Decades Interview with James Moore M'92, FACHE

James Moore ’92, FACHE, Administrator/CEO, Southwest Orthopaedic and Reconstructive Specialists

As a high school senior trying to pay for his 1977 Camaro, James Moore ’92, FACHE began working part-time at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. Little did he realize that his job in the nutrition department would lead to a full-time job in the clinical chemistry department, a master’s in health care administration, and ultimately a successful career in health care administration.

Inspired by his parents who placed great importance on education, James continued working at the hospital while earning a degree in business administration and set his sights on a graduate degree. Serendipitously, while attending an employee function, James met Stan Hupfeld ’72, FACHE, a Trinity HCAD alumnus and CEO of INTEGRIS Health System, who initiated a conversation with him about his goals and future plans. Stan suggested he might consider a master’s degree in health care administration and, on behalf of INTEGRIS, offered James a scholarship to attend Trinity University. James earned his HCAD master’s and stayed with INTEGRIS for 38 years. “Loyalty is very important to me,” he stresses. Over the course of his tenure, James served as president of four different INTEGRIS facilities, ranging from a small, rural community hospital to a comprehensive tertiary care medical center. Prior to his retirement in 2017, James served as senior consultant with INTEGRIS Health.

Early in his career as a hospital administrator, James encountered “a crash course in disaster management.”  In May of 1999, a multiple F-5 tornado ripped through parts of Oklahoma leaving trails of disaster throughout the state. Although James’s hospital did not suffer a direct hit, it sustained enough damage to require a complete evacuation, and the hospital remained closed for more than a year. It was a trying period but “thanks to a strong leadership team, outstanding caregivers, and a resilient community, there was no storm-related loss of life that evening,” he recalls proudly.

Another career experience proved equally challenging yet “quite exhilarating professionally.” James is referring to the period when he served as president of two hospitals simultaneously. The hospitals were at opposite ends of the spectrum related to bed size, volume, payer mix, scope of service, etc. “What I learned from that experience was very personal as it relates to an increased focus regarding time management, personal health maintenance, effective communication, effective relationship management, and the great feeling and impact that takes place when all these related areas of focus are aligned,” he says.

Shortly after his retirement from INTEGRIS, James reentered the field as administrator/CEO of Southwest Orthopaedic and Reconstructive Specialists (SOS), where he has “the pleasure of working with an outstanding team of surgeons and other caregivers.” His goals [for SOS] include growing the organization and striving diligently to meet the increasing demands of payers, patient population, and other stakeholders,” he says.  An ACHE Fellow, James received the organization’s Regent’s Award several years ago. In 2016, the Oklahoma Hospital Association recognized his advocacy work and honored him as a “Grass Roots Champion.”

Married for 32 years, James enjoys spending time with his immediate and extended family, and together they enjoy camping and traveling and “making the most of every holiday.” As an outdoorsman, he also enjoys fishing, biking, hiking, and collecting things.

As he continues this second phase of his career, James says “what keeps me motivated is a strong desire to care for those (many of whom are at their very worst) who enter the walls of our institutions. Our patients trust and expect that we will care for them and that we will do things right, the first time.”

Administrator/CEO, Southwest Orthopaedic and Reconstructive Specialists

As a high school senior trying to pay for his 1977 Camaro, James Moore ’92, FACHE began working part-time at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. Little did he realize that his job in the nutrition department would lead to a full-time job in the clinical chemistry department, a master’s in health care administration, and ultimately a successful career in health care administration.

Inspired by his parents who placed great importance on education, James continued working at the hospital while earning a degree in business administration and set his sights on a graduate degree. Serendipitously, while attending an employee function, James met Stan Hupfeld ’72, FACHE, a Trinity HCAD alumnus and CEO of INTEGRIS Health System, who initiated a conversation with him about his goals and future plans. Stan suggested he might consider a master’s degree in health care administration and, on behalf of INTEGRIS, offered James a scholarship to attend Trinity University. James earned his HCAD master’s and stayed with INTEGRIS for 38 years. “Loyalty is very important to me,” he stresses. Over the course of his tenure, James served as president of four different INTEGRIS facilities, ranging from a small, rural community hospital to a comprehensive tertiary care medical center. Prior to his retirement in 2017, James served as senior consultant with INTEGRIS Health.

Early in his career as a hospital administrator, James encountered “a crash course in disaster management.”  In May of 1999, a multiple F-5 tornado ripped through parts of Oklahoma leaving trails of disaster throughout the state. Although James’s hospital did not suffer a direct hit, it sustained enough damage to require a complete evacuation, and the hospital remained closed for more than a year. It was a trying period but “thanks to a strong leadership team, outstanding caregivers, and a resilient community, there was no storm-related loss of life that evening,” he recalls proudly.

Another career experience proved equally challenging yet “quite exhilarating professionally.” James is referring to the period when he served as president of two hospitals simultaneously. The hospitals were at opposite ends of the spectrum related to bed size, volume, payer mix, scope of service, etc. “What I learned from that experience was very personal as it relates to an increased focus regarding time management, personal health maintenance, effective communication, effective relationship management, and the great feeling and impact that takes place when all these related areas of focus are aligned,” he says.

Shortly after his retirement from INTEGRIS, James reentered the field as administrator/CEO of Southwest Orthopaedic and Reconstructive Specialists (SOS), where he has “the pleasure of working with an outstanding team of surgeons and other caregivers.” His goals [for SOS] include growing the organization and striving diligently to meet the increasing demands of payers, patient population, and other stakeholders,” he says.  An ACHE Fellow, James received the organization’s Regent’s Award several years ago. In 2016, the Oklahoma Hospital Association recognized his advocacy work and honored him as a “Grass Roots Champion.”

Married for 32 years, James enjoys spending time with his immediate and extended family, and together they enjoy camping and traveling and “making the most of every holiday.” As an outdoorsman, he also enjoys fishing, biking, hiking, and collecting things.

As he continues this second phase of his career, James says “what keeps me motivated is a strong desire to care for those (many of whom are at their very worst) who enter the walls of our institutions. Our patients trust and expect that we will care for them and that we will do things right, the first time.”