Interview with Jim Traficant, Managing Director, Accenture Federal Services, Excerpt Republished with Permission
Accenture Federal Services’ Jim Traficant is enjoying a second career—and a second chance on life. Through it all, he doesn’t waste one minute, one opportunity or one bit of data.
You have a diverse background that covers defense and health, among other areas. What led you to work in these sectors?
I worked on one of NASA’s great observatories, developed satellite command and control solutions for commercial, defense, and intel clients; led business development for a large defense firm and ran an IT business in intel. My career uniquely equipped me to serve in healthcare. My life experience required it.
Tell us about your transition into healthcare.
My passion for healthcare comes from being a patient. I’ve had two liver transplants. The first one saved my life; the second one gave me my life back. I learned that healthcare had lots of data—what was missing was information. My experience in defense and intel, where life and mission depend on information and situational awareness, helps drive my vision and passion for transforming the way healthcare is accessed and practiced.
[su_pullquote align=”right”][su_quote]Federal health needs to lead the nation in interoperability. If we lead, the rest of the industry will follow.[/su_quote][/su_pullquote]
What is your role at Accenture Federal Services?
I have the great privilege of being a managing director leading AFS Military Health and president of ASM Research. ASM supports the U.S. military, the DOD [Department of Defense], the VA [Department of Veterans Affairs], and the Army National Guard delivering mission critical military and health IT solutions to help DOD manage the health and readiness of the force.
How has your personal experience influenced your volunteer work?
Every day is a gift. I’ve been to the brink of death three times and now my health has been restored. All I can be is thankful—and look for ways to give back. I serve as COO of the Global eHealth Foundation leveraging communications and information tech to enable access to health services in parts of the world where they don’t exist—and to help transform the way healthcare is delivered in the developed world. For 5,000 years, the masses have traveled to the few for care. We’re turning the model upside down.
What do you feel are the biggest challenges facing federal healthcare today?
Interoperability. When you think about the DOD and VA, they frame the second-largest health system in the world. The DOD’s mission is global, so there’s a need for interoperability and the ability to move information whether at home, in theater, with our Allies or NGOs as part of a defense diplomatic mission. And we need to move health information from DOD to VA and Social Security and CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services). Federal health needs to lead the nation in interoperability. If we lead, the rest of the industry will follow.
Which accomplishments are you most proud of in your career?
Taking an idea and a passionate team and making a difference. I’ve been so fortunate to work on pioneering programs like the Gamma Ray Observatory, the Iridium space-based phone network, GPS, a host of transformative defense and intel programs—and created a global healthcare business. I love waking up every day knowing I work with people who want to make a difference.
Looking forward, what most excites you about your role in this field?
Everything I’ve experienced professionally and personally has equipped me to serve in healthcare. I have this great privilege of working across Accenture to help deliver the transformation everyone is waiting for.
For a deeper look inside issues in federal health, watch Jim and other luminaries in the Industrialized Interoperability and Insight-Driven Federal Health Panel video series.
To read the article in full, visit Accenture Federal Services website.
Accenture Federal Services is a U.S. company, with offices in Arlington, Va., and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Accenture LLP. Accenture’s federal business has served every cabinet-level department and 30 of the largest federal organizations with clients at defense, intelligence, public safety and civilian agencies. Learn more about Accenture’s work with federal agencies and Delivering Public Service for the Future.
About Accenture
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with more than 358,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. The company generated net revenues of US$31.0 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2015. Its home page is www.accenture.com.
