The political role of the health service executive

The "politicization" of health care in Canada means an increasing political role for health service executives. This article focuses on the political activities and skills required for administrators to become effective in this expanded role. In the 1990s, the administrator must become increasingly externally oriented and proactive. Two externally oriented skills, networking and information processing, are discussed in relation to the current health care environment. Practical examples are provided to illustrate how these skills can be used to ensure both the success of the executive and the position of the organization.