Frequently Asked Questions
We help healthcare organizations see the full forest of their data while making sure each tree is accurate, governed, and useful. Here are the questions we hear most often.
What type of services do you offer?
We focus on Process & Governance, Analytics & Implementation, and Strategic Data Consulting–so you can see the forest clearly while managing each tree that drives results.
What’s the difference between these services?
Process & Governance builds the structure and accountability that keeps the forest healthy. Analytics & Implementation turns raw data into actionable insight at the tree level. Strategic Data Consulting sets the direction so every initiative grows toward the same canopy.
Are you just one person or a team?
The Forest and Trees is led by Kevin Thornton with more than a decade of healthcare data expertise. Projects scale to your needs, so the right team is in place to navigate your data forest without unnecessary overhead.
How do you compete with large consulting firms?
We combine operational healthcare fluency with technical depth, and we keep leadership involved throughout. You get a clear path through the forest without paying for unnecessary layers.
What if our project needs expertise you don’t have?
We coordinate specialists for areas outside our core expertise–AI engineers, specialized data architects, or industry-specific consultants. You maintain a single point of contact while accessing the capabilities you need.
Do you work with rural health systems?
Yes–we especially focus on small to medium health systems, including rural and community-based organizations. We understand the unique constraints and help you make progress without getting lost in the data forest.
What type of pricing plans do you offer?
Most of our projects are billed on an hourly basis, plus incidentals like travel costs.
Our retainer plans have a flat monthly rate which include a guaranteed number of hours, with a reduced hourly rate once the included hours are used.
For cost-savings projects, we offer a lower hourly rate, with a bonus based on achieved savings.
Other options can be negotiated as well.
Are there any costs for initial meetings or discussions?
Unless you require an in person meeting, there are no costs until work begins. If you prefer to meet in person, then travel costs will be invoiced after the initial meeting.
Why don’t you offer permanent contracts?
Our goal is to empower our clients without being a staffing solution, and only to come in when the problem is either too big, too new, or too time sensitive to help.
For clients that want to ensure our availability, we offer retainer plans to keep time reserved for situations that may come up.
How long does it take to get started?
The exact length of time will vary depending on our current staffing and the complexity of the new contract.
In general, urgent contracts will start within a week while standard contracts will normally start within 2-3 weeks.