Jefferson Health named Dr. Joseph Cacchione as the CEO of Jefferson Health and Thomas Jefferson University, effective Sept. 6, the not-for-profit Philadelphia-based health system said Monday.
Cacchione is the executive vice president of clinical and network services for Ascension Health, a $28 billion not-for-profit health system with 145 hospitals across 19 states and the District of Columbia.
Jefferson's previous CEO, Dr. Stephen Klasko, retired Dec. 31 after an eight-year tenure. Emeritus Board Trustee H. Richard Haverstick has served as as interim CEO since Jan. 1.
"Jefferson Health has the scope and scale to reach populations that are getting left behind," Cacchione said in an interview. "We have the assets and infrastructure to reach deeply into Philadelphia and New Jersey communities and work on health equity and social determinants of health."
Prior to his systemwide role at Ascension, Cacchione was the CEO of Ascension Michigan. He also spent eight years at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Richard Fogel, chief clinical officer for clinical and network services at Ascension, will replace Cacchione, Ascension said.
Jefferson Health reported $5.9 million of operating income on $5.67 billion of operating revenue in 2021. That compared with a $459.4 million operating loss on $5.27 billion of operating revenue in 2020.
The 18-hospital system received more than $438 million in COVID-19 relief grants in 2020 and 2021.
"We have to provide care at the highest level and in the most economically responsible place," Cacchione said. "Whether care is provided in surgery centers, patients' homes or community hospitals, we have to optimize patient flow. That will be extremely important going forward."
