The Venture for America fellow who most recently received fellow spotlight is Nihal Shrinath, Director of Business Development & Integration,Better Day™ Health. He works alongside two members of the SBN 100, Rand and Peter Ragusa, at the emerging electronic health records (EHR) and clinical documentation software provider.
VfA: What initially attracted you to Venture for America?
Nihal: I was looking at jobs in politics/policy and also tech start-ups my senior year because I wanted to work somewhere where my impact was felt. I came across VFA, and I loved the concept of infecting entrepreneurial spirit into cities that need jobs. I was also attracted to the prospect of living and participating in the urban transformations of New Orleans or Las Vegas.
What is the best part of being a VFA Fellow?
Three things. First, living with and interacting with other Fellows, who inspire me with their drive and creativity. Second, working at a company where I interact frequently with the CEO and work on projects that are pushed out to the real world almost instantly. Third, the vibrancy of New Orleans.
What does VoiceHIT do?
VoiceHIT produces a Web-based passive clinical documentation and electronic health record software platform, called Better Day™ Health, that automates medical documentation, embeds clinical decision support at the point of care, integrates patient home and mobile self tracking, and structures data for managing patient populations. Better Day™ Health works much like ‘Shazam for Healthcare’ and encourages patients to participate in their own care. By combining five disparate software systems into one and voice-enabling it, Better Day™ Health is poised to help push the healthcare system into the 21st century.
What do you do on a typical day at work?
There is no typical day, really, because much of time, we’re out of the office at pitches or conferences or seminars. I have worked on a wide range of projects, from editing the business plan and due diligence documents, to building a new website, to programming an Android app. Since VoiceHIT has five full-time US-based employees, we are in constant contact throughout the day and work is very fluid. We work out of the New Orleans BioInnovation Center, a brand new building in the center of the emerging New Orleans BioDistrict, and my office has a sweet view of Canal Street.
What’s your favorite thing about New Orleans?:
Three-way tie between the weather (except for hurricanes), the music and the quirkiness of the people you meet every day.
What do you hope to accomplish in your time with VFA?
I hope to contribute to the success of my company to the point that it can grow and create jobs in New Orleans. I also would like to become an engaged and active community member in NOLA.