Why AI Alone Isn’t Enough Without Interoperability

There’s no shortage of AI hype in healthcare. But most AI tools today are still isolated—an add-on, not an integrator.

The companies that will lead the next wave of outcomes-based ROI aren’t just building algorithms. They’re embedding intelligence directly into the workflow, surfacing insights where decisions happen.

Brian Drozdowicz, SVP at PointClickCare (PCC), highlights this distinction clearly: “We’re not just pushing data. We’re connecting the right teams across the entire continuum.”

That means:

• Discharge summaries auto-summarized for downstream providers

• Risk flags embedded into EHRs

• Visibility across ACOs, SNFs, hospitals, and payers

Investors betting on standalone solutions miss this critical point: interoperability is the multiplier.

"Too often, I see founders focus on building shiny dashboards without thinking about the systems their tools need to connect into. If your solution isn't interoperable, it's not scalable." — Sabrina Runbeck

The PointClickCare Model: A Case Study in Ecosystem Integration

With its PacMan tool and acute-to-post-acute visibility stack, PCC is becoming a central nervous system for transitional care.

Instead of building a niche app, PCC has:

• Integrated with major EHR systems

• Partnered with hospital systems and skilled nursing facilities

• Provided real-time patient movement tracking

• Piloted AI-driven discharge simplification

The result? Time savings, better outcomes, and reduced hospital readmissions.

Sabrina Runbeck, host of Provider’s Edge and a growth strategist for healthtech scaleups, noted: “If we’re just saying, 'I have an order,' but don’t attach a care plan, then we don’t have a roadmap."

PCC’s model solves for that by creating a true roadmap—with stakeholders aligned at every step.

And their AI layer doesn’t aim to replace clinicians. It reduces noise. It curates context. It allows staff to prioritize what matters most.

"Technology should enable the care team, not exhaust them. When a founder tells me their AI product saves time, my next question is: for whom, and how does it show up in their day-to-day?" — Sabrina Runbeck

What Most Investors Miss About Post-Acute Innovation

There’s been a lot of focus on digital front doors and acute hospital systems. But post-acute care—especially SNFs and home health—remains one of the biggest cost and outcome variables.

This sector is where some of the most critical patient decisions get made: medication reconciliation, follow-up planning, therapy adherence. And yet, it's been chronically underdigitized.

What makes it ripe for investment?

• Under-digitized workflows

• High fragmentation

• Direct link to readmission penalties

• Increasing pressure for VBC participation

Brian noted during his interview: “AI has the opportunity to fully change how clinicians interact with software—making their lives far more efficient.”

The leverage isn’t just clinical. It’s operational.
And PCC is showing it can be done without overhauling everything—just by making existing tools usable.

There is also a behavioral component. As Sabrina noted, "Founders who ignore the human habits in healthcare—the way clinicians actually use systems—will struggle with adoption, no matter how smart their tech is."

The Metrics That Matter: Scaling with Clarity

When assessing companies in this space, smart investors are looking beyond user growth or app downloads.
Here’s what really signals success:

• Clinical adoption rates: Are frontline teams actually using it?

• Integration partnerships: Is it embedded in major EHRs or care pathways?

• Readmission reduction data: Are outcomes measurable and repeatable?

• VBC alignment: Does the solution improve performance under value-based contracts?

• Workflow fit: Can it be adopted without adding friction?

PCC hits these across the board. It’s not flashy tech—it’s sticky, scalable infrastructure.

More importantly, it creates value for every stakeholder in the ecosystem:

• Patients get better follow-through.

• Providers reduce time spent on documentation.

• Payers see reduced costs and improved quality metrics.

• Systems avoid penalties and improve care continuity.

"It's easy to measure features. But real value shows up in adoption, adherence, and aligned incentives. That's what investors should track." — Sabrina Runbeck

Investor Takeaways: Where the Edge Lies

Founders chasing clinical outcomes are often dismissed for being "too complex" or "too early stage."

But here’s the truth: the complexity IS the moat.

Back-end interoperability, embedded AI, and discharge-to-home alignment may not make headlines—but they’re driving outcomes that payers, health systems, and buyers are demanding now.

This is where the next fundable edge lies.

If you’re an investor looking to place smart bets in healthtech, watch for:

• Tools that simplify care transitions

• Companies embedding into care delivery, not sitting on the sidelines

• Teams solving messy coordination, not just shiny dashboards

Sabrina summarizes it best: "We're entering a phase where buyers are no longer seduced by innovation alone. They're buying integration, alignment, and results. That's the investor's edge."

Ready to Meet the Founders Solving This?

Every month, Provider’s Edge features Series A+ founders solving healthcare’s hidden challenges.

From discharge coordination to data simplification, these are the companies building what health systems are asking for—and investors are starting to notice.

Apply to meet them, or nominate your portfolio company to pitch at:
HealthTechShowdown.com

Or test how investment-ready your own startup is with our free:
ImpactQuotientQuiz.com