Physicians add a special dimension to a governing board. What are the important things to consider when adding physicians to a board? Are there any negatives? Should physicians serve on the Executive Committee?
Physicians add a special dimension to a board of directors. They have clinical insight that is usually not possessed by other board members. This also understand the inner working of an institution, clinical pathways, operations of the hospital and the way many employees interact. Also, unlike other board members who are usually community business leader, have direct access to patients. With that in mind they have can gauge the perception of a hospital from the unique perspective. This perceptive is vastly different than the usual
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The CEO and board need to understand that nurturing the physician’s lack of business knowledge is key to helping them become a valuable board member. As discussed in our text there is the need to cultivate the board succession. If physician is anticipated to fill a board position, this should be part of the succession process. There are other potential issues in having a physician board member. These would include that potential conflict of interest may exist. These are not only financial. They also include the perception of the physician of himself as a board member. The physician needs to remember that he is a board member and has a fiduciary obligation. They cannot see themselves as the champion of physician causes as a board member. They must be as any other board member represent the best interest of the institution. There is the potential possibility of financial conflicts of interest. Finally, a physician who is on a board of directors of a hospital has potential for “insider “information that could be used for personal or financial benefit. The CEO and the chair of the board must be aware of this always, and when choosing a physician board member chose someone who does not demonstrate an attitude of self-interest. The question of whether a physician should be on an executive committee is yes. I would view that a physician is equally as qualified to be a member of an executive as any other board member. Provided of course they have been nurtured in the position and have been chosen properly and there is no conflict of interest. Peter McGinn in Partnership Equals notes that there are five “ins’ in the choice of executive committee members. These are integrity, intelligence, insight, intuition, and influence. Any board member who fits these five “ins” could and should be considered for a position of the executive committee of