The shape of things to come: restructuring hospitals for the '90s. Interview by Karen Gardner

John D. Leech, chairman of the health care practice in the law firm of Calfee, Halter & Griswold, Cleveland, OH, has been a hospital trustee for more than 20 years. From 1970-87, he served as president and chairman of the board of Hillcrest Hospital, Mayfield Heights, OH, and for the last four years he has been a trustee of Health Hill Hospital for Children, Cleveland, where he is currently secretary of the board. In addition to his professional and hospital responsibilities, Leech has been a trustee mentor for the American Hospital Association for a number of years; in this capacity, he has helped more than 30 hospital and system boards understand their governance role and function more effectively. From his legal practice as well as his contact with boards all over the country, Leech has developed a keen understanding of how hospitals are adapting to the changing health care environment and what role boards must play in the evolutionary process. He recently talked with Trustee editor Karen Gardner about hospital restructurings and the issues confronting governing boards.