Director of the Department of Health James A. Buford Confirmation Resolution of 2002
PR 14-807

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A PROPOSED RESOLUTION IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Chairman Linda W. Cropp, at the request of the Mayor, introduced the following resolution, which was referred to the Committee on Human Services.

To confirm the mayoral appointment of Mr. James A. Buford as the Director of the Department of Health.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the "Director of the Department of Health James A. Buford Confirmation Resolution of 2002".

Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the appointment of

Mr. James A. Buford
907 6th Street, S.W., Apartment 715C
Washington, D.C. 20024

as the Director of the Department of Health, in accordance with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-142; D.C. Official Code §1-523.01) to serve at the pleasure of the Mayor.

Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact statement required by section 602(c)(3) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(3)).

Sec. 4. The Secretary of the Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution, upon its adoption, each to the nominee and to the Mayor.

Sec. 5. This resolution shall take effect immediately.

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James A. Buford
Executive Management
Health and Human Services
Public/Private Sector

OBJECTIVE

Address critical issues faced by organizations undergoing change with expertise acquired from 25 years of solid experience as a senior manager and chief executive officer of large complex organizations having financial and management problems that require effective solutions.

EXPERIENCE CHRONOLOGY

Director, Detroit Health Department, Detroit, Michigan, June 1999 - Present. Designed and implemented programs to promote health, prevent disease, and protect the public's health - including personal health, communicable disease, and environmental health programs. Implemented special initiatives that focused on health disparities and developed strategies that mated greater access to public health and primary care for the uninsured.

Management Consonant, University Research Corporation (URC), Bethesda, Maryland, June 1994 - June 1999. URC collaborates with government and industry to provide communities, businesses, and individuals with training and technical assistance in the areas of public health, human services, human resource management, total quality management, and international development.

Management Consultant Human Resources Administration (MA), Now York City, New York, September 1992 - March 1994. HRA is the largest municipal social welfare agency in the country providing a range of entitlement, child welfare, Medicaid, homeless; sad adult and family services to residents of New York City.

Executive Director, Division of Hospital Operations, April 1991 - March 1992; Executive Director, Kings County Hospital Center, Brooklyn, New York,, May 1988 - April 1991; Assistant Vice President, Office of Strategic Planning, November 1986 - April 1988, New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC). HHC is the largest municipal health care system in the country and consists of acute care hospitals, primary care centers, and long-term care facilities

Director, Department of Urban Community Services (DUCS), City of Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, February 1985 - October 1986. DUCS provides a range of social and human services, youth employment programs, job training and employment, senior centers, and neighborhood improvement and development services to residents of Kansas City.

President, Buford and Associates, Inc., Washington, D.C., June 1983-January 1985. A Washington-based management consulting firm providing solutions to a wide range of public health, health care, human services, and general management problem for clients in the public and private sectors.

Director, Department of Human Services (DHS), District of Columbia Government, Washington, D.C., April 1980 - May 1983. DHS provides for the health and welfare of individuals through the delivery of public and mental health services, primary care, social services, and Medicaid - health care, financing and substance abuse services.

Regional Health Administrator, Department of Health and Human Services, Region VI, Dallas, Texas, September 1979 - March 1980; and Administrator/Project Manager, Saint Flizabeths Hospital (SEH) Initiative, Washington, D.C., September 1977 - August 1979. Responsible for policy
implementation and for directing and coordinating Federal health programs in Region VI. Managing and facilitating the revitalization of SEH, regaining its accreditation and implementing court-ordered institutionalization.

Director, Department of Health and Welfare (DHW), City of Newark, Newark, New Jersey, September 1972 - August 1977. Provided health and welfare services to eligible residents of the city; including public assistance, public health and primary care services, housing and code enforcement, and substance abuse prevention and went services.

SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS

As Director of the Detroit Health Department (DID), provided leadership. that guided the department through the Michigan Department of Community Health's (MDCH) initial accreditation process.

• Designed and implemented a process that aligned department operations with standards established by the MDCH - resulting in a determination of accreditation with commendation.
• Established the department's first Center of Excellence - Laboratory Services. The Laboratory contains a specially equipped bioterrorism section and serves as the reference lab for southeastern Michigan.
• Facilitated the installation of a ScriptPro Automatic Pharmacy Dispensing System to increase the efficiency of pharmacy operations.
• Facilitated the design and establishment of a new "state-of-the-art" oral health clinic to provide greater access to dental services for the uninsured.
• Developed a plan that strategically supports community-based health care providers with laboratory and pharmacy services while integrating core public health services with primary care services.

• Privatized the management of a community health center as an extension of the outpatient department of a local hospital/medical center.
• Purchased a small hospital and converted it to operate as a community health center in as underserved area of the city - with direct city management.
• Constructed a new primary care center and privatized the medical service component through an arrangement with a Medical Group Practice.
• Financially stabilized the operations of several non-profit community health centers with State Aid Funds to complete a network of centers necessary to make services available acrd accessible to the city's medically indigent residents.
• Health and social services were delivered during a period of fiscal austerity and consistent with a financial plan that controlled expenditures.

