Don't miss the January issue of Trustee magazine, which contains the results of a recent survey of 294 hospital and health system CEOs on the board's role in capital allocation. The survey, conducted by the Center, the Health Research & Educational Trust and Navigant Consulting during the third quarter of 2008, indicated that challenges are escalating as the financial crisis deepens.

The survey asked questions around needed competencies, engagement of administrators, retreat activities and challenges. Among others, the survey revealed the following:

• Five competencies related to capital allocation issues (financial aptitude, strategic planning ability, investment skills, knowledge of information technology and general construction knowledge) were given emphasis in selecting board members.
• 14 percent of respondents said the full board never reviewed projected return on investment for new capital projects.
• More than half of respondents said that, within the past two years, their boards had conducted a retreat to review potential future capital projects.
• The rising costs of energy and raw materials are causing project costs to far exceed projections.
• Weakening financial markets and the high cost of capital are making project planning next to impossible, and some boards are becoming risk adverse--many capital projects that have not yet started are being delayed or cancelled.

You can read the complete survey results in the current issue of Trustee magazine, which Center members receive as a benefit of membership.

Center members: Access the report online by clicking here!

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Fall Symposium on Governing & Leading Healthcare Organizations
September 13-16, 2009
White Sulphur Springs,
West Virginia

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The Center offers its congratulations to David Lincoln, president and CEO of Center member Covenant Health Systems in Lexington, MA, who was recently announced as the 2009 chair of the AHA's Section for Health Care Systems. The constituency section represents health systems across the country that provide guidance in AHA's policy development and governance. During his one-year term as chair, Lincoln and the 23-person governing council will work with the AHA to identify ways to define and focus AHA policy, advocacy, public policy issues and member service strategies regarding health care systems.

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The Center for Healthcare Governance is pleased to recognize our member's accomplishments. If you would like to submit a recent accomplishment, award or program that your member organization has recently achieved or developed, please email the Center at info@americangovernance.com.

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 Michele Serbenski, Executive Director of Corporate Effectiveness and Customer Satisfaction for Bronson Healthcare Group, a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award winning organization. Learn more about Michele Serbenski below:

Michele Serbenski 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.