Patient data, sync and backups

PulStar keeps patient records, visits and imported imaging in a data folder. By default it is on this Mac. To share patients between several PulStar systems, use a shared network folder.

Back up patient data

Important: Back up your patient records regularly, and never rely on a single copy. Electronic records can be damaged or lost.

The simplest way is Time Machine: connect an external drive and turn on Time Machine in System Settings > General > Time Machine. Make sure the drive or folder that holds your PulStar data folder is included.

Change the data folder

If the new folder is on another computer or a file server, connect to it in the Finder first.
Choose PulStar > Preferences, then click Advanced.
Next to Data Folder, click Select folder and choose the new folder.
Choose Move to move your patient files, archived patients and visits to the new folder, or Don't Move to start using the folder as it is.
If the new folder already has PulStar data, choose Merge to combine the two, or Replace.

The change takes effect right away; you don't need to restart PulStar. PulStar saves a backup before moving anything and tells you where it is. After a successful move, the data is removed from the old folder. To go back to the folder on this Mac, click Reset to default.

Note: When systems share a network folder, a wired Ethernet connection works better than Wi-Fi. Patient data is health information, so keep the folder somewhere secure.

Sync preferences

Turn on Sync Preferences on the General tab to keep your settings the same on your other Macs and iPads through iCloud. Settings that belong to one Mac, such as the data folder and Apple Watch control, are not synced. Patient data is not synced this way.

The cache

PulStar keeps a cache that makes searching faster. If the patient list or date searches seem wrong, click Rebuild Cache on the Advanced tab. Clear Cache deletes it. Neither affects patient data.

If PulStar can't open the data folder

PulStar warns you and runs without saving, so any changes you make are lost when you quit. Reconnect the shared folder, or set the data folder again in Preferences.