THT’s online Board Governance Best practices provide you with the necessary tools to lead and support your hospital or health care system. Research shows that strong governance directly influences an organization’s overall performance. At the same time, hospital and health system governance has grown more complex due to stricter federal and state regulations, increased oversight of nonprofits, heightened accountability to investors and donors, demands for greater transparency in outcomes and finances, and rapid advancements in health care technology that drive up costs and reshape care delivery.
Whether you’re building your board from the ground up or seeking improvements and efficiencies for your current board, you can begin here with best practices for good governance.
THT Resources
Trustee Whitepapers
Who is a Hospital Board Member?
The hospital’s Board of Trustees (or Managers or Directors), is an individual who voluntarily serves on the governing body of a hospital or health care organization. Hospital trustees are responsible for one of the most important assets in the community, the hospital.
Ethics and Conduct in the Boardroom
Hospital board members play a crucial role in establishing a culture of ethics within the organization. As leaders, board members must set high standards and demand ethical conduct from staff, management and each other.
New Board Member Orientation
When a new trustee joins your board, it is vital to share a proper introduction to your organization. Setting expectations for their roles and responsibilities lays the foundation for their work ahead. A new board member orientation should be formalized, consistent and updated regularly.
Committee Effectiveness and Evaluation
A committee plays a crucial role in governance by allowing boards work on important issues in an efficient manner. Committees contribute to effective governance by providing expertise, making informed decisions, promoting accountability, and fostering collaboration within an organization.
Board Chair Responsibilities
Being named chair of the hospital/health system board of trustees is an honor and the position carries prestige as well as heightened responsibilities. With the high visibility of the role, the chair has new opportunities to exert greater leadership on the organization’s planning and activities while also bearing more responsibilities and accountability for governance.
Board Member Job Descriptions and Responsibilities
It is imperative to establish clear expectations for trustee roles and responsibilities. A comprehensive description of each board position is fundamental in fostering a successful board by clarifying individual and collective duties, thereby reducing ambiguity and potential conflicts.
Board Self-Assessment and Individual Evaluation
One of the most important pillars of excellence in governance is conducting a board self-assessment. Board self-assessments and individual board member evaluations provide an opportunity to reflect on performance, collect data on all areas of board oversight and allow board members to further understand the breadth of their role – individually and as a whole governing entity.
Board Member Recruitment
Just like building a championship sports team, building an effective board does not happen overnight and is an ongoing process. If done correctly, it can ensure the success, longevity and viability of an organization When recruiting new board members, it is vital to envision and identify the proper mix of competencies, demographics, experience and influence to form a cohesive team and benefit your hospital.
Parliamentary Procedure
Parliamentary procedure provides rules and guidelines to enable groups to come together to discuss and make decisions in a consistent manner. As parliamentary procedure can be complex at times, here is a helpful guide to common terms and actions.
Texas Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act
Governmental hospitals in Texas, such as hospital districts, hospital authorities, and county hospitals, are subject to the requirements of the Texas Open Meetings Act and the Texas Public Information Act. Health care trustees of governmental facilities need to be familiar with the key requirements of these laws to ensure compliance.
Efficient and Effective Board Meetings
Running an efficient, fair and orderly board meeting is the goal – but not always the reality – for trustees and hospital leadership. The following tips and reminders will help your board run a successful and productive meeting.
CEO Succession Planning
The volatility in health care makes it critically important for organizations to have a strong and relevant succession plan in place to provide stability to the organization.