Dartmouth-Hitchcock names Daniel Jantzen new CFO as Robin Kilfeather-Mackey steps down

Daniel Jantzen, executive vice president of Operations and chief operating officer for Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, is the health system's new chief financial officer, CEO and President James N. Weinstein announced this week.

Jantzen is former CFO of Dartmouth-Hitchcock and a 26-year veteran of the New Hampshire trauma center. He spent 17 years as a leader of the Finance Department and three years as CFO.

He will assume his role overseeing the $1.7 billion health system this month.

"Navigating today's healthcare environment, with multiple payers, numerous payment models, changing regulations, and challenges at the state and federal level, requires deep knowledge and a thorough understanding of all aspects of the health system and its path to the future," Weinstein said. "Having served as CFO and then diving deeply into operations for six years, Dan is a perfect choice for this critical role."

[Also: Dartmouth-Hitchcock to exit Pioneer ACO program over losses, calls model 'unsustainable']

Jantzen replaces CFO Robin Kilfeather-Mackey, who is leaving her role to pursue a degree in environmental sciences.

Kilfeather-Mackey led Dartmouth-Hitchcock's environmental efforts, earning the health system national awards and recognition as a "green" hospital, according to Weinstein.

"Robin has been a passionate and dedicated member of the D-H team for more than 20 years. Her drive for continued learning has been a constant throughout her time here, most recently as one of the first graduates of the Master of Health Care Delivery Science program." Weinstein said.

The change in leadership comes as the health system continues its focus on population health, value-based care, and new payment models to create a sustainable health system for the region, according to the hospital.

Dartmouth-Hitchcock has participated in a number of risk-based models, including Pioneer, in which it sustained losses for two years in a row.

[Also: Dartmouth-Hitchcock defers joining Next Generation due to financial targets]

Robert Greene, executive vice president and chief population health management officer, expressed frustration at the time that Dartmouth-Hitchcock leaders felt they had done everything correctly to bring down costs yet still failed to meet federal financial targets.

Greene pointed to the fall of 2017 for Dartmouth-Hitchcock to potentially try again with the Next Generation accountable care organization.

The health system also participated in risk-based payment models such as the One Care Vermont accountable care organization, an insurance product called Benevera Health, a growing telemedicine presence and new innovations such as ImagineCare, as part of a strategy to improve health while lowering costs.

The health system is affiliated with five hospitals in New Hampshire and Vermont, as well as Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire.

Twitter: @SusanJMorse