• A strategy to regain the hospital's accreditation was implemented in 1977 and successfully accomplished in 1979.
• Initiated discussions that resulted in the transfer of the J.B. Johnson Nursing Home from DHUD to DHHS. The nursing home was transferred t0 the District Government t0 assist with tile implementation of a court order to place SEH patients in community based facilities.
• Privatized the medical/surgical component of SEH through as agreement with the Georgetown Medical Center.
• Implemented an institution-wide patient assessment plan to determine the level of care required for all patients with a view toward placement in the most appropriate setting - community based or institution based.
• Reopened discussions with officials of the District Government to establish the parameters for the eventual transfer of SEH from the Federal Government to the District of Columbia Government.

• Completed FY 1981 with an appropriated surplus of $500,00 by recovering $10 million in charges to the Federal Government, $15 million prior year overpayments for Medicaid services, and implemented management initiatives that saved $8 million - all to cover a prior year deficit of $33 million.
• Commissioned a study that resulted in a "Maxicap Hospital Agreement" between DHS and D.C. hospital providers. The agreement focused on a strategy for containing the rate of growth in the Medicaid program.
• Increased the management efficiency of essential administrative support forts located in several locations by collocating these services centrally to achieve greater control, accessibility, communication, performance, and productivity.
• Automated Vendor Payment System was instituted to pay vendors on a timely basis by computing and automatically paying average monthly payments based on prior billings and management instructions.
• Implemented a management system for cow orders that ensured an orderly administration of judicial decrees and full compliance by DHS.

• Implemented major improvements in the operation of the largest and busiest hospital emergency room in New York City.
• Constructed an Urgent Care Center to reduce congestion in the emergency room by shifting those patients requiring treatment in a nonemergent setting.
• Implemented a Quality Assurance Initiative targeted at developing a professional program of continuing quality and resource management. Focused this initiative, in part, on concurrent and retrospective monitoring and accountability for problem follow-up and resolution.
• Implemented major management and service delivery enhancements designed to change the culture acrd structure of the organization established clear patterns of accountability and strategies to enhance leadership and management effectiveness.

EDUCATION

Master of Public Health
University of Michigan, 1972
Focus: Medical Care Organization and Administration

Master of Science
Central Missouri State University, 1965
Focus: Educational Administration

Bachelor of Science
Tennessee State University, 1957
Focus: Biology

Harvard University
Institute on Health Policy, Planning and Regulaiion,1977

Kansas State University
Science Institute
National Science Foundation, 1960

William Jewell College
Science Institute
National Science Foundation, 1959

MEMBERSHIPS

American Public Health Association
American Management Association
National Association of Health Service Executives
National Public Hospital Association

PUBLICATIONS

Publications sad papers presented at such forums as: American Health Congress, American Public Health Association, Princeton University Minority Conference, American Orthopsychiatric Association Annual Meeting, New Jersey State Legislators

CIVIL SERVICE

Federal Civil Service Rating: Executive Service
Level IV (1978)
District of Columbia Civil Service Rating: DS-18 (1980)

James A. Buford
1800 Campau Farms Circle
Detroit, Michigan 48207
(313) 259-2191(H)
(313) 876-4301(0)

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JAMES A. BUFORD

Career Synopsis:

• Director
  Detroit Health Department, Detroit, Michigan
  (1999 - Present)
• Management Consultant
  University Research Corporation (URC), Bethesda, Maryland
  (6/1994 - 6/1999)
• Management Consultant
  Human Resources Administration (HRA) New York City, New York
  (9/1992 - 3/1994)
• Executive Director
  Division of Hospital Operations, New York City, New York
  (4/1991 - 3/1992)
• Executive Director
  Kings County Hospital Center, Brooklyn, New York
  (5/1988 - 4/1991)
• Assistant Vice President
  Office of Strategic Planning, New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC)
  (11/1986 - 4/1988)
• Director
  Department of Urban Community Services (DUCS), City of Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
  (2/1985 - 10/1986)
• President
  Buford and Associates, Inc., Washington, DC
  (6/1983 -1/1985)
• Director
  Department Government, Washington, DC
  (4/1980 - 5/1983)
• Regional Health Administrator
  Department of Health and Human Services, Dallas, TX
  (9/1979 - 3/1980)
• Administrator/Project Manager
  Saint Elizabeths Hospital (SHE) Initiative, Washington, DC
  (9/1977 - 8/1979)
• Director
  Department of Health and Welfare (DRW), City of Newark, Newark. NJ
  (9/1972 - 8/1977)

Reference Notes Synopsis:

Placed telephone calls to the below references on 12/27/01 awaiting return calls:

Elijah Rogers - 202-898-1999
Dr. Raymond Baxter - 703-269-5792
Dr. Jo Ivey Boufford - 212-998-7414
Dr. Baillus Walker- 313-224-6340

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