GREEN BAY/LA CROSSE — Healthcare finance is about more than numbers; it’s about supporting the people who serve our communities with compassion and excellence.
For Joanne Horvath, every financial decision, every strategic initiative, and every operational improvement ultimately connects back to ensuring healthcare organizations can provide exceptional care to patients where and when they want it.
Emplify Health is excited to welcome Joanne as the new Vice President of Operational Finance, a role that will enable her to support the organization’s mission while serving the communities she knows well. Joanne starts her new role February 16.
“I grew up in Coleman, Wisconsin, and my dad had great care and experience at Bellin Health many years ago,” Horvath shares. I was drawn to Emplify Health because I see the same things here that my dad and my family experienced: compassion, excellence and commitment to serve people locally. I’m excited about where Emplify Health is headed as an organization.”
A strategic leader in healthcare finance
Horvath joins Emplify Health with extensive experience leading finance operations for complex healthcare organizations across the country. Most recently, she served as Associate Vice President of Corporate Finance & Shared Services at Banner Health, a network of 33 hospitals spanning multiple states with $16 billion in annual revenues. Horvath led all financial planning and analysis activities, including long-range planning, capital planning, and budget implementation.
Throughout her distinguished career, Horvath has demonstrated exceptional skill in operational improvement, mergers and acquisitions, revenue cycle management, and financial systems implementation. Her deep expertise spans financial planning, treasury, reimbursement, managed core contracting, and creating analytics frameworks that support strategic decision-making at the highest organizational levels.
“I look forward to meeting Emplify Health leaders and staff to best understand current challenges and opportunities,” Horvath explains. “This will allow me to understand the strategic initiatives already in motion and how I can help support our success.”
Before Banner Health, Horvath served as System Vice President of Finance & Shared Services at SSM Health in St. Louis, where she led the transformation from a holding model to an operating model and streamlined finance structures across the organization. She also served as Chief Financial Officer at Rogers Behavioral Health in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, and as Vice President of Finance and Treasury at ThedaCare in Appleton, where she successfully led the implementation of Workday as a new ERP system and increased annual revenue by millions through strategic pricing initiatives and operational improvements.
Horvath’s additional healthcare finance leadership experience includes serving as Vice President of Finance for the East Wisconsin Region at Hospital Sisters Health System and holding progressive leadership roles at Ministry Health Care and Affinity Health system, where she played a key role in merger activities and post-merger integration.
Connection with Emplify Health’s mission and communities
Horvath’s background makes her uniquely suited to support Emplify Health’s mission of serving local communities with excellence. Her personal connection to the region runs deep – she’s a Coleman, Wisconsin, native who has witnessed firsthand the importance of strong, local healthcare systems.
“My father had open heart surgery at Bellin Health years ago when it was the only regional option for this type of care. I noticed the difference then, and I notice the difference now coming into this new role,” Horvath shares. “Emplify Health is committed to serving the communities they know well. This is different than many organizations that are in transition and becoming part of large, multi-state systems. Emplify Health represents two local organizations coming together to remain local.”
“I’m a strong believer in servant leadership, respecting all individuals supporting patient needs, from our dedicated housekeeping staff to our C-suite,” Horvath continues. “I believe all levels are important to the success of the organization and all should be accountable for that success. My role includes being a mentor and teacher to others, allowing each individual to achieve their professional goals and contribute to our collective success.”
Horvath’s experience with previous mergers, including Ministry and Affinity merger, will prove valuable as Emplify Health continues its integration journey.
“I have experience bringing organizations together under one leadership and operating model,” Horvath explains. “I believe those experiences will be helpful to Emplify Health. The key is bringing people together to talk, listen, and build confidence through strength evaluation and coaching.”
Horvath holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Lakeland College in Sheboygan, and a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. She is a Certified Public Accountant licensed by the Wisconsin Licensing Board.
She is an active member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) and has served in leadership roles including Chair of the Wisconsin HFMA Women’s Conference Committee and on various community boards including the Fox Cities Community Health Partnership and Fox Cities Performing Arts Center.
