Data engineering & integration · Data quality & reconciliation
02 AI & Machine LearningApplied machine learning · Generative AI
03 Software & Product EngineeringCustom application development · Legacy modernization
04 Cloud & CybersecurityCloud migration & modernization · Cloud operations & support
05 Acquisition & Financial ManagementAnalysis of Alternatives · Market research & COTS/NDI evaluation
06 Program & Project ManagementProgram management & PMO support · Process improvement
Reconcile the record · instrument the definitions · ship the smallest thing that runs · close the loop.
Readiness, sustainment, acquisition and program financial systems.
IntelligenceSecure analytics, transcription and technical talent for missions.
Federal CivilianEnterprise cloud, case workflows and public financial accountability.
State, Local & TribalFederal-grade accountability on a state or municipal budget.
HealthReliability, forecasting and workforce analytics for clinical operations.
Commercial & Small BusinessFor organizations that must defend an AI-assisted decision.
Where a customer can't be named, the component and scale are characterized instead.
ALL WORKGAO, CBO and IG findings, read closely and written up plainly.
ALL INSIGHTSEngineering, data science, and Ghost Works.
OPEN ROLES INTERNSHIPSHands-on projects and practical challenges, including our Drone Development internship.
EXPLORE INTERNSHIPS →Use what you have, buy, or build? Find out before you spend.
Fifteen quick questions about your idea, your data and your budget. You get a recommended path with typical costs and timelines, the HIPAA non-negotiables, and the first steps to take.
From a team that builds data and software systems for federal health and private practices. No patient information, no sign-up to see your results.
Describe your idea
What it should do, who will use it, and how clearly you can describe the problem.
Check the essentials
What already exists, patient data and BAAs, EHR connections, budget, timeline and who will own it.
Get your path
Use what you have, buy, no-code, custom, or check FDA rules first, with costs, timelines and first steps.
One honest recommendation, and what to do first
Most practices do not need a custom app. Some do. The guide tells you which, and how ready your project is either way.
Do most practices really need a custom app?
Usually not. For scheduling, reminders, intake and messaging, the answer is often a feature you already pay for or an established product. Custom software makes sense when you need deep EHR integration, patients using it at scale, a product for other practices, or a workflow no product fits.
Why does a BAA matter so much?
Under HIPAA, any vendor that stores or sees patient information on your behalf must sign a business associate agreement. That includes app builders, no-code platforms, cloud hosts and AI tools. It is the first question to ask any vendor.
When does the FDA get involved?
The FDA regulates some clinical software as a medical device. Tools that help clinicians decide, where the clinician can see the basis for a suggestion, are often outside that. Software that diagnoses or directs treatment on its own usually is not. The guide flags this, and the FDA’s Clinical Decision Support Software guidance has the details.
How accurate are the costs and timelines?
They are typical planning ranges, not quotes. The real numbers depend on your scope, your EHR and the vendors you choose, which is what the free walkthrough is for.
Where do my answers go?
Your answers stay in your browser while you work. We only receive them if you send the form at the end, and we never ask for patient information.
Also free: see next month’s busy days with the Patient Demand Forecaster.
FORECAST MY CLINIC