OEN Member NewsWhy Portland health care startup NurseGrid opted for the Plug and Play Cleveland accelerator with Cleveland Clinic (Portland Business Journal)

Portland health IT startup NurseGrid has long been courted by accelerators but has always rebuffed offers — until now.

The company, which makes an app used for nurse scheduling and staffing, is participating in a 12-week program run by the Silicon Valley-based Plug and Play. The accelerator, which operates in Cleveland, counts various health care industry stakeholders.

The five-year-old NurseGrid has already raised $9.4 million from investors. Its app has been downloaded more than 500,000 times. It also employs a steadily growing team. So, while it might seem a little late for the company to join an accelerator, NurseGrid believes Plug and Play can help strengthen important industry connections that can translate into sales.

The company’s mobile app is free for nurses, with at least 10 nurses in some 14,000 nursing departments nationwide using it. The company generates revenue by upselling hospitals on a companion management system.

NurseGrid was selected for the program by the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals. It will have access to experts at both of those systems as well as leaders from other health-related providers and systems in such areas as marketing, operations, product and engineering.

The Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals have assigned employees to work with NurseGrid to evaluate how the startup can help improve workflow.

“We are proud that our technology solution was identified as an opportunity to create meaningful change in health care,” said NurseGrid CEO Joe Novello in a written statement. “We are excited about the opportunity to work with these amazing health systems to strengthen our product offering and learn from some of the best health professionals in the country.”

NurseGrid plans to cycle small groups among its 42-employee staff through the program. About 75 percent of its workforce will cycle through, said spokesperson Tessa Curry.

The program doesn’t offer investment. However, it could lead to future deals if the company and any of the participating health systems so choose.

Tigard-based Middlegate, which built an artificial intelligence tool to help health care providers better collect payment, is also part of the Cleveland program.

Source: www.bizjournals.com