Celebrating 35 Years of Excellence in Healthcare IT

Q: Can you share a memorable challenge HealthNET faced and how you overcame it?

Mary Ann:  ”Definitely COVID. It was March 2020 — we were poised for our best year ever — but in a single day, two major contracts were canceled, and we lost 50% of our business. We decided to keep on every full-time employee consultant, but we had to let go many of our contractor consultants.  It was horrible. Then we heard about the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), we applied, and we qualified. So, we rehired as many of those contractors as possible, and we deployed them — at no charge — to our clients. We paid it forward. The government was giving us our PPP money, hospitals were struggling, so we gave those consultants to our clients at no charge for the duration of our PPP funding. COVID didn’t just test our resilience — it reaffirmed our values: lead with integrity, support our employees, and always do what’s right for our clients.”

Q: How has HealthNET Consulting evolved since its inception — and what values have remained constant?

Clif: “Over the past 35 years, HealthNET has grown from a boutique advisory firm into a full-service healthcare IT consultancy — expanding both in depth and breadth to meet the evolving needs of our clients. What hasn’t changed is our unwavering commitment to our core values:

• Always act in the best interest of our clients
• Speak the truth, even when it’s not the easy answer
• Lead with empathy, because healthcare is ultimately about people
• Build a team of professionals you’d want as your neighbor — trustworthy, thoughtful, and collaborative

These principles have guided every engagement, every hire, and every decision. They are the foundation of the long-term relationships we’ve built and the results we continue to deliver.”

Q: What do you believe is the company’s greatest strength today?

Mary Ann: “Our best asset has always been — and continues to be — our people. We don’t sell products or platforms. What we offer is expertise, insight, and true partnership with our clients — delivered by a team with deep, real-world experience in healthcare operations. Our consultants have worked inside hospitals and health systems. They understand the day-to-day realities, the workflow challenges, and how to apply technology in ways that truly make a difference. That perspective sets us apart. It allows us to bridge the gap between strategy and execution, between IT, operations, and patient care — and to deliver services that are both practical and impactful.”

Q: How do you see the industry evolving, and how is the company preparing for these changes?

Clif: “As the healthcare landscape has shifted from independent hospitals and physician practices to large, corporate-driven health systems, the complexity and scale of IT needs have grown exponentially. We’ve evolved in lockstep with the industry — expanding our team and deepening our bench to meet the demands of larger, more sophisticated projects. We’ve also built specialized teams with targeted expertise, ready to step in and fill critical gaps for our clients. This proactive approach ensures we’re not just keeping pace with change — we’re helping our clients stay ahead of it.”

Q:  How has HealthNET adapted to changes in the industry over the years?

Mary Ann:  “We’ve always needed to stay ahead because in healthcare IT, change is constant. From sweeping regulatory changes years ago like HIPAA and Meaningful Use, to the rise of value-based care, to transformative technologies like telehealth, FHIR, and now Artificial Intelligence — the landscape is always evolving. We have thrived by embracing that change. We actively invest in keeping our team current, encouraging continuous learning so we can offer clients the most relevant, informed guidance possible. Whether clients come to us for strategic direction, specialized expertise, or extra bandwidth, they know they can trust that we’re already up to speed. We also haven’t been afraid to offer complimentary services in emerging areas to gain hands-on experience and ensure we’re ready to lead when our clients need us most. Adaptability isn’t just part of our culture — it’s a core strength that’s helped us deliver value these past 35 years.”

Q: What significant milestones have shaped HealthNET over the past 35 years?

Clif: “Here are three significant milestones that helped define who we are today: Our first breakthrough came when we were selected to lead and support an EHR implementation at a large multi-facility health system. We welcomed Mary Ann to our leadership team, and her impact on clients and our internal dynamics has been profound. And rising to meet the surge in demand during the early EHR era established HealthNET as a trusted partner in system selection, implementation, mergers and acquisitions, and overall healthcare IT project and change management.”

Q: What has been your personal journey with Health Net and what keeps you motivated?

Mary Ann: “I love the challenges we face in consulting. With focused projects there’s a beginning and an end, and there’s satisfaction in completing the work and being successful at it. Overcoming tight timeframes, tight budgets, and change management — being able to accomplish all that is very satisfying for me. And with our team, family comes first — that’s in my heart and Clif’s heart, and I think that’s one of our core values that makes our staff want to stay with us for so long.”

Q: How has HealthNET’s company culture evolved, and what initiatives are in place to support employees?

Clif: “As HealthNET has grown, so has our culture — evolving to support a larger team size while staying true to the personal, people-first values that have defined us from the beginning. At our annual in-person retreat and throughout the year during virtual meetings, we host “Short Takes” – staff-led presentations that showcase the diverse expertise and passions within our team. We also launched our “One Team for Growth” initiative, which empowers every employee to contribute to HealthNET’s success in ways that align with their strengths and interests — and rewards them for doing so. Culture isn’t just a buzzword to us. It’s a shared commitment to collaboration, growth, and mutual respect — and it’s what makes us stronger together.”