As a hospital leader, you're more than aware of the need for reforming the American health care system. There are many theories about what's wrong with the current system, and just as many suggestions as to how to fix it. Though the answers aren't yet clear, the conversation about health care reform is a worthwhile one, and the voice of hospital trustees is a critical part of the emerging dialogue.

Hospital trustees are in a unique position to engage their colleagues and communities in discussions and strategies that can help improve the delivery of health care at a local and national level. We want to make sure you're aware of resources that are available to you as a member of the Center for Healthcare Governance that can help bridge the gap between ideas and practical strategies for health care reform. As you may be aware, AHA, with help from its members and other stakeholders, has developed Health for Life: Better Health. Better Health Care., a framework for improving America's health care system and the way Americans think about their health.

Numerous Health for Life resources for trustees can now be found on the "Trustee and Community Leadership" page of the AHA Web site (www.aha.org). These resources include information about the five pillars of the Health for Life framework, as well as practical resources to help facilitate reform discussions amongst your board, including a toolkit with discrete discussion questions and "homework" assignments, as well as action steps trustees can take to become more involved with reshaping American health and health care.

Health for Life is a work in progress and will continue to be refined as we move into the fall election season and beyond. The Center will update you as new resources emerge that focus on the trustee's role in health care reform. In the mean time, you can get started using the links below!

• Health for Life Resources for Trustees
• Hospital Leader's Guide for Community Action
• Trustee and Community Leadership Resources

• Quality Curriculum
  for Trustees
• Blue Ribbon Panel on Health Care Governance
• Collaborative
  Leadership Tools
• Governance Assessment
• Resource Repository
• Governance Tools
• Governance Research
• Speakers Express
• Qualified Consultants
• Center Voices Columns
• Trustee Workbooks
• Center Monographs

Center Web site

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More Information

The Center for Healthcare Governance wants members to be as connected as possible to our governance consultants. Being able to ask questions online and receive responses back quickly will ensure you'll find the answers and resources to help you achieve excellence in health care governance.

Please fill out the Center's Ask the Governance Expert online form with your specific question or request, and you will be contacted within 24 hours with a reply. In addition, please feel free to use this form to submit feedback about the Center's services so that we can better serve you.

Please note that this is a member-only resource. Only submissions by Center members will be answered.

The Center for Healthcare Governance developed Speakers Express to help make the high-caliber speakers and presenters found at its national symposia and regional workshops available to organizations throughout the country. Our speakers are proven professionals who are viewed as the "go-to" leaders in their respective fields of expertise, customizing their presentations to fit the unique needs of each organization.

The Center for Healthcare Governance introduces Mac McCrary, an experienced hospital trustee with board leadership experience in numerous capacities in multiple hospitals and other health care related organizations. Learn more about Mac McCrary below:

Mac McCrary Speaker Bio Presentation Topics

More Information on the Center's Speakers Express

To view archived editions of the Center's bi-weekly email Center News & Updates, click here.