The power of hospital community buy-in

by Raymond Hino Are there big changes on the horizon for your organization in 2013? As healthcare leaders we all know that to influence positive change we need to obtain buy-in from each of those constituency groups that will be affected. Who does that include? How about our employees, medical staff, volunteers, boards and, of course, the community that we serve? Recently, I was talking to a former board member who remains very dedicated to our institution about the major changes it will be going through in the next 12 months. Among other things, our institution will be completing a major building project and installing a new health information system, including a Meaningful Use compliant electronic medical record. The former board member suggested the board of directors' buy-in is the key to success or failure. He wisely pointed out that CEOs who exclude the board of directors from major decisions set themselves up to "take all of the heat" if a project does not go as planned. On the other hand, if the board is involved in the decision, then they become vested and share in the outcome, good or bad. His astute observation reminded me that the same is true in working with the communities we serve. That is why I have long been an advocate of keeping our customers in our local community as actively involved in hospital decision making as possible. One of the best ways to achieve community buy-in is through the creation of a citizens advisory committee (CAC). T...
Source: hospital impact - Category: Health Managers Authors: Source Type: blogs