J.L. Buckingham; Ex-Chief of County-USC Medical Center

Jerry Lee Buckingham, the former executive director of County-USC Medical Center, the nation’s largest hospital, has died. He was 65.

Buckingham died Sunday in Pasadena after a long fight with lung cancer.

The administrator, who took the job in 1986, was suspended for five days and reassigned to oversee construction projects in 1993 after three emergency room doctors were shot and wounded by a disgruntled patient.

Buckingham appealed the transfer, claiming that county Department of Health Services Director Robert C. Gates “was looking for a scapegoat.” Gates criticized him for lax hospital security and deflecting criticism from himself to his managers.

Denying any improper actions, Buckingham moved purposefully into his new position supervising the county’s $2-billion program to construct hospitals and other health facilities. He had championed the major upgrading of aging medical facilities.

But he clearly had regrets about his transfer.

“It’s a large order,” he told The Times as he tackled the construction effort in 1993, “but it is not the same as being executive director of County-USC. I am proud of my record. I know I am a good administrator, and I know patient care has improved at the hospital since I have been there.”

Recruited for the administration post in 1986, Buckingham supervised four hospitals--the mammoth General Hospital and its three sister hospitals, the Women’s Hospital, the Pediatric Pavilion and the Psychiatric Hospital--with a combined annual budget of more than $700 million.

During his tenure, County-USC improved its emergency trauma treatment center, and opened a new ward and expanded outpatient care for HIV/AIDS patients. Buckingham also prided himself on resolving an obstetrical overload crisis and building a new research center.

Born in Lake Arthur, La., Buckingham earned a bachelor’s degree from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La., and a master’s degree in hospital administration from the University of Chicago.

He was the inaugural director of the Lake Charles Charity Hospital, vice president and administrator of the University Hospital of New York University and executive director of the Touro Infirmary in New Orleans before coming to Los Angeles.

Buckingham is survived by his wife of 41 years, Fran; four sons, David, Brian, Stephen and Guy, and a sister, Sr. Germaine Buckingham of New Orleans.

The family has requested that any memorial donations be made to the USC Trauma Service, 1530 San Pablo St., Suite 514, Los Angeles 90033.