Decide whether to map existing codes or replace your code set with the NEMSIS code set
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Review the information below about mapping codes and replacing your EMS codes with NEMSIS codes.
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Mapping codes
Mapping codes allow you to continue using your existing department codes during data entry by assigning them their NEMSIS equivalent. The NEMSIS code that your code is mapped to will be used when the data is exported for submission to your local or state agency. An average code set has between 600 and 800 codes that will need to be mapped to the appropriate NEMSIS code.
Tip: If you decide to map your codes and not replace them,you should study the NEMSIS codes to understand which NEMSIS codes are the equivalent of your codes.
Note: Mapping codes takes several hours to complete. States with unique code sets could have a larger number of codes, resulting in longer mapping time.
Caution: Each code must be mapped to an appropriate NEMSIS code, or the code cannot be used during EMS record entry. If a non-mapped code is used during data entry, the record(s) will not export validly to NEMSIS.
Similarly, custom groupings in your EMS lookup tables will not export validly. Codes in custom groups will need to be moved later into the new, pre-defined NEMSIS groups. -
Replacing codes
If you choose to replace the codes for EMS, then all existing EMS lookup codes will be replaced with the new NEMSIS codes.
Warning: If you have existing EMS incident records, these records must be archived before replacing your existing EMS codes with the NEMSIS code set.
Replacing your codes with NEMSIS codes will in-effect remove your codes, making your old codes and descriptions no longer available to the historical records (old EMS incidents). Archiving your existing EMS incidents generates an archive database, and all your previous incidents are moved to this database. Your archive database will still be accessible and all historical records will remain valid. Archiving your historical incident records provides you with a clean environment for the new code set.
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- Decide whether you want to map your existing EMS codes to NEMSIS codes, or whether you want to replace your existing EMS codes with the NEMSIS codes.
- Depending your decision, continue with one of the following:
- Continue with Map your existing EMS codes to the NEMSIS code set.
- Continue with Replace your existing EMS codes with the NEMSIS code set.
Warning: When making this decision, it is vital that you understand the mapping codes and replacing codes information in the previous step.
Note: If you have any questions while making this decision, contact Firehouse technical support at 800-921-5300, option 2.