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Put open-minded people on the governing board

Ambulatory Safety Monitor, August 18, 2004

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Although the JCAHO and the AAAHC don't specify who must be present during a governing board meeting, they do say such leadership must exist. JCAHO standard LD.1.10 says an organization must identify how it is governed, and the AAAHC standard #2 requires the accredited body to create governance that sets policy and is responsible for the organization.

Marshall Baker, MS, FACMPE, an AAAHC surveyor since 1978, says the most important element when selecting a board member is to ensure that the person is open minded and fair. "He or she must take off the individual hat and put on the governing hat for the good of the organization instead of for self interest," Baker says. He says the board make-up is organizationally dependent, but often sees owners and some administrative representatives in charge.

Some facilities include community members and local business leaders on the list of those who serve on their governing boards. But that is rare unless the governing body is a community advisory board, Baker says.

When selecting your governing board, Baker suggests the following tips:

• Ask what the board wants to accomplish. Does it want to govern or does it want to handle more of the day-to-day operations?
• Define the board's roles and responsibilities through bylaws or an operating agreement.
• Set prerequisites for how the board is selected, such as whether you will elect or appoint members, or if members need prior organizational experience.
• Maintain continuity in the members' terms, including how long they will serve. For example, elect half the board in even-numbered years and half in odd-numbered years, both for two-year terms, at a minimum.

This week's tip is an excerpt from Briefings on Ambulatory Accreditation, a monthly publication that reports on the activities of the ambulatory care accreditors, the JCAHO, and the AAAHC. It illustrates exactly what you and your staff need to do to pass a survey and gain accreditation so that your organization is known for quality and can affiliate with other delivery systems. For more information or to subscribe, go to:
http://www.hcmarketplace.com/Prod.cfm?id=20&CFID=1423656&s=EAMB

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