Making healthcare work better.
Transforming the “work” of healthcare—and how it works for patients, providers, and payers.
We are redefining healthcare financial operations
At HealthWorks, we believe that healthcare works best when we bring people, processes, and purpose into alignment. We are not just another platform—we are a transformative orchestration system that integrates human expertise with cutting-edge technology to optimize workflows in real time.
Our vision is simple: to transform how payers, providers, and patients connect—creating clarity where there is complexity and driving outcomes that truly matter.
It’s time to leave the stereotypes and animosity behind and build something together that works for everyone involved. Today, both payers and providers have struggled to find solutions on solving the problem—until now.
We are committed to Making Healthcare Work Better—both the “work” of healthcare and how it works for patients, providers, and payers.
Our purpose and commitment
Our values
A connected healthcare ecosystem
Our purpose
To transform healthcare financial operations by connecting payers, providers, and patients through innovative and efficient solutions. We bring thoughtful precision to every step of the healthcare journey, ensuring clarity, collaboration, and meaningful outcomes.
Our commitment
To create a healthcare ecosystem where every interaction is thoughtful, efficient, and impactful. We envision a future where payers, providers, and patients are aligned around shared goals, driving better decisions, faster results, and lasting impact.
The foundation of everything we do
At HealthWorks, our core values guide every decision we make and every solution we create. They are the foundation of our commitment to transforming healthcare operations.
Collaboration
We foster a cooperative environment where all stakeholders work together to achieve shared success.
Efficiency
We automate processes and provide real-time insights to reduce administrative burdens and accelerate workflows.
Accuracy
We apply structured logic, embedded rules, and defensible workflows to ensure every claim is precise and compliant—building payer trust and audit confidence.
Innovation
We embrace cutting-edge technology and creative problem- solving to drive continuous improvement.
Transparency
We prioritize clear communication and open processes to build trust with payers, providers, and patients.
Our core belief
Claims are more than transactions
At HealthWorks, we believe that claims are more than transactions—they’re reflections of the patient’s experience and the provider’s care, deserving thoughtful consideration and precision.
Healthcare works best when payers, providers, and patients are aligned around clarity, collaboration, and meaningful outcomes. By fostering transparency, alignment, and trust, we transform claims into stories that drive better decisions, faster results, and lasting impact.
We bring thoughtful precision to every step of the healthcare journey by connecting people, processes, and data. Through innovative solutions that integrate content, criteria, and controls, we remove the layers of complexity that have long plagued the industry.
Expertise you can trust
The HealthWorks team is made up of industry leaders, technologists, and healthcare experts who are passionate about transforming healthcare operations. With decades of combined experience in revenue cycle management, payment integrity, and healthcare technology, we bring unparalleled expertise to every challenge.
Darby Brown
Chief Executive Officer
Brian Unell
President | Payment & Engagement Solutions
Rhonda Sandel
President | Revenue Precision
Alden Cartwright
EVP | Provider
Heather S. Cox
EVP | Clinical Services
Harold Davis
President | Payer
Chad Heflin
EVP | Payer Lead
Michael McGauley
EVP | Data Mining Operations
Craig Mills
EVP | Data Mining Technology
Why choose us?
Deep Industry Knowledge
Our team has been involved in building the systems payers and providers use to achieve integrity. We know how the system works, and how to fix it.
Commitment to innovation
We are constantly exploring new ways to leverage technology and data to drive better operations
Foucs on collaboration
We believe that healthcare works best when all stakeholders are aligned around shared goals
Join us in transforming healthcare
We're on a mission to make healthcare work better for everyone. Whether you're a payer, provider, or patient, we invite you to join us in creating a more efficient, transparent, and collaborative healthcare ecosystem.
Together, we can remove the layers of complexity, leave stereotypes and animosity behind, and build something that works for everyone involved.
"Darby has pioneered innovations that bridge the gap between payers and providers."
Darby Brown
Chief Executive Officer
Darby Brown is a healthcare maverick with an impressive track record of founding and leading transformative healthcare organizations. As the visionary behind VantageHealth.ai, Compliant, Syntech Health, and Cypress Healthcare Recoveries, Darby has pioneered innovations that bridge the gap between payers and providers.
His extensive experience includes serving as an Entrepreneur in Healthcare Venture Capital at Bengal Health Ventures, empowering healthcare startups to achieve growth and scalability. As co-founder and CEO of ClarisHealth and VantageHealth.ai, among other ventures, Darby has developed cutting-edge solutions to modernize revenue cycle management and payment integrity. His previous ventures include co-founding AIM Healthcare, which was successfully sold to Optum/UHC in 2009.
