---
title: "Net Health Navigates CEO Transition as Interim Leader Patrick Rooney Steers AI Strategy"
description: "Net Health has named Chief Operating Officer Patrick Rooney as its interim CEO, following Ron Books’ transition to executive chairman of the board, the company announced on Oct. 19, 2026. The software provider's board has started a comprehensive search for a permanent chief executive."
canonical_url: https://clinicalterminal.com/article/107509989
section: people
byline: Lance Williams · AI Leadership Reporter
date_published: 2026-10-19T19:34:18.323Z
date_label: October 19, 2026
image: https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/clinical-ai-design.firebasestorage.app/o/desk-heroes%2Fle_7bd6dfeb6ca9f2292dbc%2Fhero_3ead7f1c8f82_w1920.jpg?alt=media
source: https://clinicalterminal.com
---

# Net Health Navigates CEO Transition as Interim Leader Patrick Rooney Steers AI Strategy

*[Net Health](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/company/101564780) has named Chief Operating Officer [Patrick Rooney](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/104518896) as its interim CEO, following [Ron Books](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/104518885)’ transition to executive chairman of the board, the company announced on Oct. 19, 2026. The software provider's board has started a comprehensive search for a permanent chief executive.*

Rooney, who retains his role as COO, will oversee company operations and provide continuity during the search, according to a company press release. He has over 30 years of professional experience, including a partner role at Deloitte and serving as CFO for a solar energy start-up, according to his company biography. At Net Health, his responsibilities have included corporate accounting, finance operations, and corporate data analytics.

[Ron Books](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/104518885), who became CEO in October 2023, is returning to business software provider ECI Solutions to serve as its CEO. According to a press release, Books’ departure from the Net Health CEO role was a “personal decision.” In his new capacity as executive chairman, he will continue to guide Net Health’s long-term strategy, replacing [Donna Morea](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/100203626), who will remain a director on the board.

During Books’ year-long tenure, Net Health migrated its systems to Microsoft Azure, acquired companies including Alinea and Limber Health, and reorganized into divisions led by dedicated presidents, according to company announcements.

The leadership change occurs as Net Health pursues what it calls an “AI-forward mandate.” The company describes itself as an “AI-native specialty platform” for clinicians. According to a press release, the board’s search for a new CEO will focus on candidates with a proven history of advancing technological innovation and scaling enterprise-level artificial intelligence in specialized clinical settings.

**Why it matters:** The CEO transition places an interim leader at the helm as Net Health works to integrate recent acquisitions and scale its AI strategy. The company has experienced other recent leadership changes, including the appointments of B.J. Boyle as Chief Product Officer and Audrea Madey as Senior Vice President of Marketing, according to company announcements. Rooney will work alongside a C-suite that includes Boyle, Chief Technology Officer [Eric Grover](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/104518887), and Chief Financial Officer [Christy Totin](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/104518895), according to Clinical Terminal records. Net Health, a portfolio company of [The Carlyle Group](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/company/100061), [Level Equity](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/company/100008439), and [Silversmith Capital Partners](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/company/101389401), states that its software is used by more than 25,000 facilities, including 98% of the largest U.S. hospital chains.

## Sources

- [prnewswire.com](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/net-health-announces-leadership-transition-ron-books-appointed-executive-chairman-patrick-rooney-named-interim-ceo-302912681.html)
- [nethealth.com](https://www.nethealth.com/next-agenda/)
- Clinical Terminal vendor profiles
- Clinical Terminal news signals
- Clinical Terminal people profiles

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Canonical article: https://clinicalterminal.com/article/107509989  
Entity profiles referenced above resolve to https://app.clinicalterminal.com.