KC tech startup partners with Children’s Mercy to help diagnose, manage care
May 9, 2017 | Bobby Burch
Kansas City-based Engage Mobile Solutions developed a mobile app assisting pediatricians at Children’s Mercy Hospital, treating children facing acute illnesses and injuries.
The tech firm created “CMPeDS: Pediatric Decision Support” to provide healthcare professionals with evidence-based guidelines to manage patients who are facing acute illnesses such as infections, or children who are experiencing acute injuries, burns, or other illnesses.
“Children’s Mercy is one of the most innovative pediatric hospitals in the world,” Engage Mobile president Matthew Barksdale said. “It is humbling and inspiring to be on such a brilliant team that is focused on making the lives of children better.”
The app’s tools include checklists assessing patients’ risk of severe illness, step-by- step guides, decision trees and treatment algorithms derived from expert opinions. Available on iOS and Android devices, the app also provides visual aids offering users an estimation of risk for severe illness based on different clinical scenarios.
Dr. Russell J. McCulloh, an infectious diseases physician at Children’s Mercy, will present the app at the Pediatric Academic Societies’ annual meeting Tuesday in San Francisco, which is expected to draw 7,500 attendees. Dr. McCulloh will share results from the first several months of the app’s deployment, including its impact on patient care and user demographics.
“We’ve had more than 6,000 users download the application,” Dr. McCulloh said in a release. “They’re not just downloading it but they’re using it and really engaging with the application.”
Founded in 2010, Engage Mobile provides software development and cloud services to healthcare and animal health firms. Barksdale said the firm transitioned to focus exclusively on health in 2016.
“Healthcare is an incredibly complex industry and the stakes are very high — life and death in some cases,” Barksdale said. “Our focus on the health industry allows Engage Mobile to quickly understand and positively impact our clients and their businesses.”
Featured Business

2017 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Kansas City-made fitness apps flex tactics to monetize training’s trend toward tech
Jake Heyen’s Fitic exercises its potential at the intersection of pandemic-pumped fitness and influencer marketing industries, the Kansas City founder said, detailing the intertwined world of fitness-minded consumers and content creators. “We love the fact that we sit within two industries that are poised for explosive growth going forward,” said Heyen, who also serves as…
Exit to watch: Top startup LaborChart sells in a deal under construction for generations
LaborChart, one of Kansas City’s leading startups, has sold to a California-based giant in construction management — a deal that proves hard work and determination pay off, its founder said. The startup was sold to Procore Technologies, the companies announced Friday, noting in a release the deal is expected to further innovate the world of construction…
Bearded Fellas shave away ‘just a doll’ — leaving the beauty of everyday magic, people
Ali Bustos didn’t even know how to sew when she was gifted a sewing machine by her parents in 2008. More preoccupied with painting at the time, the machine sat mostly unused. But when her first son was born, it was difficult to paint with a wiggly baby in her arms, she said. Her yearning…
Storytelling startup rewrites the pandemic narrative, scaling into new success, downtown space
Editor’s note: The following story — a spotlight on a member of the Plexpod community — is sponsored by Plexpod, a progressive coworking platform offering next generation workspace for entrepreneurs, startups, and growth-stage companies of all sizes. Stories are powerful, Jeff Short said, recalling ways his storytelling startup, Overflow, has worked to help Kansas Citians harness…
