MARSHFIELD — John Cook has joined Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) in the newly created role of chief financial officer (CFO), effective April 27.

“John brings strong leadership skills that will help guide our organization in a quickly changing health care environment,” said Susan Turney, CEO of MCHS. “His skills will be invaluable in moving our health system forward at such a critical time in health care. We’re especially tasked to make the best decisions for our patients and communities, and John’s experience will provide solutions.”

“Accountable Care is requiring organizations to provide care at the lowest cost,” Cook said, “while meeting needs of patients, employers, and payors. Leaders have to integrate physician, hospital, and managed care operations, and I will work to provide all staff with the positive support and direction to achieve the organization’s mission and vision. From a financial standpoint, my job is easy if we provide the highest quality care and patients are so satisfied with us we are the provider of choice in the markets we serve.”

Cook became aware of Marshfield Clinic in the 1990s as a member of Wisconsin Medical Group Management Association. He was told if he wanted to see innovation in health care, he needed to follow Marshfield Clinic. He said he chose to join the organization “at a fantastic time and to be a part of how it reinvents itself and finds new ways to innovate. It will be the organization people will point to and say, ‘If you want to see where health care should go, watch Marshfield Clinic.’”

Cook has been CFO at Mercy Health System, Janesville, since 2008, having joined the organization in 1998. Mercy is an integrated health care delivery system of three hospitals—290 total beds with two critical access hospitals—and over 380 physicians.

Mercy owns a 40,000-member insurance corporation and subsidiaries providing hospice care, home health, and durable medical equipment. During his tenure there he developed and executed strategic initiatives to offset impact of opening a new acute care facility and the General Motors plant closure in Janesville while preparing the system for Accountable Care.

His expertise includes board relationships, strategic planning, executive leadership team operations, physician integration, managed care operations, quality improvement, patient satisfaction, staff development and engagement, performance excellence, team building, and mentorship.

Prior to joining Mercy, he was CFO for Physicians Plus Medical Group, Madison, and a financial analyst for Meriter Health System, Madison.

Cook, a native of Janesville, earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting at Ohio Northern University and has been a guest faculty member at Notre Dame University for its MBA program.