As the field of health care has evolved, so has the governance of health care. In addition to fulfilling their traditional fiduciary responsibilities such as approving budgets, members of today’s hospital and health system boards work with executives to address workforce shortages. work, recommending ways to mitigate cybersecurity risks, discussing the pros and cons of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, and providing strategic advice on quality, security, and many other critical issues.

I have seen first-hand that effective board members care deeply about the role of hospitals and health systems, not only in providing quality care to patients and their families, but also in service to their communities. Serving on a board of directors is an enormous responsibility that requires a commitment of time and talent as well as a strong sense of duty. In turn, it is the responsibility of hospital leadership to build a strong board of directors and support board members so that they are knowledgeable about the organization and the broader health care field.

Strong boards are diverse – in terms of gender, age, race, experience and expertise – and reflective of the communities they serve. Strong boards foster a culture that encourages members to discuss their different experiences and perspectives and leverage those differences to achieve common goals and solutions. These councils also prioritize continuous learning about the organization, community health needs and complex health care issues.

The AHA supports good governance and offers a range of resources to hospital leadership teams, covering everything from orient new board members the role of quality and patient safety consulting in building a board strategy on diversity and health equity. AHA Trustee Services serves as a hub for efforts to help hospital and health system leaders and board members navigate the transforming health care landscape.

Boards play a central role in ensuring that a healthcare organization’s strategies and budgets result in actions that drive performance, impact and measurable progress. I applaud those who currently serve or have served on the board of directors of a hospital or health system, from the smallest community hospitals to the largest urban medical centers. Thank you for your dedication and work to advance health and healthcare for patients and their families. Great boards are the basis of our success.