Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephane Elias.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Approx. six years ago, the journey began. At the time, I was an Office Manager at the Center for Haitian Studies, Health & Human Services, Inc; a duly registered non-profit, tax-exempt health and social service organization founded in 1988 for the purpose of serving the disenfranchised populations of Little Haiti/Little River in Miami, Florida.
At CHS, we were undergoing changes as a result of the Affordable Care Act. One of the many changes included physicians transitioning from paper charting to electronic charting. The government was providing medical facilities with financial incentives to implement paperless charting.
Therefore, I was tasked with implementing this paperless charting system. This required me to research different EHR systems, pick an option that best fit the needs of our clinical/non-clinical staff, transfer our paper charts to electronic copies and train our staff on how to use this system. It was a lot of work, but I rose to the occasion.
After extensive research, I chose Practice Fusion; a Web-based electronic health record (EHR) software for physicians and medical professionals. It was free and it was an EHR system that included: medical charting, e-prescribing, clinical decision support advisories, online booking and scheduling, online referrals and messaging. Its lab, imaging, and billing modules integrate with a network of third-party laboratories, medical imaging centers, and medical billing services.
I had to create a presentation, present it to our Board of Directors and get it approved. Once they approved of Practice Fusion, that’s when the real work began. The transition process took me roughly three months to complete between setup, the transition of files from paper to electronic and training of our clinical/non-clinical staff.
At CHS, we were a teaching institution, we trained medical students from University of Miami’s MD-MPH Program and placed 5th Semester Medical Students from foreign medical schools abroad such as Ross University, St. George’s University and AUC to name a few in clinical rotations throughout SoFlo. Given our academic affiliations with Jackson Health System and the University of Miami, I came in contact with physicians of multiple facilities. They would see the work I was doing firsthand and they started recruiting me on the side to assist them with their own private practices.
In the beginning, my company specialized in EHR consulting for physicians. I would give them recommendations on what EHR system they should utilize given their specialty and the needs of their clinic, implement the system and educate their staff on how to use it.
Over time, E-nnovative Health has evolved and offers the following services: Technology-Enabled Care (TEC), Digital Therapeutics, mHealth App Development, Healthcare Website Design, and Digital Health Training. In addition, we have an online store where we sell healthcare wearables. Lastly, we offer blended learning courses in First Aid/CPR/AED.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. I’ve faced my fair share of adversities. When I originally started E-nnovative Health, I was based in Miami. I was still working full time as an Office Manager at the Center for Haitian Studies. I was doing E-nnovative Health work on the side after work. I had a decent number of clientele but at one point, we hit a plateau and we experienced a stunt in client growth an revenue. It was tough because I had to cover my overhead in terms of staff and office space but we weren’t making enough money to sustain the business. Therefore, I had to reduce my staff and ultimately I transitioned to running an e-business.
Then, my independent contractor agreement with the Center for Haitian Studies ended and with rising costs, I decided to move my business to West Palm Beach. I knew nothing about Palm Beach. I had no connections and I had no idea how business was conducted but I learned. Marlynnda Calixte of Delite Whitening invited me to a Black Business Month Event that Ann Marie Sorrel of the Mosaic Group was having at the West Palm Beach Pavillion. I went and I made great connections.
One of those connections was Bruce Lewis, President of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach. Bruce and I instantly clicked. We exchanged business cards. I sent him an e-mail and we set up a meeting. I went to Bruce’s office, told him about my business and he gave me recommendations on what I should do as well as provided me with community resources that I should look into.
One of those resources was Paragon FL. They had a Business Readiness Certification Program; a six-session business program that provides education and business preparation for small business owners and start-ups. I went through the program, graduated and it opened doors for me.
In addition, I had amazing people such as Ann Marie Sorrel of Mosaic Group, Sophia Nelson of S.A. Nelson & Associates, Frank Hayden, Procurement Director for the City of West Palm Beach and Eric Kelly, CEO of Quantum Foundation serve as mentors. They took me under their wing and showed me the ropes. I’m truly blessed and thankful to have them in my life. They believed in me and gave me a shot when nobody else did. For that, I’m forever grateful.
E-nnovative Health – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
E-nnovative Health is a digital health firm that focuses on improving patient engagement and customer satisfaction by investing in digital tools and developing strategies that bridge the gap between what patients demand and what providers deliver. We serve as a trusted advisor to leading healthcare organizations, health systems, medical group practices, community health centers, patient-centered medical homes, and not-for-profits.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success for me is determined by the impact that I have within my community. Being compassionate, being concerned, doing everything I can to help people – that is my passion. My passion: the reason for my existence. My success: the product of my persistence.
Contact Info:
- Address: 801 Northpoint Parkway, Ste. 112, West Palm Beach, FL 33407
- Website: https://www.ennovativehealth.com/
- Phone: 561.444.8325
- Email: info@ennovativehealth.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ennovativehealth/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ennovativehealth
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ennovativhealth
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/e-nnovative-health-llc
Image Credit:
Delite Whitening, T. Leroy Jefferson Medical Society, MIA Media Group, Impact The Outcome, Miami Dade College
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