Today we’d like to introduce you to Corinne Vargas
Hi Corinne, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey began in childhood when my mom had a brain aneurysm and subsequent stroke when I was three years old. I supported her communication, helped her regain independence, and boosted her confidence. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, this experience fueled my future business.
I grew up to become an actuary and then a speech-language pathologist. In these careers, I discovered the power of data, knowledge, and advocacy. I created SMARTCharts to address barriers to accessing crucial data during diagnosis, disease, and injury. I wanted to make it easier for patients to understand their progress and for care teams to make data-driven decisions.
When I changed careers and returned to graduate school, I became frustrated that critical progress data wasn’t accessible to patients, especially when that information could be so helpful and motivating during their recovery. Presenting vital information solely through jargon-laden reports seemed inadequate.
Using my Excel skills from my actuarial career and my frustration with mundane, repetitive tasks, I created the earliest form of SMARTCharts. These Excel sheets automated my notes, generated graphs, and allowed me to complete documentation in real-time while showing my patients their progress.
Today, SMARTCharts aims to increase accessibility across the entire care continuum. It helps patients understand their progress, enables care teams to make quicker, data-driven decisions, and improves claim processing efficiency. This product solves engagement and efficiency problems across the care hierarchy, making vital data accessible to all, regardless of age, diagnosis, SES, native language, or education level. This business is what I was meant to do, driven by my personal and professional experiences, and continues to grow from our team’s passion for helping others achieve their best possible outcomes.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, but the challenges have shaped our journey and strengthened our resolve. One significant challenge has been managing the enterprise sales cycle. Navigating due diligence with health systems involves obtaining sign-off from key stakeholders and decision-makers, but we face uncertainty regarding the timeline for closing deals and initiating contracts. Working through legal and IT clearance adds further complexity, complicating our ability to plan strategically and forecast revenue accurately.
Breaking into the healthcare market at the enterprise level is especially challenging when creating an entirely new market and offering a much-needed product. Despite these obstacles, we’ve slowly but surely earned entry through SMB customer word of mouth. As patients and clinicians gain more exposure to our tool, we’ve proven its success and efficacy, allowing us to scale. We are excited about the opportunity to be considered for a grant, as the associated coverage will help us reach more healthcare organizations, patients, and people who can benefit from our rehabilitation progress tracker.
Additionally, funding for female and minority-owned businesses is tough. As a solo, female minority founder, we’ve faced our share of funding challenges. We continue to unlock sources via creative and strategic methods, including angel investment, grant competitions, and government grant funding, because we know our solution will impact the lives of many and is deeply needed.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My motivation to become an entrepreneur was born from my personal and professional experiences. As a daughter, patient, and clinician, I’ve faced significant barriers in accessing and understanding vital medical rehabilitation data during critical times—diagnosis, disease, and injury. These obstacles hinder crucial progress in recovery for patients of all ages and diagnoses.
I launched SMARTCharts to address this issue, aiming to increase data accessibility and utility across the care continuum. SMARTCharts helps patients track their progress and stay motivated, aids care teams in making data-driven decisions quickly and easily, and improves claim processing efficiency for payers to help patients get the vital care they need faster. With my background as an actuary and speech-language pathologist, I knew I could create a product to help all patients like my mom, who suffered a stroke; my brother, who recently suffered a traumatic brain injury; myself with knee surgery; and so many more I have treated in speech sessions access their data, regardless of age, diagnosis, SES, language, or education level, to achieve their ultimate outcomes, faster.
To me, this product and mission are personal. My journey has been fueled by a deep understanding of the challenges faced by patients and their families, and a commitment to making a meaningful difference in their lives. SMARTCharts represents the culmination of my efforts to bridge the gap between data accessibility and patient care, driven by a passion to help others achieve their best possible outcomes.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Several individuals and groups have played significant roles in the success of SMARTCharts and my entrepreneurial journey.
Monica Navas, our Chief Product Officer, has been invaluable. With her extensive academic background and practical industry healthcare experience, she has elevated our ability to create and adapt our products to best serve our patients and providers. Monica holds a Master of Science in Biostatistics and Data Science from Weill Cornell Medicine and a Master’s in Clinical Epidemiology from Pontifical Xavierian University. In her role at SMARTCharts, she leads the development of innovative healthcare tools, focusing on automating documentation workflows and enhancing patient progress visualization. Her previous experience at Docokids, where she created pediatric healthcare solutions delivered through digital platforms, highlights her versatility and proficiency in applying data science in diverse healthcare settings. Her expertise and leadership are crucial for the successful implementation of our healthcare technology projects.
My family has also been invaluable, providing initial funding when SMARTCharts was just an idea in Excel. They continue to support and believe in me, regardless of inevitable setbacks. Their unwavering support has allowed me to create and help families just like ours.
Additionally, I’ve had many advisors who have provided experienced insight on our go-to-market strategy, funding strategy, and execution at each stage of SMARTCharts’ journey. While there are too many to name them all, Niko Skivaski, Troy Henikoff, and Jonathan Goldstein stand out for their significant contributions. Their guidance has been instrumental in navigating the complexities of building and scaling a healthcare technology company.
These mentors, supporters, cheerleaders, advocates, clients, and teammates have all played critical roles in our success, helping us to develop and refine our product, secure funding, and execute our vision. Their support and expertise have been key to overcoming challenges and achieving our goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mysmartcharts.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smart_charts/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mysmartcharts/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MySmartCharts
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinnevargas/
