Executive Experience · Nicole Thyne
Former healthcare CIO and EVP/COO experience informs every NTAG engagement—bringing a practical understanding of the decisions, pressures, and tradeoffs facing health system leaders.
The operator's perspective
For eight years as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Milford Regional Medical Center (2017–2025), Nicole held direct executive accountability for major hospital operations, including a 650+ FTE division and an $85M annual operating budget. Her leadership spanned Information Technology, Enterprise Imaging, Laboratory Services, Physical Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Facilities, Food & Nutrition, Public Safety, and Emergency Management. Earlier and subsequent CIO roles added deep experience in technology strategy, enterprise integration, and governance.
That perspective shapes NTAG's work today: practical executive support that strengthens decision-making, aligns stakeholders, and keeps the focus on measurable outcomes.
NTAG is designed for leaders who need an experienced thought partner and added executive capacity—not more administrative overhead or another layer of reporting.
Experience that spans
CIO-level strategy, enterprise systems, vendor relationships, and digital investment.
COO-level operating performance, expense discipline, workforce alignment, and accountability.
Enterprise EHR deployment, organizational change, cross-functional governance, and execution.
Selected executive outcomes
Examples from Nicole's prior executive leadership roles demonstrate a focus on financial stewardship, operational improvement, and disciplined delivery.
Two distinct chapters of executive leadership: eight years of sustained COO accountability at Milford Regional Medical Center, followed by CIO leadership and additional interim cross-functional oversight during Merrimack Health’s post-merger transition.
~$700K / month
Support run-rate savings achieved through post-merger transition service agreement exits and contract rationalization. Also delivered a 10% operating expense reduction, including $2.3M in workforce optimization savings (not additional to the 10%).
~$1M / year
Operationalized a strategic clinical partnership generating approximately $1M in recurring annual technical-component revenue; led a $320K rehabilitation expansion generating approximately $740K in incremental annual net revenue.
$10M
As EVP/COO at Milford Regional Medical Center, oversaw $10M in completed hospital capital projects across a comprehensive inpatient nursing unit renovation, pharmacy expansion and modernization, and laboratory expansion. Also led numerous additional capital planning studies, distinct from completed construction.
650+ FTEs
For eight years as EVP/COO at Milford Regional Medical Center (2017–2025), held direct executive responsibility for 650+ FTEs across IT, Enterprise Imaging, Laboratory, Rehabilitation/Sports Medicine, Facilities, Food & Nutrition, Public Safety, and Emergency Management; accountable for an $85M operating budget and $6.5M capital budget.
On Time & On Budget
As EVP/COO at Milford, executive-sponsored the enterprise MEDITECH Expanse EHR implementation, delivered on time and within budget. Later, as CIO at Merrimack Health, advanced post-merger integration, enterprise governance, prioritization, and leadership continuity across a multi-hospital system.
Board to Bedside
Built executive dashboards and enterprise portfolio governance. At Milford, led hospital emergency management and public safety as part of eight years of direct COO responsibility, including incident response. Separately, at Merrimack Health, provided interim executive oversight of Facilities, Public Safety, EMS, and Emergency Management during leadership transitions.
Selected outcomes from Nicole's prior executive leadership experience; not represented as results of NTAG client engagements. Confirm figures and publication permissions before publishing.
Executive experience in action
Explore three concise examples of executive leadership applied to post-merger cost improvement, hospital workforce performance, and enterprise clinical technology modernization.
Professional leadership
Member of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Technical Advisory Group, advising on health information privacy, exchange standards, and data protection policy.
MHA Program Coordinator and Advisor and adjunct professor at Framingham State University, teaching healthcare operations, health informatics, strategic planning, and quality improvement.
How experience translates
Navigate difficult tradeoffs with someone who understands the responsibilities of executive leadership.
Connect technology, clinical operations, finance, and workforce perspectives to enterprise decisions.
Translate priorities into decision cadence, accountable action, and measurable results.
The NTAG difference
NTAG brings experienced CIO and COO leadership to critical priorities through fractional and interim executive roles, executive partnership, and focused advisory engagements. The emphasis is on strategic decisions, cross-functional accountability, and measurable outcomes.
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