title: Priority issues for hospital boards.
abstract: Governing a hospital or healthcare system is a difficult and demanding job. If done properly, the organization can operate well. If the board is inept or incompetent, the organization will suffer. In this article I discuss those functions of board governance that I think are among the most important, along with some recommendations for implementing them.
authors.affiliation: E. G. Middleton, Inc., Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: E George
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Middleton
mesh_terms: D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D005375:Financial Audit; D006075:Governing Board / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D020408:Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006788:Hospitals, Voluntary / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D008119:Lobbying; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D008486:Physician Executives; D011361:Professional Competence; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012308:Risk Management; D017751:Safety Management; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D012941:Social Responsibility; D019464:Tax Exemption; D014481:United States