In Memoriam: Jim Voisard, CCHP-A

NCCHC mourns the passing of our dear friend and longtime colleague Jim Voisard.

Mr. Voisard was an integral part of NCCHC almost since the organization’s beginning. He was recruited as a surveyor by NCCHC’s founder, Bernard Harrison, following an accreditation survey at the Montgomery County (OH) Jail, where he was the health services administrator. “I have been a lead surveyor since the completion of my on-the-job training by Bernard Harrison,” he later recalled. “I had the privilege of being educated by the best.”

Since becoming a surveyor in 1986, Mr. Voisard shared his correctional health care expertise as a senior lead surveyor, trainer, and consultant with NCCHC Resources. He was in the first class of eight CCHPs to be certified in 1991 and also one of the first to earn the CCHP-Advanced credential when it was introduced in 1993.

Before his retirement, he was director of the Correctional Health Care division of TeamHealth/Premier Physician Services, overseeing health care management and staffing at 23 jails, prisons, juvenile detention, and community residential facilities with average daily populations ranging from 50 to 2,000. He was responsible for managing the contracts for these facilities and ensuring that quality health care was provided in a cost-effective manner.

With NCCHC, he served as chair of the Surveyor Advisory Committee, was a longstanding member of the Accreditation and Standards Committee, and contributed to many Standards revisions.

Born and raised in Ohio, his work as an NCCHC surveyor and NCCHC Resources consultant took him to 49 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. He was an Eagle Scout, a Boy Scout leader, paramedic, dive rescue specialist, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He and his wife Barbara (high school sweethearts) were married for nearly 50 years.

Mr. Voisard is remembered as a “legend” – a leader, teacher, colleague, friend, and someone who enjoyed a good laugh. His colleagues described him as honest, ethical, calm, patient, professional, tireless, and kind.

Upon receiving NCCHC’s top honor, the Bernard P. Harrison Award of Merit, in 2020, Mr. Voisard said, “I owe my correctional health care career to Bernard Harrison, and I will be forever grateful.” And all of us who had the good fortune to know the legendary Jim Voisard are also grateful for that opportunity.

The Voisard Family has generously shared that if desired, contributions may be made to the NCCHC Foundation in Jim’s memory to help fund conference scholarships.   Donations may be made through this link:  NCCHC Foundation Donation

View his acceptance speech from the virtual award ceremony in 2020.