Table of Contents
Features
Cover story
8 Health Care Calling
Eugene Woods relishes his role as 2017 chair of the American Hospital Association at a time of dramatic change in health care. The CEO of Carolinas HealthCare System describes the AHA's strategies for meeting today's challenges head-on. | Marty Stempniak
Population Health
13 A Place to Call Home
Recognizing that social issues can have a critical impact on a person’s health, many health systems are tackling homelessness in their communities by making sure housing is available to those in need. | Lola Butcher
Finance
18 Balancing Act
Independent hospital trustees understand the need for fiduciary stewardship. But, too often, the urgency to fund critical current projects can overshadow long-term planning. | Debashis Chowdhury
Nursing
20 Nurse Leadership Today
In a Q&A, Maureen Swick examines the biggest issues facing nurse leaders and describes her priorities as the American Hospital Association’s chief nursing officer and CEO of the American Organization of Nurse Executives.
Departments
2 From the Editor
In today’s changing health care world, hospital boards must understand and respond to a mountain of difficult issues. But while the issues are complex, many trustees find that confronting them can be fascinating and fulfilling.
3 Update
For patients and visitors, trying to navigate the maze of corridors in the typical hospital is confusing and frustrating. Atlantic Health System has developed a GPS app to help get people where they need to go.
Conference
4 Memo From COG
Andy Stern, chair of the American Hospital Association’s Committee on Governance, explains what trustees can learn and celebrate at the AHA’s Annual Membership Meeting set for May 7-10 in Washington, D.C.
Governance
6 Practical Matters
When a hospital faces any kind of crisis, board members must demonstrate a sense of urgency, understand the right questions to ask and ask them. Rocking the boat is part of a trustee's responsibilities.
Behavioral Health
23 Viewpoint
In the past, mental health patients have been marginalized in the U.S. health care system. That’s burdened the individuals themselves and the system as a whole. Boards must work with other hospital leaders to improve and coordinate acute behavioral health services.
Community Health
26 Voices From the Field
A new report from the American Hospital Association focuses on the need to address the social determinants of health — poverty, education, crime, pollution, access to nutritious food and more.
Data
28 Dashboard
The number of women in med school hits a new high • Providers make progress against health care–associated infections • Losing even a little sleep increases the chance of a car accident • Medicare patients and dental care