Mindy Hangsleben
Human-Centered Systems Engineer and Healthcare Implementation Leader
I help healthcare organizations turn complex policy, strategy, and technology requirements into workable operational models. I bring an engineering lens to healthcare implementation, helping teams see how workflows, data, technology, incentives, staff capacity, and user experience connect in the real world.
As founder of Varyn Consulting, I lead cross-organizational implementation efforts that bring together providers, community-based organizations, health plans, government agencies, technology partners, and the people affected by the work to design, test, and implement practical solutions.
My work sits at the intersection of healthcare policy, systems engineering, Human-Centered Design, Lean improvement, Agile testing, and change enablement. I specialize in the messy middle between policy intent and real-world execution—where things can either come together or break down.
Beginning in 2013, I led nine federal Kaizen events at CMS, each involving 40–150 participants spanning federal agencies, contractors, EHR vendors, providers, and patients. That work helped cut quality-measure development cycles from five years to two, reduce defect rates from nearly 100% to under 5%, and contribute to a culture transformation that the CMS Deputy Administrator publicly described as turning around one of the largest programs in government.
I carried that same combination of Lean and Human-Centered Design into my work as an HHS Entrepreneur-in-Residence, supporting the policy and operational teams standing up the federal Quality Payment Program. We worked across policy development and implementation simultaneously. In the program's first year, annual appeals fell from approximately 40,000 to 2,500, and physician data was delivered two months ahead of deadline.
Today, I use that same approach to help mission-driven organizations solve implementation challenges that no single stakeholder can solve alone. I bring an engineer's systems lens, an implementer's bias toward testing, and a national network of healthcare, policy, technology, data, clinical, and community experts who can be brought in when the work requires specialized expertise.
I am currently building the Healthcare Policy Implementation Lab to help Minnesota prepare for major Medicaid implementation changes while creating a reusable model for future healthcare policy transitions.
Credentials
- Founder and Principal, Varyn Consulting
- Former HHS Entrepreneur-in-Residence
- B.S. in Chemical Engineering, University of North Dakota
- Experience spanning HHS CMS, ONC, healthcare delivery, FQHCs, Health IT, interoperability, quality measurement and reporting, and value-based care
- Contributing author on multi-organizational Kaizen, Human-Centered Design, telehealth, and digital clinical practice guidelines
Methods & Certifications
- Lean Six Sigma
- Lean / Kaizen Facilitation
- Human-Centered Design (HCD)
- Agile
Community & Board Engagement
Mindy's volunteer and board work keeps her grounded in the communities and populations her professional work is meant to serve.
SHIP Counselor — Medicare/Medicaid Plan Navigation
Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging / Minnesota Aging PathwaysWorks with seniors to explain insurance options and benefits for Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Community Advisory Board Member
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of MinnesotaAdvises on community health strategy and health equity priorities.
Technology Advisory Committee Member
Minnesota Community Health Worker AllianceServing on the Technology Advisory Committee, guiding the development of the Community Health Innovation Platform — a statewide registry, employer matchmaking, and tools that strengthen community health workers across Minnesota. Built by Minnesotans, for Minnesotans.
Board Member
Alliance HousingAlliance builds and manages deeply affordable housing for Minneapolis neighbors facing the greatest barriers — people with criminal histories, past evictions, or very low incomes who most landlords screen out. Housing stability is the foundation everything else is built on: health, employment, family, recovery.
The right expertise for the challenge
Varyn is founder-led and can scale to the needs of an engagement. When the work requires capabilities beyond Mindy's own, she draws from a trusted national network to assemble the right combination of policy, clinical, operational, technology, data, facilitation, research, and community expertise.
This allows clients and funders to gain an accountable implementation lead while bringing in specialized expertise only where the work requires it.