Trustees and hospital staff: building bridges for better decisions

Hospital trustees and employees often do not adequately understand each other's roles and the issues that they each face. This article discusses the composition of hospital boards, the ways in which they function, and their responsibilities. Further, it offers suggestions to encourage broader understanding and improved communication for both trustees and employees. New management approaches are presented that can build bridges for better communication, which in turn will lead to the formulation and implementation of more reasoned health care policies.