CASE STUDY: Supporting HOMETOWN Health Center’s New Facility in Palmyra
Insights > Case Study Supporting HOMETOWN Health Center’s New Facility in Palmyra When HOMETOWN Health Center planned its new Palmyra facility, technology was central to their vision for care delivery. With nearly a dozen vendors and a tight timeline, they turned to ProInfoNet to coordinate the process and make sure every system worked together from the start. Download the PDF ABOUT THE CUSTOMER HOMETOWN Health Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center serving over 5,253 patients across 20+ rural communities in Maine. With three locations and a fourth under construction in Palmyra, HOMETOWN Health Center provides medical, dental, behavioral health, telehealth, and community-based services. Committed to serving patients regardless of ability to pay, HOMETOWN Health Center delivers more than 18,520 visits annually, addressing provider shortages and improving access to care in underserved regions. REGION Palmyra, ME COMPANY SIZE Small Health Center INDUSTRY Healthcare KEY SERVICES Healthcare IT Project Management KEY TEAM MEMBERS Jim Rogers Jeff Rogers Jason Gay Mark Van Loan In a nutshell 1 The Challenge When HOMETOWN Health Center planned its new Medical and Wellness Facility in Palmyra, they faced the task of coordinating IT needs across nearly a dozen vendors. To avoid missteps during construction, they sought a partner who could align every system with their patient-centered model of care. 2 The Solution ProInfoNet provided a clear roadmap and vendor coordination throughout the project. We conducted a rapid IT assessment, guided vendors to keep systems compatible, and oversaw implementation. This work created a strong technology foundation as construction advanced. 3 The Outcome With ProInfoNet’s guidance, HOMETOWN Health Center is on track to open its Palmyra facility in February 2026, fully equipped to support patient-centered care. By streamlining IT planning and aligning infrastructure during construction, we reduced the burden on leadership and helped position HOMETOWN Health Center to expand rural healthcare access. Background HOMETOWN Health Center has long participated in the New England Telehealth Consortium (NETC), a nonprofit healthcare consortium managed by ProInfoNet. Since 2017, we’ve supported HOMETOWN Health Center in securing subsidies through the Healthcare Connect Fund to strengthen network connectivity. As a member of NETC’s Executive Board, HOMETOWN Health Center had a clear view into how ProInfoNet approaches healthcare IT challenges. During a conversation between the HOMETOWN Health Center and ProInfoNet teams, HOMETOWN Health Center shared plans for a new Medical and Wellness Facility in Palmyra. Recognizing our experience with healthcare IT and project coordination, they asked for our support with IT planning for the new site. From that discussion, a new partnership formed. Our role expanded from NETC support into trusted advisor, guiding the technology foundation for HOMETOWN Health Center’s expanded services in central Maine. Reach Out to Learn More Challenges Solutions Vendor Coordination When HOMETOWN Health Center began planning its new Palmyra facility, they were working with nearly a dozen vendors, including a general contractor, architects, security providers, telecommunications partners, and medical equipment suppliers. Without a central point of IT oversight, there was a risk of systems being developed in silos. Our role provided coordination, working alongside Bowman Constructors to align technology and operational needs during construction and help the project avoid unnecessary changes later in the process. Complex Healthcare IT Requirements Designing IT for a multi-use healthcare facility requires more than standard infrastructure planning. Clinical systems, compliance needs, telehealth capabilities, and technology for wellness spaces, a full daycare, and community areas all had to integrate smoothly to support HOMETOWN Health Center’s patient-centered model of care. Finishing On Time and On Budget HOMETOWN Health Center set out to complete their new facility without delays or cost overruns. We worked alongside their team to create a unified IT roadmap, coordinating vendors and aligning systems. Our efforts helped keep the project on track and reduced the risk of future disruptions. Solutions Results Laying the IT Foundation Our team conducted a comprehensive, rapid IT assessment, identified key needs, and created a roadmap that aligned infrastructure planning with the facility’s design. This groundwork ensured every decision supported HOMETOWN Health Center’s vision for patient-centered care. A Unified Approach to Vendor Coordination With multiple vendors involved, HOMETOWN Health Center needed a partner to keep technology planning on track. ProInfoNet provided guidance, working with Bowman Constructors and vendors to ensure systems remained compatible and aligned. By offering strategic oversight, we helped the HOMETOWN Health Center team move forward with confidence. Building for Long-Term Success Our role extended beyond preparing for opening day. We designed infrastructure that could grow with HOMETOWN Health Center’s needs, trained staff, and advised leadership on hiring on-site IT support backed by our 24/7 Network Operations Center. By addressing both immediate and long-term needs, we positioned HOMETOWN Health Center to deliver high-quality care and community services well into the future. Our Approach To guide HOMETOWN Health Center through its new facility build, our team followed a phased plan that aligned IT goals with construction milestones. Phase 1January 2025Rapid IT Assessment & Roadmap Site Visits: We visited the Palmyra facility during construction to review plans, assess readiness, and identify IT