Page Name: Trustees>Resources>Governance and Management
Page Header: Governance and Management
It is important for board members to understand the difference between management
and governance. The role of the governing body includes setting the mission and vision
for the organization and ensuring the cost-effective use of resources. The six key areas
of responsibility for the board of trustees include:
 Hiring and retaining a CEO
 Mission development and long-range planning
 Ensuring high quality care
 Oversight of medical staff credentialing
 Financial oversight
 Board education and development, including self evaluation
Management, on the other hand, is responsible for the day-to-day operations of running
the hospital. The following resources will help you better understand the roles and
responsibilities of a hospital trustee.
Board Briefs
The following board briefs have been developed by Larry Walker, president of the
Walker Company, a health care management consulting firm. These board briefs offer
insight into effective health care governing. Click the title to download a PDF on the
topic.
“Using Your Board of Trustees Self-Assessment to Improve Leadership Effectiveness”
[http://www.mnhospitals.org/inc/data/pdfs/governance-self-assessment.pdf]
“Governance Accountabilities and Opportunities in the Quest for Quality”
[http://www.mnhospitals.org/inc/data/pdfs/quest-for-quality.pdf]
“Becoming a Community-Centered Board”
[http://www.mnhospitals.org/inc/data/pdfs/becoming-a-community-centeredboard.pdf]
“Building Constructive Hospital/Medical Staff Relationships and Alignment”
[http://www.mnhospitals.org/inc/data/pdfs/hospital-medical-staff-relationships.pdf]
“The Board's Fiduciary Responsibility, Putting the Community's Trust into Action”
[http://www.mnhospitals.org/inc/data/pdfs/board-fiduciary-responsibility.pdf]
“Building the Foundation for Success: Developing Powerful and Purposeful Mission,
Values and Vision” [http://www.mnhospitals.org/inc/data/pdfs/Building-theFoundation-for-Success-Mission-Values-and-Vision.pdf]
Page Name: Trustees>Resources>Governance and Management
“Driving Change: Integrating Mission, Values and Vision into Board Leadership”
[http://www.mnhospitals.org/inc/data/pdfs/integrating-mission-values-vision.pdf]
“The Board's Role in Strategic Planning”
[http://www.mnhospitals.org/inc/data/pdfs/Board-Role-in-Strategic-Planning.pdf]
“Building Bonds: Pathways to Better Board/CEO Relationships”
[http://www.mnhospitals.org/inc/data/pdfs/board-CEO-relationships.pdf]
“The Board's Role in CEO Compensation and Performance Evaluation”
[http://www.mnhospitals.org/inc/data/pdfs/board-role-CEO-compensation.pdf]
Other Governance and Management Resources
“10 Board Don'ts” [http://www.mnhospitals.org/inc/data/pdfs/10-board-donts.pdf]
Includes a list of 10 common board and CEO frustrations, dos and don'ts of a good
system of partnership appraisal, and top 10 hints for making the performance planning
and appraisal process better.
“The Role of the Board Chair”
[http://www.mnhospitals.org/inc/data/pdfs/TP_role_board_chair.pdf]
Every board member is responsible for important leadership duties and responsibilities,
but perhaps the most critical leadership role is that of the board chair. This article
outlines the expectations and challenges of this important role.
“Planning Today for Tomorrow's Trustee”
[http://www.mnhospitals.org/inc/data/pdfs/TP_planning_tomorrows_leaders.pdf]
Recruiting new trustees to serve on your board is every bit as important as CEO
recruitment. How well boards plan and execute this vital process defines the hospital's
leadership success for years to come.
“Maximize the Value of Your Board Retreat”
[http://www.mnhospitals.org/inc/data/pdfs/TP_maximize_value_retreat.pdf]
Board retreats are a great way for trustees to brainstorm ideas about the organization's
future, strengthen their understanding of the organization's challenges, and develop a
sense of teamwork and camaraderie. How can boards ensure that their retreats are a
valuable use of leadership time and resources with meaningful outcomes?
“The Board's Role in Disaster Readiness”
[http://www.mnhospitals.org/inc/data/pdfs/TP_boards_role_disaster_readiness.pdf]
This article provides information on the trustee’s role in emergency management
planning and includes sources and a checklist of hospital and community readiness
items to review.
Page Name: Trustees>Resources>Governance and Management
“View from the Governance Front Lines”
[http://www.mnhospitals.org/inc/data/pdfs/walker-larry.pdf]
Larry Walker looks at challenges, issues and solutions in governance information and
education.
“Governance and Management of Effective Organizations”
[http://www.mnhospitals.org/inc/data/docs/governance.doc]
Outlines approaches that hospital boards should adopt to foster each person's
fulfillment of his/her duties and the board's effective execution of its functions.
“From Them to Us: Going Where Others Have Gone Before”
[http://www.mnhospitals.org/inc/data/pdfs/them2us.pdf]
Describes proven leadership strategies for uniting groups and building trust over time.
Published in Michigan Health and Hospitals, the article is based upon research by
Edward O'Connor on physician-hospital collaboration strategies.
“How to Conduct a Board of Trustees Self-Assessment”
[http://www.mnhospitals.org/inc/data/pdfs/TTBox_BSA.pdf]
Includes a 10-step plan on how to conduct a board self-assessment.
“Overview of Board Roles and Responsibilities”
[http://www.mnhospitals.org/inc/data/pdfs/roles.pdf]
Covers the key function of a highly successful board; practices to improve a board's
visionary thinking and the importance of determining eligibility requirements and
developing board member job descriptions.
“Medical Staff Credentialing”
[http://www.mnhospitals.org/inc/data/pdfs/credential.pdf]
Defines the board's role and the roles and responsibilities of key individuals in the
process of credentialing and privileging medical staff.