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OC Alumnus alters and improves medical communication

Most people’s greatest idea was not conceived at a friend’s party—James Woodson’s development of Pulsara is a unique exception.

Woodson, who attended Oklahoma Christian University but ultimately received his undergraduate degree from Loyola University of Chicago, is the founder and CEO of Pulsara and the Alpine Compassion Clinic, which provides free preventative care for those in need in the East Texas community. 

A board-certified emergency physician, Woodson completed his emergency medicine specialty training at Carolinas Medical Center and later joined the Leading Edge Medical Associates (LEMA) providing patient care at the Good Shepherd Health System. He earned his medical degree at the University of Oklahoma. 

Woodson said the company’s formation came at the helm of a mass discussion amongst medical professionals.

“Our emergency medicine group had a Shark Tank-type evening where the idea surrounding what is now Pulsara emerged,” Woodson said. “[We asked], ‘How can we use mobile technology to improve the lives of patients and caregivers?’”

Medical errors are the cause for nearly 400,000 deaths a year. Pulsara, a technology-based company, addresses this issue by attacking the source of communication and the varying protocols for pre-hospital, intra-facility and inter-facility connection. Pulsara has worked to standardize these systems and develop patient-centric healthcare.

Division Chief of EMS at the Camas-Washougal Fire Department Cliff Free said in an interview with the Pulsara Team the software rewires distinct divisions into one entity.  

“It integrates what were two previously separate systems [EMS and hospital],” Free said. “We [EMS] are now considered a part of the continuum of care.”

When Woodson and the Pulsara team released the first wave of their product, “Stop STEMI” and “Stop Stroke,” they documented an immediate 20% reduction in door-to-balloon times for STEMI and a 40% reduction in door-to-needle times for stroke victims. 

ED Director of Saint Mary’s Regional Health Systems Carolyn Cook stated the system presents an effective presentation of time-sensitive cases.

“Time is critical in these cases and creating teams who are all notified concurrently and respond to assist in the care of these patients is a game changer for our facility,” Cook said. “We are excited with the results we have seen so far.”

Junior Harrison Martin, a biology major, said  the innovation is a simple take at completely improving and reshaping the healthcare system. 

“It is a unique adaptation that addresses a serious problem,” Martin said. “The statistical information is daunting—400,000 deaths come from medical miscommunication. It is something that needed to be looked at it seriously, and I am glad it is being done by a former Oklahoma Christian student.”

North Texas Regional EMS Deputy Chief Paul Fuller recorded their experience with Pulsara and stated it effectively cut the time between the onset of symptoms and the time of treatment, resulting in a permanent installation of the program. 

“Our crew happened to be on site, so the ER staff alerted the crew, Pulsara was activated immediately which alerted the STEMI team at the treating facility, and the patient was receiving intervention 30 minutes later [it is a 90 minute average],” Fuller said. 

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