Maine Hospital Association, Leadership Positions Roles & Responsibilities of the Board

Leadership Positions- Roles and Responsibilities

Role of Key Leadership Positions

Board Chair

The role of the Board Chair is to:

1. Provide leadership, in collaboration with the President, related to formulating and achieving Board goals.

2. Establish all board committees, appoint board members to committees, and appoint committee chairpersons.

3. Ensure that the Board and board committees meet frequently enough to accomplish approved objectives.

4. Work collaboratively with the President to develop agendas for board meetings. Plan and conduct meetings in such a manner as to ensure: that the defined agendas are accomplished; that discussion focuses on policy level concerns; that all members are appropriately involved in group discussion; and that the quality and tone of interactions during board and committee meetings are orderly, respectful, and constructive.

5. Hold board and committee members accountable for meeting agreed upon expectations; and address problems related to the performance of individual board members.

6. Review all board minutes, prior to distribution, in order to confirm that they accurately reflect board discussions and recommendations.

7. Assume primary responsibility for linkage and communication with other boards in the Corporation.

8. Serve as Chair of the committee which conducts the President's annual performance evaluation.

Committee Chairpersons

The role of Committee Chairpersons is to:

1. Provide leadership, in collaboration with the President and designated members of administration staff, to formulate and achieve committee goals.

2. Ensure that committees meet frequently enough to accomplish approved stated objectives.

3. Work collaboratively with the President and designated members of administration to develop meeting agendas.

4. Plan and conduct meetings in such a manner as to ensure that: the defined agendas are accomplished; discussion focuses on policy level concerns; all members are appropriately involved in group discussions; and the quality and tone of interactions are orderly, respectful, and constructive.

5. Hold committee members accountable for meeting agreed upon expectations; and address problems related to the performance of committee members or administrative support staff.

6. Be responsible for and sign minutes in advance of Board meetings to confirm that they accurately reflect committee discussion and recommendations.

7. Assume primary responsibility for reporting committee activities and presenting formal reports and recommendations to the respective Board, utilizing designated members of administration as needed.

The President

The role of the President:

1. Work collaboratively with the Board to provide the leadership required to develop and implement a vision statement and a comprehensive strategic plan, including the definition of strategic priorities, for the total Corporation.

2. Define the management structure and an operational plan for the System, which includes the development and successful implementation of the goals and objectives required to ensure the future success of the Corporation and its subsidiaries.

3. Within the strategic parameters established by the Board, assume primary responsibility for actively pursuing possibilities, evaluating new opportunities for fulfilling the Corporation's vision and strategic objectives, and doing whatever is required to achieve success.

4. Function as the leader of a corporate management team; and ensure that all corporate business entities are well managed and sufficiently integrated to achieve the clinical, operational, and financial objectives of the total corporation.

5. Assume direct supervisory responsibility for a select number of Vice Presidents within the Corporation and its subsidiaries, including direct responsibilities for their hiring, evaluation, compensation, and termination (while involving the Board in the latter responsibilities in a manner agreed to by the Board).

6. Ensure that the structures, process and decision making protocols are in place to provide ample opportunity for board members, physicians and other key stakeholders to be well informed about major organizational decisions and to have substantive input into decisions that affect them.

7. Within parameters established by the Board, serve as the official liaison of the Corporation with all external organizations, with the responsibility for representing the Corporation's interests in all matters being discussed.

8. Serve as the officially designated agent of the Board of Trustees, with the authority to act in its behalf within agreed upon parameters, while always fulfilling this responsibility in such a manner as to appropriately involve the full Board and its committees in all major decisions.

9. Provide draft documents reflecting management's analysis and concrete recommendations in order to help focus the work of the Board and its committees.

10. Keep the Board and appropriate board committees informed in a timely manner regarding all major developments that impact their policy level responsibilities.

11. Serve as a non-voting member of the Board

12. Work in close collaboration with the Board Chairperson and committee Chairpersons to develop meeting agendas and related materials, and to explore ways in which the talents and experience of individual board members and other stakeholders can be effectively utilized to help support achievement of strategic objectives.

Administration

1. The President will determine which representatives from Senior Management will attend which board and committee meetings. These decisions will be made in consultation with the Board Chair and Committee Chairs.

2. Serve as Committee Coordinators.

3. Serve as full voting members of Board Committees, with the responsibility to offer their best thinking, advice and council during committee deliberations.

4. Serve as staff to select committees, with the responsibility to assist with data organization and document development intended to help focus committee discussion and deliberation.

On occasion, the Board will hold executive sessions, during which all member of administration, except the President (who it is assumed will be a board member), may be excused. For discussions that specifically relate to the President, the President will also be excused.

For more information: Corporate Responsibility and Corporate Compliance: A Resource for Healthcare Boards of Directors

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