By BETSY TAYLOR
CHE Trinity Health has named Dr. Richard J. Gilfillan, 64, former director of the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, as the system's new president and chief executive officer.
Gilfillan starts the leadership position on Nov. 18, about five and a half months after Trinity Health and Catholic Health East merged into one of the nation's largest Catholic health care systems with 82 hospitals and 88 continuing care facilities, home health and hospice programs. Livonia, Mich.-based CHE Trinity Health has annual operating revenues of about $13.3 billion and employs about 86,000 people.
Gilfillan's experience as a physician, insurance and health system executive and director of the federal innovation center highlights his abilities to lead across the spectrum of care, Melanie Dreher, chair of the CHE Trinity Health board, said in a statement. "In the midst of a transforming industry, Rick brings a national presence and comprehension to guide our ministry as we pursue new opportunities, tackle new challenges and fulfill our mission," she said.
Gilfillan served as the first director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. In that capacity he worked with payers and providers from 2010 into 2013 to develop innovative models for improving patient care and reducing costs.
He stepped down from the federal position in June. He explains, "When I left CMS, my thinking was that I could make the most difference and add the most value by being part of an organization working on transforming care and improving the way we deliver care, and this is an incredible opportunity to do exactly that, so I am excited and thrilled to have the opportunity to be part of Catholic health care and to be part of the CHE Trinity family of ministries."
Before his innovation center appointment, Gilfillan was president and chief executive of Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger Health Plan and executive vice president of insurance operations for Geisinger Health System, an integrated health system. He previously was the senior vice president for national network management of Bethesda, Md.-based Coventry Health Care and also held earlier executive positions at Philadelphia-based Independence Blue Cross.
He started his career treating patients as a family medicine physician, working in Washington, D.C., rural Massachusetts and New Jersey. "I learned a lot about delivering care, designing care services for folks. I learned a lot about what it takes to serve people and to hopefully do a good job with it," he said.
Deciding how best to change health care is tied to the "assets, capabilities and patients served in a regional ministry." Gilfillan said part of the work being done around the nation currently is figuring out what health care models make sense, based on specific needs of patients and populations.
Gilfillan spoke of the importance of Catholic mission to the work of CHE Trinity Health. "I think the mission is real clear and explicit about being a compassionate and transformative healing presence in the communities that we serve. I think we are, I am, excited about that mission. I am excited about working with the team and finding in this new world that we're all facing what the best way is to do that, to make the most contributions we possibly can to improve the health of the populations in the communities that we serve."
Judith Persichilli, who had been serving as CHE Trinity Health's interim chief executive, will assist Gilfillan through the transition, a system spokesperson said. Previously, Joseph Swedish, then Trinity Health's president and chief executive, was slated as president and chief executive of the merged system with then CHE President and Chief Executive Persichilli named to become executive vice president. But in February, Swedish resigned to become president of WellPoint, one of the country's largest health insurers.