Resource Library

By illuminating the impact of philanthropy, hospitals reinforce their identity as mission-driven organizations that exist to serve — not profit from — their communities.

Board DevelopmentWonder, Wander and Round IntentionallyFour leaders speak to how rounding provides valuable insightBy Todd Linden"Not all those who wander are lost.” — The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

The AHA triennial survey of health care boards reveals the exponential growth in the number of boards that provide cash compensation to their members.

Making coaching available to an incoming board chair can build the chair's capacity to lead the board effectively.

Despite the importance of the role, many boards do not give selection and preparation of the board chair the attention they should. In a recent survey by The Governance Institute, 64% of boards said they had established an explicit process for selection of the board chair but these processes often are little more than a thoughtful conversation among the executive or governance committee about the next chair.

Whether a board’s starting point is average performance or mediocrity, the journey to the top echelon of governance effectiveness cannot be achieved with a few quick steps. Board development is more like a marathon than a sprint.

For a hospital board to be effective, it must first be engaged. Specifically, board members must actively and productively participate in the work of governing. This is absolutely vital in today’s health care environment, which is full of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity.

The tools that follow lay out a framework to assist you in that thinking and planning process with a focus on the competencies of individual trustees.

It would be hard to disagree with the notion that board development is essential to effective trusteeship. Anyone who has sat on the board of a hospital or health system knows that health care is recognized as one of the most complex sectors.

Are You Prepared to Meet Today’s Governance Challenges? Serving on a community hospital or health care system board in today’s challenging environment takes more than the desire to fulfill a fiduciary duty.