needs early. IT Documentation Review: Our team reviewed network diagrams, hardware inventories, and vendor agreements to establish a clear baseline. Roadmap Creation: We developed a detailed IT roadmap outlining immediate priorities, long-term goals, and a timeline to guide decision-making as construction advanced. Phase 2February 2025Vendor Coordination Vendor Reviews: We met with key vendors to evaluate their plans and confirm alignment with technology requirements. Agreement Updates: Contracts were updated where needed to ensure compatibility and clear responsibilities. Solution Planning: We coordinated IT solutions for clinical areas, security systems, administrative offices, and community spaces. Phase 3March 2025 – PresentOngoing Project Management Weekly Check-Ins: We held standing meetings with HOMETOWN Health Center’s leadership team to track progress and address challenges. Oversight of Installations: Our team monitored vendor installations to verify alignment with the roadmap. Training and Support: We provided staff training, handled hardware support, and assisted HOMETOWN Health Center in hiring on-site IT support backed by our 24/7 Network Operations Center. Phase 1January 2025Rapid IT Assessment & Roadmap Site Visits: We
CASE STUDY: Building the NETC Network
Insights > Case Study Building the NETC Network When a regional healthcare nonprofit formed a coalition to close the broadband gap for rural hospitals across New England, they selected ProInfoNet—through a competitive RFP process—to build a resilient network to connect them. Learn More ABOUT THE CUSTOMER The New England Telehealth Consortium (NETC) is a regional healthcare consortium in northern New England dedicated to improving access to affordable and reliable telecommunications services for rural healthcare providers and communities. REGION New England COMPANY SIZE Small Non-Profit INDUSTRY Healthcare KEY SERVICES Healthcare Connectivity Network Infrastructure KEY TEAM MEMBERS Jim Rogers Trevor Gordon Chris Gelo Ron Barber In a nutshell 1 The Challenge In 2007, when NETC was founded, there was not adequate broadband internet infrastructure built out for key anchor institutions like rural hospitals across the U.S. 2 The Solution Led by Jim Rogers, NETC began as a coalition of 500 healthcare sites that partnered with ProInfoNet to create a high-speed, redundant network designed specifically for healthcare. 3 The Outcome Today, NETC connects over 1,400 healthcare sites via more than 2,500 circuits, delivering 2 Tbps of bandwidth. With 100% core uptime, 99.999% internet uptime, and 99.983% circuit uptime, NETC is now the largest purpose-built healthcare broadband network in the country. Challenges Solutions Widespread Gaps in Rural Broadband Infrastructure At the time of NETC’s founding, many rural hospitals and clinics across the U.S. lacked access to reliable broadband. These anchor institutions needed a dependable way to connect to the systems and tools that were becoming standard in urban settings. No Network Built for Healthcare While commercial broadband was available, none of the options were designed for the demands of healthcare. NETC needed a secure, unified network that could support real-time patient data exchange, system-wide telehealth, and HIPAA compliance. Limited Capacity to Build & Operate With the backing of a 500-site coalition, NETC had a strong vision, but building and managing a healthcare-grade network across six states required more resources than their internal team could support. They needed an experienced partner to help with the design, deployment, and long-term operations of their network. Solutions Results A Network Purpose-Built for healthcare Through a competitive RFP process, NETC partnered with ProInfoNet to design a healthcare-focused network from the ground up. ProInfoNet interviewed more than 120 healthcare CIOs to understand exactly what they needed and ensured the final architecture supported the performance, compliance, and reliability demands of healthcare providers. Redundant & High-Speed By Design ProInfoNet engineered a dual-core infrastructure supported by three diverse ISPs to guarantee seamless failover. Each site connects to both core routers, enabling automatic switching in the event of a disruption, no manual intervention required. Managed and Monitored Around the Clock To ease the operational burden on NETC’s team, ProInfoNet implemented a dedicated 24/7 Network Operations Center (NOC) and provided real-time circuit monitoring software, giving members full visibility into performance while taking day-to-day management off their plate. Results Work With Us A National Footprint of 1,400 Healthcare Sites What began as a 500-site regional effort has grown into a nationwide network connecting more than 1,400 healthcare facilities. NETC now serves as a critical bridge between rural providers and the broadband infrastructure they need to deliver care. Uninterrupted Connectivity for Critical Services NETC sites use the network for everything from secure data exchange to remote diagnostics and telehealth visits. The redundant design keeps facilities online through hardware disruptions or ISP outages. With 100% core uptime and 99.999% internet uptime, NETC’s network delivers the consistent, reliable connectivity healthcare organizations need to provide uninterrupted care. The Largest Healthcare Broadband Network in the U.S. Today, NETC is believed to be the largest purpose-built healthcare broadband network in the country. As more sites continue to join the network, NETC and ProInfoNet remain tightly aligned—monitoring network performance, resolving issues in real time, and preparing for the next phase of growth with SD-WAN integration through the NETC Next-Gen initiative. Interested in implementing a similar network solution? Talk to Us