The hospital or health system CEO is arguably one of the most important individuals in any community. This role has evolved over the years from primarily a financial expert focused on ensuring the institution’s fiscal viability to one who can also collaborate artfully with his or her medical staff, negotiate successfully with unions, navigate the independent hospital through a system merger or other collaborations, reach out to local businesses, assess patient satisfaction surveys and more. Because of this, the potential power of the hospital president’s voice as a community leader has never been greater.
Unfortunately, not unlike university presidents who were once striking figures on the public stage, too few hospital CEOs make it a priority to be visible outside the walls of their institution. Fewer still are comfortable jumping into the fray to share with their local public where they stand on the pressing debate regarding Medicare, Medicaid or health care reform in general. I find this troubling and believe that it is the role of today’s health care CEO to advocate for something beyond his or her institution’s necessary but parochial needs.
To read more, please contact Ritch K. Eich, Ph.D. at ritcheich@gmail.com
