Leveraging Integration to Provide Reliable Telemedicine Even in Areas of Low Connectivity: the Pulsara + Allerio + FirstNet™ Solution

EDITOR'S NOTE: Special thanks to Victoria Lee for writing today's blog post. You can connect with her on LinkedIn. 

First responders often face barriers when it comes to connectivity and the transfer and sharing of patient data and other relevant information. When they are out in the field responding to a rural 911 call, or treating a patient via telemedicine, the ability to have access to technology that “just works” is paramount. The current use of a hodgepodge of connectivity devices to transmit data and video to the hospital effectively can impede the ability of first responders to efficiently communicate during an emergency, thereby delaying medical interventions, which can result in poor patient outcomes.

Instead of wondering how to effectively transmit critical patient data to the emergency room, EMS personnel must be able to focus on responding to the patient’s needs and vital signs. That’s where Pulsara, a mobile telehealth and communication platform, comes in, simplifying and streamlining the care coordination process with live audio and video calling, secure messaging, image transfer, ECG transfer, and more. 

But what happens when WiFi is unavailable and cellular coverage is spotty? Together with Allerio and FirstNet, first responders have access to the FirstNet dedicated public safety broadband communications platform, allowing paramedics and public safety to refocus their attention on what matters most.

Pulsara’s intuitive solution, which is FirstNet Listed in the FirstNet App Catalog, facilitates the creation of a dedicated patient data channel that starts with the initial EMS call and carries through the patient’s entire hospital journey so that first responders, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers have access to consistent patient data during the course of treatment.

“At Pulsara, our purpose is to improve the lives of patients and caregivers through innovative communication,” said Pulsara’s Founder and CEO, Dr. James T. Woodson. “To that end, we’re proud to partner with other innovators to further increase our impact in times when connectivity and communication are needed most.”

The Allerio Mobile Hub is a portable connectivity platform that enables first responders in the field to record, share, and transmit critical patient data using Pulsara quickly at the point of care or while in transit in scenarios when connectivity would otherwise be limited or unavailable.  Allerio provides highly secure, robust, and reliable LTE connectivity powered by sophisticated network optimization. 

“At Allerio, we’re focused on partner collaboration to bring innovative solutions to public safety. Reliable connectivity for effective communications is a foundational element for all successful emergency operations,” emphasized Allerio CEO TJ Kennedy. 

A former paramedic shared an example of how Pulsara and Allerio come together using FirstNet when responding to a 911 call. Often, there are only two first responders in an ambulance, with an abundance of medical needs to assess and capture. “We have to summon additional resources, connect to the resource, organize patient information effectively and quickly. Getting all of the information you need and transmitting that information is easily a 6-10-minute process, which takes valuable time away from the patient,” he shared. In this situation, Pulsara was activated immediately, which alerted the STEMI team at the treating facility, and the patient was receiving intervention within minutes. Despite poor cellular coverage in this particular case, with the use of Pulsara and the reliable, highly secure connection provided by FirstNet via the Allerio Mobile Hub, the process of capturing and sending data went from 6-10 minutes to 60-90 seconds.

When treating patients, we must connect the right clinicians with the right patient at the right time. Allerio, using the FirstNet communications platform with priority and preemption, permits first responders to reliably access the Pulsara telehealth and communications platform, allowing them to ultimately improve the quality of care, patient outcomes, and efficiency of communication and coordination. In many cases, Allerio’s and FirstNet’s capabilities can facilitate connections so EMS teams can expect to treat less acute patients in the field, leveraging Pulsara’s live video for consultations, in even the most rural locations.

FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

###

About Allerio 

Allerio's smart connectivity solution for first responders and other public safety personnel provides a reliable communication platform that facilitates the exchange of critical information and data from the field. Through an easy to use, one-button interface, Allerio offers an efficient and secure “Mobile Hub” to connect devices and transmit rich data in real-time, whether at the incident or in transit in an emergency vehicle. Allerio is headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota with satellite offices spanning the U.S., including production facilities in Madison Heights, Michigan. For more information, visit www.allerio.com and follow us on social media.

About Pulsara

Pulsara provides a real-time communication network across an entire region. The Pulsara platform, built on the power of mobile technology, unites the right clinicians at the right time for the right patient – providing transparency and streamlined communication. Simply CREATE a dedicated patient channel. BUILD the team. And, COMMUNICATE using audio, video, instant messaging, data, images, and key benchmarks. Studies report an average decreased treatment time of nearly 30% when using Pulsara. Pulsara is the evidence-based standard of care. For more information, visit www.pulsara.com.