HR Pulse - Fall 2007 - (Page 16)

MEASURING the Community Connection: A Strategy Checklist for Leaders 16 HR Pulse Fall 2007 When we talk about community citizenship as a core HR Leader competency, how do we define “community”? The answer can be complex. Community encompasses individuals, organizations, and “publics” that rely on the hospital and have a stake in keeping it strong. Each constituency has different views that affect public opinion and the hospital’s ability to fulfill its mission effectively. Communities within the community include: • Hospital staff and employees • The public and individual patients • Business, civic and religious organizations • Other community organizations working to improve community health and quality of life • Officials in local, state and federal government • Community advocacy groups • Racial and ethnic minorities and the groups that represent them • Purchasers of healthcare services • The media • The local surrounding community. To maintain and reaffirm its rightful place as a valued and vital community resource that merits broad public support, a hospital must forge strong relationships with these audiences, and HR leaders are ideally suited to play a prominent role. Assessing Effectiveness To help hospital leaders understand how well their organizations are connecting with, listening to, communicating with, and being accountable to its constituencies, the American Hospital Association (AHA) developed “Measuring the Community Connection: A Strategy Checklist for Leaders.” The tool is intended to provide a framework for thinking about accountability and community outreach, increasing dialogue, and “hard wiring” this thinking into an organization’s strategies and structure. The checklist poses six series of questions, divided into these areas: 1. Mission, Vision, Values and Ethics 2. Governance and Leadership 3. Quality and Patient Safety 4. Building Trust Inside and Out 5. Community Health and Benefit 6. Communications. To download a copy of the strategy checklist, go to www. caringforcommunities.org, click on the Resources tab on the left, and scroll down to find the link for the checklist. Site visitors will also find a wealth of other helpful tools and case studies. The assessment tool was created with the help of hospital leaders from across the country who work diligently at community connection and accountability; it was pilot-tested by the AHA Board of Trustees and by hundreds of hospital CEOs, trustees, physicians and nurse leaders who serve on AHA’s nine Regional Policy Boards. The strategy checklist has been used in management and board retreats and as a guiding document for internal hospital teams charged with measuring their community connections. When multiple people complete the assessment and compare their answers, substantial differences often surface. These differences become the basis for dialogue about all of the organization’s goals and strategies as they relate to community connections, accountability, and reputation. While the tool is intended for hospital leaders to use within their organizations, it can also serve as a helpful instrument for ASHHRA chapter leaders who plan to organize community outreach initiatives. Leveraging the Connections When healthcare organizations are successful at maintaining community connections, they: • Understand what the community wants and needs from the organization • Respond effectively to the needs, interests and concerns of the “communities” within their community • Measure and evaluate their performance in key areas affecting public trust and confidence • Continuously improve their performance • Communicate their performance widely. Given all that’s at stake, no hospital can afford to take their community connections for granted.

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of HR Pulse - Fall 2007

Contents Executive Director’s Letter President’s Message HR Leader Profile: Lisa McDaniel Spotlight on Community Citizenship Culture of Engagement How Transparent Should Healthcare Compensation Be? The Value of Assessment Testing in the Recruitment Process Technology Dramatically Changes FMLA Compliance Creating a Magnetic Culture™ Taking It to the Hill: An Advocacy Update 401(k) / 403(b) Fee Lawsuits – Are You the Next Target? Compensation Offers – A Better Process Find It Again Pulse Points Who, Why and Where Conference Highlights Schedule at a Glance Keynote Speakers Social Events Conference Sponsors Exhibitors Index to Advertisers

HR Pulse - Fall 2007

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