What if the key to curing today’s most complex diseases has been hiding in plain sight inside electronic health records all along?

In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Vish Srivastava, CEO of Century Health, explores how artificial intelligence can unlock the vast potential of real-world healthcare data that has long been trapped inside electronic health records. He explains why traditional clinical trials, although essential, often fail to accurately reflect how treatments perform across diverse, real-world patient populations, and how this gap hinders innovation. Drawing from both his professional journey and the personal experience of losing his grandfather to Alzheimer’s, Vish shares what motivates his mission to better understand disease progression and accelerate breakthrough treatments.

Vish breaks down what real-world data actually is, why more than 80% of it remains unstructured, and how fragmented EHR systems have made research slow, expensive, and inaccessible. He describes how observational studies and patient registries can take years and cost millions due to manual chart abstraction, and how carefully validated AI can now automate this process, turning clinical notes, PDFs, and imaging data into high-quality research-ready insights. The conversation also highlights how this approach can broaden research beyond historically narrow clinical trial populations.

Ultimately, the episode addresses the crucial issues of trust, bias, and patient privacy. Vish discusses how AI can either perpetuate or correct historical biases in healthcare data, why transparency and published validation are essential, and how strict de-identification and governance frameworks protect patient privacy. Together, these advances point toward a future where real-world data fuels faster, more inclusive, and more impactful medical research.

Tune in to hear how AI is reshaping clinical research and bringing us closer to treatments that truly work for real patients in the real world!

Resources

• Connect with Vish Srivastava on LinkedIn here.

• Follow Century Health on LinkedIn here and visit their website here.

Brilliant digital health ideas die every day, not because of technology, but because founders ignore the legal and regulatory realities of healthcare.

In this episode, Dr. Stephanie D. Barnes, Senior Counsel at Nixon Law Group, discusses how digital health entrepreneurs can navigate the complex intersection of law, regulation, and innovation without jeopardizing their company's growth before it scales. She shares her journey from traditional health law to innovation and explains why every startup must first understand who pays for their solution, as reimbursement drives everything from design to go-to-market strategy.

Dr. Barnes breaks down the implications of software becoming a regulated medical device, how FDA scrutiny increases as products move closer to clinical decision-making, and why MSO/PC structures and corporate practice of medicine laws are critical for anyone deploying virtual care or owning clinics across state lines.

She clarifies the risks of Anti-Kickback, Stark, and False Claims for RPM, telehealth, and SaaS models, and demonstrates how poor contracting, governance, and entity structure can compromise limited liability or deter investors.

Finally, Dr. Barnes highlights her passion for supporting women and Black founders who receive a tiny fraction of venture capital.

Tune it and learn how to build legally sound, scalable digital health solutions that can actually stay in the market long enough to save lives!

Resources

• Connect with Stephanie Barnes on LinkedIn here.
• Follow Nixon Law Group on LinkedIn here and visit their website here.
• Subscribe to Nixon Law Group’s newsletter here.

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The mother needs care too, not just the baby.

In this episode, Brittany Starobin, founder of Haven Postnatal Retreat, discusses how her own battle with postpartum depression, including suicidal thoughts, led her to create a space that prioritizes mothers’ recovery during the “fourth trimester.” She explores the U.S. maternal health crisis, particularly its disproportionate impact on Black and Brown women, and how systemic inequities, lack of support, and cultural stigma contribute to worsening outcomes.

Brittany explains how Haven combines trauma-informed care with data-driven practices, monitoring vital signs like blood pressure to detect postpartum preeclampsia early, and integrates mental health screenings, therapy, journaling, and partner education. The retreat offers both luxury and purpose: creating a model to prove that comprehensive postpartum care improves outcomes and deserves broader access.

She also highlights the importance of supporting fathers, fostering community among mothers, and educating families about recognizing mental health warning signs. This episode brings empathy and innovation together to reimagine maternal wellness as both a personal and public health priority.

Tune in and learn how one woman’s personal struggle turned into a mission to revolutionize postpartum care through compassion, technology, and community!

Resources

• Connect with Brittany Starobin on LinkedIn here.

• Follow Haven Postnatal Retreat on LinkedIn here and visit their website.

• Learn more about Haven Postnatal Retreat on Instagram and TikTok.

• Email Haven Postnatal Retreat directly here.