A mentor and incubator of emerging businesses, Darby’s passion for advancing healthcare technology continues to drive meaningful change across the industry.
“Communications and expectations are 90% of success.”
Brian Unell
President | Payment & Engagement Solutions
Brian Unell is a visionary leader dedicated to simplifying complex healthcare challenges through data-driven innovation. Throughout his career, Brian led transformational consulting projects, spearheaded a $180M technology implementation, and managed a team of 1,500 people.
His collaborative approach and commitment to clarity and precision continue to drive better outcomes for patients, providers, and payers alike. Brian is also the author of Everyday Leadership: You Will Make A Difference and holds three degrees from the University of Florida. He resides in Atlanta, Georgia with his family.
"Her dedication to accuracy, advocacy, and strategic growth continues to drive innovation"
Rhonda Sandel
President | Revenue Precision
Rhonda Sandel brings over 25 years of healthcare experience, beginning her career as a registered nurse before founding multiple successful organizations. As CEO of Syntech and Gryphon Healthcare, Rhonda built teams of over 400 professionals and led initiatives that reshaped revenue cycle management and compliance.
A passionate advocate for patient rights, she played a critical role in securing recognition for freestanding emergency rooms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rhonda has also been a powerful voice on Capitol Hill, advocating for patient rights and insurance reform, influencing state and federal policies to enhance healthcare access and equity. Her dedication to accuracy, advocacy, and strategic growth continues to drive innovation at HealthWorks.
"Effort requires no talent. It’s the one thing you can control every single day." - Ray Lewis
Alden Cartwright
EVP | Transformation
Alden Cartwright is a transformational leader focused on reimagining revenue cycle management for healthcare providers. As EVP at HealthWorks, Alden leverages cutting-edge technology to create streamlined processes that drive efficiency, optimize reimbursement, and enhance patient care. During his tenure at HealthWorks, he co-founded two of its legacy organizations, Compliant and Syntech.
With a champion’s mindset honed as a former LSU pitcher, Alden combines resilience, strategic thinking, and dedication to help healthcare organizations achieve sustainable growth and operational excellence.
"Heather is known for translating complexity into actionable strategy."
Heather S. Cox | MSN, BSN, CPC, CRC, CPC-I, LNC
EVP | Clinical Services
Heather Cox is a clinical coding expert and strategic healthcare leader with a deep understanding of how clinical insight, documentation integrity, and regulatory precision come together to drive financial and compliance outcomes. As Executive Vice President of Clinical Services at HealthWorks, Heather leads teams focused on helping provider organizations deliver accurate, defensible coding and improved clinical clarity across the entire encounter lifecycle.
With more than two decades of hands-on experience in coding, audit, education, and clinical operations, Heather brings a rare combination of clinical expertise and operational execution. Her work has supported hospitals, health systems, and physician groups nationwide in reducing compliance risk, improving revenue integrity, and elevating team performance through education and real-time feedback.
Credentialed as a nurse, certified coder, instructor, risk adjustment expert, and legal nurse consultant, Heather is known for translating complexity into actionable strategy. At HealthWorks, she leads with credibility and compassion—ensuring clients gain not only insight, but lasting improvements in both care documentation and revenue outcomes.
“If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?" - John Wooden
Harold Davis
President | Payer Performance
Harold Davis brings more than 30 years of experience leading high-impact payer operations, with a deep focus on cost containment, payment accuracy, and operational performance. As President of the Payer Performance Studio at HealthWorks, Harold partners with health plans to build smarter, more efficient systems that reduce waste, mitigate risk, and ensure claims are paid right—the first time.
Before joining HealthWorks, Harold spent nearly three decades at Humana, where he rose to lead the company’s entire cost containment division. His oversight included fraud, waste, and abuse programs; subrogation; code editing; vendor management; provider services; and both pre- and post-pay data mining and medical record review. Under his leadership, the organization earned external recognition as a world-class Payment Integrity program.
Harold’s leadership approach blends strategic insight with operational rigor. He is known for his ability to lead cross-functional teams, streamline fragmented workflows, and implement scalable solutions that drive measurable financial impact. During his tenure at Humana, his team consistently achieved top decile engagement scores and delivered sustained improvements in both performance and compliance.
After Humana, Harold joined Rialtic as Vice President of Product Growth, where he helped develop and commercialize advanced payer solutions rooted in automation, intelligence, and transparency. His unique blend of payer operations expertise and product strategy gives him a rare ability to align technology with real-world payer needs.
At HealthWorks, Harold brings all of that experience together—helping plans reduce administrative waste, improve payment accuracy, and strengthen provider relationships through aligned solutions that work across the claim lifecycle. A Certified Public Accountant, Harold holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Bellarmine University.