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DS Smart® Quick Start Guide (iOS)

  • Updated

This guide will show you how to use the DS Smart® app to get readings from your vital signs monitor (VSM) and scale. 

For Spanish language instructions, see Guía de inicio rápido de DS Smart® (iOS).

Vital Signs Monitor Readings

Using DS Smart without Wi-Fi

Scale Reading

Privacy and Logout Options

Troubleshooting Vitals Not Sending

 

Vital Signs Monitor Readings

1. Select the icon to launch the DS Smart app. app-icon.PNG

2. Log in using your existing EMR credentials. Use your facility location prefix (e.g., “sa.susanjones,” not “susanjones”).

You will need to be connected to Wi-Fi in order to log in. 

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3. Confirm your facility at the top of the screen. Select a resident by scrolling or searching by last name. ios-resident.PNG

4. If no VSM is shown at the top of the screen, select Configure to connect the correct device via Bluetooth.

Select the VSM you want to use from the equipment list or Add Bluetooth Equipment. Verify the device is correct by checking the serial number, located on the front of the VSM.

If asked for a PIN, use the last six characters of the serial number.

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5. Take resident vitals by selecting Get Readings to pull readings from connected devices. Confirm and select methods from the dropdowns as needed.

To refresh an individual reading, select Get reading under the vital sign you want to retake. 

You can also enter a reading manually by selecting Edit under the vital sign.

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6. Once the readings are captured, select Send to Chart at the bottom of the screen.

If prompted, confirm and select methods from the dropdowns (note this screen will not appear for Yardi or RTasks EMRs). 

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7. Use the back arrow in the upper left to select a new resident or log out by selecting the logout button in the upper right of the screen. logout-ios.PNG

 

Using DS Smart without Wi-Fi

DS Smart will continue to work even when the application is momentarily not connected to Wi-Fi. When Wi-Fi connection is lost, this message will display:

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  • If Wi-Fi connection is lost, continue using DS Smart for vital collection. DS Smart will continue to capture resident vitals and cache that data until Wi-Fi connectivity is restored.
  • In order to ensure packages are sent from DS Smart to your EMR, caregivers must remain logged in to DS smart until Wi-Fi has been restored and vitals have been sent to the EMR.
    • Any vital packages taken while not connected to Wi-Fi will be cached as long as the caregiver remains logged in.
  • Once you are in a location with Wi-Fi, your cached vital packages will be sent to the EMR. Then, the caregiver can log out.

 

Scale Reading

Follow Steps 1-3 above.

4. If no equipment is shown at the top of the screen, select Configure to connect the correct device via Bluetooth.

Select the scale you want to use from the equipment list or Add Bluetooth Equipment. Verify the device is correct by checking the serial number.

 

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5. Take resident weight using the scale. Select Get Reading to pull weight into DS smart. 

You can also enter a reading manually by selecting Edit under the vital sign.

If weight was taken while the resident was sitting in a chair, weigh the chair separately and manually enter the chair weight. This will subtract the chair weight from the total to produce the net weight.

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6. Once the readings are captured, select Send to Chart at the bottom of the screen.

 

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7. Use the back arrow in the upper left to select a new resident or log out by selecting the logout button in the upper right of the screen. logout-ios.PNG

 

Privacy and Logout Options

There are several options within the DS Smart application to help you ensure resident privacy. Once vital signs have been taken, the caregiver can do any of the following:

  1. Minimize the screen.
  2. Wait 30 seconds for the screen to dim automatically.
  3. Log out manually. Any data saved to be sent later due to loss of Wi-Fi will be lost upon logout.
  4. Users are logged out automatically after two hours of inactivity. Any data saved to be sent later due to loss of Wi-Fi will be lost upon logout.

 

Troubleshooting Vitals Not Sending

Follow these steps when vitals were taken in DS Smart but are not appearing in the EMR.

  1. Check Wi-Fi Connection. If you see an "offline" message:
    • DS smart will continue collecting vitals.
    • Vitals are cached (stored temporarily) until Wi-Fi is restored.
    • The caregiver must remain logged in.
    • If you log out before Wi-Fi reconnects, unsent vitals will be lost.
       
  2. Restart both devices. Restarting often restores Bluetooth connection and syncing.
    • Power off the Vital Signs Monitor (VSM).
    • Restart the tablet.
    • Open DS Smart and log back in.
    • Take a new set of vitals and select Send to Chart.
       
  3. Unpair and Re-Pair the Device. Resetting the Bluetooth connection can resolve syncing issues.
    • Open DS Smart and log in.
    • Select a resident.
    • Tap the Bluetooth icon at the top of the screen.
    • Select the connected device and choose Forget Device.
    • Tap Add Equipment and select the correct device.
    • Confirm the serial number matches the monitor.

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