Why I Joined Care Continuity: Purpose, People, and Personal Connection

Some career decisions transcend professional advancement—they align with your purpose. My journey to Care Continuity represents such a moment, driven by authentic experience, exceptional leadership, and a deep personal connection to healthcare advocacy.

When Healthcare Gets Personal

My connection to healthcare navigation isn't theoretical, it's deeply personal. Since my mom was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 29, she has navigated increasingly complex healthcare systems for over 40+ years. I’ve witnessed her determination to never give up through countless specialist referrals, insurance changes, and countless treatment evolutions—each requiring an added layer of advocacy and extraordinary patience.  Despite my years in healthcare, I've found myself frustrated by the same barriers that challenge millions of patients.

Even with industry knowledge and connections, helping a loved one access appropriate care remains daunting. One might assume years of industry experience would bring ease or familiarity to this process—I’ll admit it doesn’t. The struggle persists, even for those inside the system. As systems struggle with capacity constraints, physician shortages, and resource limitations, the burden increasingly falls on patients and their families.

Watching Care Continuity connect with patients one-on-one, providing that crucial layer of support, struck a profound chord with me. Their patient navigation wasn't just efficient—it was authentic, empathetic, and effective. They were solving a problem that had affected my family directly.

Behind the Curtain: Witnessing Excellence Firsthand

In my decade of healthcare experience—from serving as Chief Strategy Officer with Tenet to VP of Strategy and Business Development with Ascension—I've seen many healthcare partners fall short of the promises they make. That’s what made Care Continuity stand out—they consistently delivered on their commitments. They didn't just serve clients; they genuinely partnered with them. They didn't just navigate patients; they truly cared about each person maneuvering through our complex healthcare system.

Unlike most career transitions, I had the rare privilege of working with Care Continuity as a client—peeking behind the curtain—before joining the team. I worked closely with Kyle Callahan, the Chief Innovation Officer, and the advisory services team I’d later join. Their approach provided me a transparent view of how this organization operates daily. What I witnessed was refreshingly authentic.

This wasn't healthcare delivery as a transaction. This was healthcare delivery with heart.

Leadership That Shapes Culture

Growing up with parents who spent over 30 years in education, impacting the lives of thousands of students, I was surrounded by countless conversations about authentic leadership and treating others with dignity. They taught me that real leadership isn’t about fancy titles or corner offices—it’s about the meaningful impact you leave on people's lives over time. They'll remember how you made them feel long after they've forgotten everything else.  These values became my professional compass.

When I began working closely with Care Continuity's leadership team, I recognized something special almost immediately. Here was a team that embodied the leadership attributes I've always respected—integrity, vision, empathy, and the ability to build a culture where these qualities flourish naturally.

The leadership didn't just talk about patient-centered care; they structured everything—from technological solutions to personal interactions—around making the care process genuinely easier for real people. This alignment between stated values and daily operations is surprisingly rare in healthcare. Finding it at Care Continuity felt inspiring.

Making the Leap to Purpose-Driven Work

The timing felt right to transition to the service provider side when Care Continuity was expanding their advisory services organization. Here was an organization truly committed to meaningful healthcare improvement, at a moment when health systems are striving to deliver better experiences for patients—something they deeply want but often find hard to achieve amid rising costs, stretched resources, and tangled processes. My experience aligned perfectly with this mission. After observing firsthand how Care Continuity operated, seeing the talent, drive, and fundamental decency of the team, I knew this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

Every day presents a new challenge to innovate, but with each solution, we're helping real patients—people like my mom—navigate a system that wasn't designed for simplicity. We're creating pathways where barriers once stood.

Moving Forward

Six months into this journey, I'm more convinced than ever that joining Care Continuity was the right decision. Being part of a team that combines technological innovation with human compassion is professionally fulfilling in ways I hadn't anticipated.

We face significant challenges in healthcare, but I'm inspired daily by colleagues and clients who tackle them with creativity, determination, and an unwavering focus on the patient experience.

I believe Care Continuity is positioned to transform patient navigation at scale while maintaining the personal touch that makes our approach so effective. I'm grateful to be part of this mission, contributing to healthcare improvements that could benefit families just like mine.

Changing healthcare, one patient at a time.

Matthew T. Brooks, MBA, MA