Data That Doesn’t Flow Is Data That Fails

In the early stages of HealthTech investing, most eyes go toward the front-end experience—clinical dashboards, patient portals, engagement loops. But beneath those shiny surfaces lies a deep structural problem: unstructured data.

“There’s a whole world of data living in PDFs and faxes that never makes it into analytics platforms—and that means we’re flying blind,”
— Beverly Miner, VP at Consensus Cloud Solutions

What Beverly and her team have tapped into isn’t a flashy point solution. It’s the connective tissue most HealthTech stacks are missing.

If your portfolio company can’t:

• Extract clinical insights from faxes

• Seamlessly send and receive data across EHRs

• Support facilities without certified digital systems...

…then the solution is leaking ROI at scale.

The Real Cost of “Doing Nothing”

Let’s break it down. Imagine a health system discharges a patient to a skilled nursing facility. That SNF doesn’t receive the discharge meds or diagnosis codes until a day later. The result?

• Incorrect treatment plans

• Patient readmission

• Reimbursement complications

• Compromised trust in the tech that’s supposed to streamline care

That’s not theory. That’s what Beverly described happening every day. And in one personal case? Her family member didn’t survive the wait for a prior authorization.

“We’ve been talking about interoperability for 20 years,” Beverly said. “But now it’s not a dream—it’s an execution gap.”

Burnout Isn’t a Staffing Problem—It’s a Data Problem

What happens when clinicians can’t rely on systems to support them?

They burn out. They quit. And startups scramble to explain why retention is slipping.

But here’s the truth:

“Founders keep asking why adoption is low. The better question is—does your tech reduce decisions, or just create more dashboards?”
— Sabrina Runbeck, Co-founder, PulsePoint Path

Manual workflows lead to:

• Redundant documentation

• Late-night charting

• Frustration when data is missing or mismatched

• Clinical decisions based on incomplete patient history

And when that happens, the product isn’t sticky—no matter how good the sales demo is.

Consensus is solving this with products like Clarity™, which extracts structured data directly from scanned documents and maps it into existing clinical workflows—without disrupting the front-end interface.

Health Equity Demands Tech Equity

Investors are finally paying attention to health equity, but most don’t realize how tech design contributes to systemic exclusion.

If a product only functions in digitally mature, urban hospital systems, then it automatically excludes:

• Rural clinics using legacy systems

• Behavioral health centers without certified EHRs

• Substance abuse programs still relying on fax machines

“If your tech can’t be used by the clinics serving vulnerable populations, it’s not equitable—it’s elitist,”
— Sabrina Runbeck

Let’s put it in dollars: CMS and ONC are prioritizing data modernization with initiatives like TEFCA and Fire-based interoperability standards.

But what happens when clinics can’t meet those standards yet?
We need solutions that bridge the now and the next.

Consensus Cloud’s cloud faxing platform and intelligent extraction tools serve as an equity accelerator, getting critical data into the systems that need it—without demanding a massive infrastructure leap.

Operational Efficiency = Capital Efficiency

What makes backend infrastructure so compelling for investors?

It multiplies value across the stack. One strategic investment in backend data modernization can:

• Lower customer support overhead

• Accelerate enterprise adoption

• Improve quality reporting accuracy

• Increase payer and provider trust

• Shorten onboarding cycles

That’s not just operations—that’s enterprise readiness.

“Backend friction is the silent killer of HealthTech valuations. The tools that scale are the ones that create invisible speed and trust.”
— Sabrina Runbeck

Investing in Solutions that Power Other Solutions

Consensus isn’t competing with point solutions. It’s making them more usable. That’s a strategic multiplier for any investor focused on outcomes-based care, risk-bearing models, or HealthTech consolidation.

Whether your portfolio includes:

• Remote monitoring

• Referral management

• Chronic care management

• Or AI-driven triage tools...

None of them perform well if the data entering them is fragmented or delayed.

Think of Consensus as the pipes and filters—turning raw, unstructured, low-trust data into actionable insights that support business models across the care continuum.

How to De-Risk Your HealthTech Investments

If you're advising or investing in early- to growth-stage HealthTech, ask:

✅ Does this company integrate across diverse care settings—not just enterprise health systems?
✅ Is the tech usable in Medicaid, rural, or behavioral care environments?
✅ Are they replacing manual workflows, or just digitizing broken ones?
✅ Do they reduce burnout and admin burden for every user persona?
✅ Are they positioned to align with CMS, CDC, and TEFCA modernization goals?

If the answer to most of these is no, it might be time to explore ecosystem enablers like Consensus Cloud Solutions—platforms designed to support scalability without system disruption.

From Invisible Infrastructure to Strategic Advantage

The most exciting part? These backend innovations aren’t speculative—they’re already delivering results.

Consensus is the largest provider of cloud faxing in healthcare. With platforms like eFax® and Clarity™, they’re enabling care transitions, claim submission, referrals, and clinical documentation to move faster, smarter, and more securely.

And because the tech fits into existing workflows (not around them), the adoption curve is shallow—and the ROI curve is steep.

“If you want adoption, don’t ask clinicians to log into another thing. Make the tools they already use smarter.”
— Sabrina Runbeck

💬 Final Thought for Investors

While others chase the next shiny front-end interface, the real value may lie behind the curtain.

Who’s powering the data flow? Who’s making the invisible efficient? Who’s reducing the steps clinicians never wanted to take in the first place?

Those are the founders worth backing.
And those are the systems that scale.

Get Involved

Want to meet founders like Consensus Cloud Solutions before they hit their next raise?

Apply to judge or attend HealthTech Showdown, our virtual event where pre-vetted companies pitch directly to capital partners and health system leaders. You are also helping each event’s winner to be able to receive $5,000+ in media opportunities. Book a call with our CEO Sabrina Runbeck to discuss this opportunity: PulsePointPath.com/Call-Sabrina

Founders can apply for a guaranteed spot at PulsePointPath.com/Contestant or send a 200-word pitch to Showdown@PulsePointPath.com with subject line “Showdown Scholarship” to receive $800 cash to use for this engagement.

Investors looking for healthtech companies that reduce cost, improve outcomes, and scale with minimal friction—Brook.AI is one to watch.

And if you’re an investor managing a portfolio of healthcare founders, PulsePoint Path can help you grow those companies with less risk and more return:

• Leadership Maximizer: Strengthen executive team alignment, reduce internal friction, and find the right strategic hires.
• Pathfinder: Conduct deep-dive SWOT analyses to focus portfolio companies on the right business strategies.
• Capital Readiness Scorecard: Identify cash burn risks early, organize operations, and clearly communicate value to future funders.
• HealthTech Showdown: Spotlight your strongest ventures in front of aligned capital and health system leaders.

About Sabrina Runbeck

Sabrina Runbeck, MPH, MHS, PA-C helps healthcare technology companies scale sustainably—without burning out their teams or running out of cash.

She is the Co-Founder of PulsePoint Path and works alongside a 12-integrated board of advisors to help founders make strategic decisions that multiply impact and protect capital.

Her signature 5D Integrated System helps companies move beyond one-dimensional problem solving—what they think the issue is—and instead, builds an Empowered Ecosystem across leadership, team dynamics, and systems alignment. This is how founders evolve from early traction to 10x growth.

Sabrina is also a TEDx speaker, former Cardiothoracic Surgery PA, and trusted advisor with over 15 years of experience in public health, neuroscience, and business acceleration.