS Agency’s ePCR software and submitted to the Department within 24 hours of the resolution of the software or hardware failure.
  • All ePCR software or hardware failures must be reported to the Department within 12 hours of the failure and must be documented by the EMS Agency in a log that shall be made available for inspection by the Department.

All licensed EMS agencies must have a data management policy that addresses the following:

• How the EMS agency will address the following measure types based on their data:
  • Timeliness
  • Accuracy
  • Completeness
  • Uniformity
  • Integration
  • Accessibility
  • Validity
• The Data management policy requirements listed in the EMS Data Compliance and Reporting Policy under Section 5.8 must be ALL addressed within the policy submitted by each EMS Agency. 

The new EMS Data Compliance and Reporting Policy will be in effect as of May 8, 2023. Click Here to review. 

If you have been told that you need to submit a Data Management Action Plan due to non-compliance with EMS data submissions. Click Here .

You may reach ImageTrend Support via phone at 888-730-3255 or online at http://support.imagetrend.com.

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) uses a variety of data sources to track different patient syndromes.

Documentation Guidance: TBA

EMS Quick Report Form -  PDF (Update coming soon)

The Office of EMS and Trauma has established this form to be used by EMS personnel to provide patient care information to the receiving facility upon delivery of the patient until a prehospital care report can be completed and submitted through GEMSIS Elite. 

Notes on the Quick Report Form:

• THIS FORM DOES NOT REPLACE THE NEED TO SUBMIT AN ELECTRONIC PATIENT CARE REPORT (ePCR).
• Agencies should submit ePCRs to GEMSIS Elite within 24 hours of call completion, and hospitals may access those patient care reports on Hospital Hub. To gain access to Hospital Hub, please contact your Regional EMS Director and they will forward your request.
• EMS Agencies may adapt this form and place their agency name on it, as long as the minimal information is kept on this document.
• By using this form (or one substantially similar to it), hospitals are more quickly able to contact the agency and specifically the crews if a patient that they transported tests positive for or is suspected of having COVID-19.

The Georgia Office of EMS and Trauma has partnered with biospatial to provide advanced data visualizations for EMS response data. All EMS agencies are able to access their own data using biospatial at no cost. To gain access to biospatial, please contact Dipti Patel ([email protected]). Only the designated Authorized Agent for each agency will be given access to biospatial by the Office of EMS and Trauma directly, and the Authorized Agent can give access to other personnel at the EMS agency.

Links:

• biospatial Login
• biospatial Homepage

biospatial Trainings 

• biospatial 101 for EMS Agencies
  • Webinar with EMS Agencies
  • Link to recorded training: CLICK HERE
  • Password to access recorded training: YmxsP4tU
• biospatial for Medical Directors 
  • Link to recorded training: CLICK HERE
  • Password: MtyDYs7u