A new research report developed by faculty in the University of Iowa College of Public Health suggests that not-for-profit community health systems should strive to improve performance in establishing, monitoring, and reporting on programs designed to benefit the communities they serve.
In a survey of CEOs of 201 not-for-profit community health systems, the researchers examined three aspects of healthcare governance--board structure and composition, board practices and processes, and board culture--and compared the information with widely recognized good governance benchmarks.
Although several areas of strength were noted, the researchers also found areas where improvements are needed. For instance, only 36 percent of health systems surveyed have formal, board-adopted community benefit plans in place. The report authors recommended that health systems should adopt formal plans that clearly state the systems’ roles and obligations to provide charitable services and other such benefits to their communities. These community benefit plans should involve local needs assessments and reporting and accountability mechanisms to monitor progress. Read the report.
