Putting all the pieces together. The complete board needs the right mix of competencies.

Now that most system and hospital boards are smaller, few can afford to include members who don't contribute to the organization's strategic plan. So boards are applying new criteria for choosing members--criteria based on candidates' personal characteristics, skills, knowledge, and perspective.

10 pathways to high-performance boards in integrated health systems.

A "business-as-usual" attitude among board members won't do, says governance consultant Barry Bader. A system board must provide leadership through uncertain times by establishing and articulating clear strategic goals and core values. Mr. Bader identifies the 10 pathways that will lead to high performance--by the board and by the system.

Weight loss. A painless approach to a sleeker governance model.

Slimming down your board structure to meet the demands of system governance doesn't have to be painful. The seven tips offered here provide a "heart-healthy" diet for systems that don't want to alienate longtime trustees who won't be serving on the parent board.

Look before you leap. Boards need to ask "Why?" before merging or affiliating.

Everybody's doing it. But you're just asking for trouble if you don't first ask yourself why you want to merge or affiliate your hospital. Boards need to have clearly defined reasons before they choose a partner. Here's a practical guide to understanding your merger motivation and identifying the right partner.

Worshipping at the corporate alter. Risks and opportunities.

Corporate boards caught napping when bad executive decisions are made have raised controversial issues about governance. But health care trustees can learn some lessons from their corporate cousins--not only from the ones who make mistakes, but from those who take their jobs seriously and govern successfully.

The conversion foundations: a pot of gold or Pandora's Box for communities.

The new charitable foundations being created when tax-exempt hospitals and HMOs go for-profit are enriching their communities with grants for health, education, housing and other worthy causes, but critics charge some deals shortchange the public. HSL Founding Publisher Barry S. Badfer looks at what the conversion foundations are doing and how to increase their accountability to serve the public good.

St. Vincent Community Health Network: operationalizing a vision of collaboration.

Can two successful health systems, one Catholic and one community-owned, integrate without merging assets? HSL visits Indianapolis to find out how this unusual collaboration is bucking the odds.