From Spreadsheets to Cymetryc: Jennifer Lyle on Modernizing Health IT Validation

What if the biggest risk to patient safety wasn’t the software itself but the outdated way hospitals still test and validate it?In this episode of Lightning RX, host Colette Nataf sits down with Jennifer Lyle, Chief Innovation Officer at Cymetryc, to explore how she’s helping hospitals move beyond spreadsheets and Word docs to a modern, standardized approach for software validation.Jennifer shares the journey from founding Software Testing Solutions in 1999 to launching Cymetryc as a category defining platform during the pandemic. With over 25 years of experience helping hospitals and labs test third-party systems, she’s seen firsthand how the industry evolved from “best-of-breed” systems to massive platforms like Epic and Cerner, while validation practices remained stuck in the past.From navigating regulatory documentation for CAP, JCO, and ISO inspections, to solving the problems laboratorians didn’t even realize they could fix, Jennifer explains how Cymetryc makes validation faster, easier, and safer for healthcare IT teams. She also opens up about the challenges of marketing in a conservative industry, building partnerships with vendors like Abbott, and creating case studies that prove real-world value.What You’ll Learn:Why healthcare validation hasn’t evolved in 25 years and why that’s dangerousHow Cymetryc replaces outdated spreadsheets with visibility, control, and efficiencyThe challenges of “category creation” in healthcare ITWhy customer research and feedback loops shaped Cymetryc’s product designHow vendor partnerships accelerate adoption and credibilityWhy laboratorians are reluctant marketers—and how case studies build trustThe importance of timing and touchpoints in healthcare sales cyclesJennifer’s advice for startups: speak to the whole stakeholder path, not just the buyer💡 Golden Nugget: “Healthcare doesn’t need more rocks in its shoes. Validation shouldn’t be painful—it should be standardized, streamlined, and built for patient safety.”Connect with Jennifer Lyle & Cymetryc 🔗 LinkedIn: Jennifer Lyle 🌐 Website: cymetryc.comConnect with the Show:LinkedInWebsiteSpotifyAmazon MusiciHeartSubscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform.If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone passionate about healthcare marketing, startup growth, or innovative product launches, and don’t forget to leave us a review. New episodes drop weekly!