Trustee: the basics of boards

The health care environment has changed but the future remains uncharted. Organizations are keenly aware of the need to chart their course with an eye on addressing the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Triple Aim. Today health system boards are under growing scrutiny to prepare the organization to meet the demands of the new world of health care. The 2010-2011 American Hospital Association survey of 1000 nonfederated community hospitals found that only 6% of board members were nurses. The reasons for this disconnect are many but will not be addressed in this article, but one major reason is the limited expertise of nurses serving in the role of trustee. This article will address the basic operations of boards and the role and responsibility of a trustee.