Rekindling the flame: routine practices that promote hospital community leadership.

Because of the need of focus on their financial survival, hospitals and health systems are not the popular community-oriented institutions they once were--too many have set aside their mission to promote and protect the health of their communities. By conducting on-site interviews with CEOs, other executives, board members, and community partners in seven hospitals across the nation, we discovered 25 management and governance practices used by hospitals that excel in relating to their communities. We have grouped these practices for promoting community health into six functions: (1) identifying community needs; (2) setting goals; (3) allocating financial and human resources; (4) educating leaders, staff, and community members; (5) measuring outcomes; and (6) sustaining the mission.

Rekindling the flame. Achieving community health through strong leadership.

Is the commitment to community health waning as hospitals focus their attention on dwindling reimbursement and proliferating regulations? Not if these four health care organizations are any indication of the innovative ways hospitals and communities can work together.