Current High-Performance Governance Practices
For boards to participate in shaping their new organization, they must be currently performing at an extremely high level. The following is a list of four practices that hospital and health system boards must be engaged in today, in order to be successful in the future.
1. Define a Clear Mission and Vision for a Transformed Enterprise
Hospital and health system boards should consider the organization’s vision for improvement of the community’s health, as well as approaches to address population health and manage risk in light of today’s transforming health care delivery and payment systems. This is not the hospital’s responsibility in isolation, but rather an opportunity for hospitals to build relationships and partnerships in the community to impact the overall health of the community. Hospital CEOs and boards must agree upon and clearly articulate the extent of the responsibility and engagement of the organization in community and population health.
While the commitment and responsibility will vary among organizations and communities, it is essential that hospitals do not let changes in payment models drive the mission and vision of their health care system. Payment reform is occurring in varying degrees across the United States. In the longterm the transition may help hospitals and health systems to more effectively support health in addition to health care. However, as hospitals progress through the transition, it is imperative that the board and CEO work together to agree upon the degree to which they can achieve the Triple Aim given evolving payment constraints.
The absence of payment reform and financial incentives should not prevent hospitals and health systems from doing the right thing for patients and communities or from contemplating their mission and vision with respect to their community needs, cost sustainability and articulation of a strategy that embraces all facets of the Triple Aim. The board’s responsibility for serving the mission and vision must remain steadfast during this transitional period.
2. Create an Environment of Trust
Mutual respect and absolute trust between the board and its CEO is absolutely vital to organizational success. The data suggest that in an era of transformation trust may be strained. To build mutual trust, the board and the CEO must rely on one another for support, consultation and advice, and complement one another’s strengths and responsibilities. The hospital or health system CEO must build a positive rapport and close professional relationship with all board members. He or she must understand clearly what motivates each trustee to be involved with the organization, and be deeply knowledgeable about the interests and needs of each individual trustee.
The CEO must also be aware of any gaps in trustees’ understanding of current issues and trends, ensure that regular board education responds to trustees’ needs, and encourage trustees to learn and ask questions in an open, safe environment. CEO attentiveness to individual trustee needs demonstrates interest and support, and helps build a positive, trustful environment for dialogue and decision making to take place.