By Christopher Chon
Staff Writer
Associate Professor of Medicine Dr. David Gifford received the nomination of Gov. Don Carcieri '65 to become the new director of the state's Department of Health.
An internist, geriatrician and chief medical officer of the health care firm Quality Partners, Gifford replaces previous director Dr. Patricia Nolan, who will resign on March 1 after the conclusion of her second five-year term.
Gifford said he plans to stay affiliated with the University's public health program. He currently teaches a seminar class for geriatrics fellows and guest lectures in several courses. He said he would still like to teach a class in the public health program, as well as continue his role as guest lecturer for courses in the Department of Community Health.
Gifford, who must still be confirmed by the state Senate, was nominated by the governor Jan. 11. He said he looks forward to the challenges his new position will bring.
"Overseeing the health care of all Rhode Islanders has broad charges, ranging from regulatory aspects of health care delivery to licensing of health care providers to running public health programs and overseeing food restaurant inspections," Gifford said. "One important area for me will be clearly to try to improve the quality of care delivered by health care providers." Improving the standard of care in nursing homes, in particular, will be an immediate priority, he said.
Gifford was a significant contributor to an internal report issued last September which criticized the Department of Health for failing to respond immediately to complaints at Hillside Health Center, a nursing home in Providence where reports of patient mistreatment and neglect surfaced. The Hillside incident sparked criticism over Nolan's alleged lack of oversight.
In a written statement, Carcieri said: "Dr. Gifford will lead the effort to address the failures cited in that Hillside nursing home report, and to ensure that our seniors - and all Rhode Islanders - receive a high standard of health care."
The main problem with nursing homes in Rhode Island and across the nation is that "they do not have systems in place that allow for care practices in policies and procedures to be performed in a consistent and reliable fashion," Gifford said. Establishing a system of checks and balances will allow the Department of Health to more quickly recognize when quality care is not being administered, according to Gifford.
Dr. Richard Besdine, director of the Center for Gerontology and Health Care Research and Professor of Medicine, has known Gifford since 2000. Besdine said the governor is lucky to have a Brown faculty member, especially Gifford, working for the state's health department.
"I think the relationship between the state and the only medical school in Rhode Island - Brown - is critical for the well-being of the public," Besdine said. "Having Gifford, a faculty member at Brown Medical School, as director of the Health Department both makes sense and will increase conversation and cooperation between the state and Brown Medical School."
