Firmament Leads Strategic Combination of PRN Healthcare, ARK Staffing, and CRNA Together by ARK to Create a Premier Healthcare Workforce Solutions Platform 

Appleton, Wis. — June 22, 2026 — Firmament, a growth-focused company that partners with established middle-market businesses to accelerate expansion and long-term value creation, announced today the strategic combination of PRN Healthcare, ARK, CRNA Together and Simpliant, creating a differentiated healthcare workforce solutions platform that combines nursing and allied healthcare staffing, locum tenens expertise, workforce management technology, and Managed Service Provider (MSP) capabilities.

The partnership brings together four highly complementary organizations with a shared commitment to deliver quality healthcare, exceptional service, clinician engagement, operational excellence, and long-term growth. By combining the strengths of PRN Healthcare’s nationwide healthcare staffing services including travel nursing and allied health expertise, with ARK and CRNA Together’s exclusive focus on locum tenens staffing, and Simpliant’s workforce technology and MSP capabilities.  The healthcare platform is uniquely positioned to address the evolving workforce needs of healthcare systems nationwide.

Healthcare organizations are increasingly seeking strategic workforce partners that can provide comprehensive solutions across multiple labor categories while leveraging technology to improve workforce efficiency and reduce costs. Amid ongoing clinician shortages, rising labor costs, and increasing demand for workforce visibility and workforce optimization, the combined platform is designed to meet those needs by delivering staffing expertise, workforce management technology, labor analytics, vendor management, and clinical talent solutions through a single strategic partner.

At the center of this partnership are two of the healthcare workforce industry’s most accomplished leaders. Patrick Moore, founder and leader of ARK and CRNA Together, has spent decades building one of the industry’s most respected locum tenens organizations, recognized for delivering exceptional physician and CRNA workforce solutions to healthcare providers across the country. Pete Hietpas, President of PRN Healthcare, has successfully led PRN through significant growth and expansion while building a nationally recognized healthcare staffing organization known for its culture, client service, and operational excellence.

The strategic combination unites organizations that have achieved success through remarkably similar philosophies—putting relationships first, investing in people, delivering exceptional service, embracing innovation, and maintaining an unwavering commitment to clients and clinicians.

As part of the partnership, Patrick Moore will serve as Chief Executive Officer of the combined organization, providing strategic leadership and guiding the company’s long-term growth initiatives. Pete Hietpas will continue as President of PRN Healthcare, leading operational execution, client partnerships, growth initiatives, and the continued expansion of the PRN platform.

A key differentiator of the combined organization is Simpliant, a technology-enabled workforce management and Managed Service Provider platform that currently supports workforce and locum tenens programs for numerous large health systems across the United States. Simpliant’s technology platform provides workforce analytics, vendor management, labor optimization, contingent workforce oversight, and strategic workforce planning capabilities that help healthcare organizations better manage labor costs and workforce performance.

The addition of ARK and CRNA Together significantly enhances the platform’s physician and advanced practice provider capabilities. Unlike traditional healthcare staffing firms, ARK and CRNA Together have built their business exclusively around locum tenens staffing, developing deep expertise and extensive provider networks within one of healthcare’s most specialized workforce segments.

Together, Simpliant’s workforce technology and MSP capabilities, ARK and CRNA Together’s locum tenens expertise, and PRN Healthcare’s established travel nursing and allied staffing platform create a comprehensive workforce solution spanning virtually every clinical labor category. Few organizations in the healthcare workforce industry can offer this combination of staffing expertise, workforce technology, MSP services, locum tenens specialization, and national recruiting scale under one integrated platform.

“Firmament recognized an opportunity to bring together growth-oriented organizations that share similar values, complementary strengths, and a common vision for the future of healthcare workforce solutions,” said Patrick Moore, Chief Executive Officer. “ARK and CRNA Together have spent years building a premier locum tenens organization, while Simpliant has become a trusted workforce management partner for major health systems. Combined with PRN Healthcare’s national travel nursing and allied staffing capabilities, we are creating a healthcare platform that brings together talent, technology, and workforce strategy in a way that is truly unique within our industry.”

Pete Hietpas, President of PRN Healthcare, added, “This partnership is built on strategic alignment. Each organization has achieved success by prioritizing relationships, service, execution, and innovation. Healthcare systems increasingly want fewer vendors and more strategic partners. By combining PRN’s staffing expertise, ARK and CRNA Together’s locum tenens leadership, and Simpliant’s MSP technology platform, we are uniquely positioned to help clients solve workforce challenges across the entire continuum of care.”

The combined organization will continue to invest in technology, workforce analytics, clinician engagement, recruiting innovation, and customer experience while preserving the entrepreneurial cultures and relationship-driven service models that have fueled the success of each company.

With decades of combined healthcare staffing experience, a national workforce network, one of the industry’s leading locum tenens platforms, advanced MSP capabilities through Simpliant, and the support of Firmament, the organization is uniquely positioned to become one of the nation’s premier healthcare workforce solutions providers.

About PRN Healthcare

PRN Healthcare is a nationally recognized healthcare staffing and workforce solutions company dedicated to connecting healthcare professionals with meaningful opportunities while helping healthcare organizations meet critical workforce needs through travel nursing, allied health staffing, workforce solutions, and strategic talent management services.

About ARK and CRNA Together

ARK and CRNA Together are leading locum tenens staffing healthcare organizations dedicated exclusively to providing physician and advanced practice workforce solutions. The companies are known for delivering exceptional service, cultivating long-term client relationships, and helping healthcare organizations address critical provider staffing needs through specialized locum tenens expertise.

About Simpliant

Simpliant is a technology-enabled Managed Service Provider (MSP) platform that helps healthcare organizations optimize workforce performance through vendor management, labor analytics, workforce planning, and contingent labor solutions. Simpliant currently manages locum tenens workforce programs for numerous large health systems, helping clients improve visibility, efficiency, and workforce outcomes.

About Firmament

Firmament is a growth and solutions focused investment partner that works with ambitious middle-market companies across the Healthcare, Technology, and Environmental sectors. The firm partners with entrepreneurs, management teams, and business owners to accelerate growth, support operational excellence, and build market-leading organizations. Through flexible capital solutions and a collaborative approach, Firmament helps companies scale, expand their capabilities, and create long-term value.

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