Becker's Hospital Review

55 Leadership & Management The urgent hunt for the most competent can- didates also contributes to hospitals' and health systems' increasing use of search firms, which Mr. Flannery says is indicative of the changing board recruitment environment. Mr. Sensor says the increased use of search firms applies to community hospitals and large net- works alike. "If you get very intentional around understanding the talents you need, it is unlikely the institution can fill all of those needs locally. For the smaller community hospitals, it may be even more difficult to find the talent. But for the larger institutions, the bar will be higher, thus of- ten requiring the use of a recruiter." At the same time, hospitals and health systems need to be mindful of finding external board members that are still representative of the internal com- munity, suggests Cindy Chandler, co-founder of Chandler Group, a Minneapolis-based search firm. "Many of the boards are still missing the diversity that represents the community they serve, and the people that serve on the board do not have access into those communities," she says. "You don't want to bring someone in from outside the community just because they will be a good board member. You identify the expertise the board and CEO are looking for in a very specific way." Having board members serving across state lines has a handful of implications, both positive and nega- tive. Where board members traditionally partici- pate in key events and are public figures in a com- munity, this is less likely if a board member lives a couple of states away, Mr. Sensor says. For remote board members, the role as a community leader is less pronounced. At the same time, Mr. Sensor says having members from outside the community re- duces conflict of interest. He gives the example of a local community where a board member might live next door to a member of the medical staff who will be impacted by a key decision. "When you compare that with a board member that is external to the community, they're really not going to feel the pres- sure of local politics," he says. Additionally, with modern technology like tele- conferencing as well as the expansion of hospitals and health systems to maintain presence in sever- al communities, governance isn't hampered when board members are spread across the country, Mr. Flannery says. "These are very sophisticated men and women who are stepping into these roles, and they understand their obligations," says Mr. Flannery. "They're be- ing very mindful of their need to participate and contribute in a very positive way….Some of these board members are coming out of big companies, so they're accustomed to the geographic spread and the governance obligations that they're signing up for." What's more, external board members can pro- vide valuable insight to trends, ideas and move- ments from the other end of the country. "Good governance in hospital boards is a universal goal. What isn't universal is the willingness of hos- pital boards to bring in board members from out- side their markets in order to offer new perspec- tives," says Brad Chandler, Ms. Chandler's husband and the other co-founder of Chandler Group. Hav- ing long-distance board members allows hospitals and health systems to ask and see what has and hasn't worked in other communities and markets. "That's where board members coming from out- side the community can be very valuable." Looking forward Like the rest of the industry, hospital and health system board recruitment is adjusting and adapt- ing to the new pressures and requirements need- ed for such organizations to stay afloat. To do so, there is an increased focus on specific talents a hospital needs. Health systems are also bringing on people with reputable qualifications that will not only help organizations get on a track, but re- main on the track toward continued growth and success, which, Mr. Sensor argues, is more diffi- cult today than ever before. "The pressures, the Affordable Care Act and other changes in reimbursement, put tremendous pres- sure on these institutions," Mr. Sensor says. "When you look back 10 to 20 years ago, it clearly wasn't as difficult to be successful in the hospital world. Cer- tainly with these pressures today, you need to oper- ate a really well-run organization to be successful." n ALL YOU NEED! UNDER ONE ROOF! Let our products build the protection your Business needs! We made our Bearriers FUN! But with SERIOUS protection... TM Request a free sample http://www.palmerohealth.com/requestSamples Remember to refer Becker Health 800-344-6424 DisCide XRA Hand Sanitizing Wipes DisAseptic XRQ DisCide Disinfectant Aerosol Spray

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