New Pulsara communication system is used for emergencies; First responders may be on their phone during an emergency


First responders utilize new communication system ... Pulsara is the new communication system being used by the Veterans Memorial Hospital Ambulance staff, for fast, quality patient condition updates. Pulsara allows the EMS staff to alert the hospital staff as to the cares needed by the emergency patient so they can best prepare for their arrival at the hospital. Pulsara is a free, HIPAA-compliant communication platform that bypasses the user’s internal phone memory to ensure the security of all data transferred through the app-based program. As the first responder enters more information, such as the patient’s medical history and vital signs, every member on the team is instantly updated. For this reason, hospital first responders are using their cell phone and tablets to transfer this information while on emergent calls. Submitted photo.

Pulsara is the new communication system being used by the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Ambulance staff for fast, quality patient condition updates.   Pulsara allows the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff to alert the hospital staff as to the cares needed by the emergency patient so they can best prepare for their arrival at the hospital.

The Pulsara system is a secure, two-way form of communication that can share real-time updates through video, sound recordings, messaging and pictures. The system calls staff in more quickly for the tests they may need at night, such as X-ray, Anesthesia, Lab, etc., all through the use of a cell phone or iPad.  Pulsara is a free, HIPAA-compliant communication platform that bypasses the user’s internal phone memory to ensure the security of all data transferred through the app-based program.

“In the past, VMH EMS, as well as other area agencies, have either had to utilize phone calling or radio reporting which does not allow for all applicable teams to receive simultaneous notification,” explains Jacob Dougherty, Paramedic, EMS Manager at Veterans Memorial Hospital. “Pulsara provides time-stamped, consistent information to be distributed to multiple internal sites that require notification of all patient arrivals. What normally has been accomplished with sometimes multiple phone calls between EMS and the hospital can now be accomplished quickly with the push of a button.”

Often Pulsara has assisted in having a patient registered prior to arrival to VMH, which further aids in providing the fastest care available. As the first responder enters more information, such as the patient’s medical history and vital signs, every member on the team is instantly updated.  For this reason, hospital first responders are using their cell phone and tablets to transfer this information while on emergent calls.

“We’ve been using Pulsara for three months and have already seen significant improvement in our processes. Our Nursing staff is loving this new system, allowing them to be fully prepared for what the emergency patient needs the minute we bring them through the doors,” adds Dougherty.   “Our only negative of this new system is it looks like our emergency staff are on their cell phone during an emergency, but they are actually relaying life-saving information to the hospital in the clearest, fastest way possible.”

“VMH EMS currently completes about 900 ambulance calls annually and other Allamakee county ambulance service volumes are also growing,” explains Dougherty. “Because of this, a need existed for increased communication efficiency.”