White Pine Systems hires 2 as it expands into behavioral health market

The battle over the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) led many of White Pine Systems' prospective clients to freeze until the Supreme Court made a decision. That forced the Ann Arbor-based firm to diversify its client base over the last year, a move that has led to some good growth and future prospects. White Pine Systems specializes in providing online medical records, mainly to physical health specialists for its first six years. The company began making inroads with behavioral health specialists last fall, which has allowed it to keep the growth ball rolling. "It looks like behavioral health is much more ready to engage patients than physical health," says Doug Dormer, founder & CEO of White Pine Systems. White Pine Systems struck a deal last fall with Midwest-based Centerstone, providing software and social media technology to the non-profit as part of an $850,000 grant project. White Pine Systems provided online social media solutions, such as hosting chat services and discussion boards. It also provided online clinical tools, like digital recovery plans. "Since last fall we have felt the market really start to turn and today we're feeling it turn even more," Dormer says. White Pine Systems employs eight people after hiring two software developers over the last year. It is also looking to add some interns in the near future and expects its future growth prospects to push its staff to 20 within the next year. "I see the behavioral health market taking off," Dormer says. "I see the U.S. Supreme Court decision opening up markets that have been dormant." Source: Doug Dormer, founder & CEO of White Pine Systems Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.