Worthless meetings
Another physician this week commented he attended the recent Physician-Board breakfast meeting. He commented that with as much controversy over the outpatient surgical center that the physicians have elected to build without the hospital, he would have thought that at least one of the three Board members would have brought up the topic and asked why the deal fell through with the hospital.
He further commented that the Board members did not ask any significant questions about any particular topic.
There are legitimate concerns from physicians and the Board has been informed of them, so the question remains; why do they choose to pass on an opportunity to hear directly from physicians?
This particular physician stated that they really don’t want to know and they really don’t care.
I actually believe that to be incorrect.
I believe they really don’t like conflict and if they asked the tough questions, the answers would come back to an area they refuse to address; the CEO.
I pushed for these meetings with physicians to be held off the hospital campus and to be held without the CEO present. I also pushed for the Board to have a list of questions to ask directed at some of the known problems we are facing. This recommendation never received the majority of votes.
Few physicians or Board members want to begin a difficult conversation, in the lounge, knowing you only have a spare 10-15 minutes, all while other people are coming and going.
The current meeting structure is a waste of time for everyone involved, but at the end of the year, the CEO always lists these meetings as one of his completed objectives.
It doesn’t matter that they are worthless and a waste of time. For him, it is part of his bonus structure.
Meetings like these do give physicians the perception that the Board doesn’t care and that it is all for show, but it doesn’t have to be that way!
Will someone step up to the plate before it is too late?
He further commented that the Board members did not ask any significant questions about any particular topic.
There are legitimate concerns from physicians and the Board has been informed of them, so the question remains; why do they choose to pass on an opportunity to hear directly from physicians?
This particular physician stated that they really don’t want to know and they really don’t care.
I actually believe that to be incorrect.
I believe they really don’t like conflict and if they asked the tough questions, the answers would come back to an area they refuse to address; the CEO.
I pushed for these meetings with physicians to be held off the hospital campus and to be held without the CEO present. I also pushed for the Board to have a list of questions to ask directed at some of the known problems we are facing. This recommendation never received the majority of votes.
Few physicians or Board members want to begin a difficult conversation, in the lounge, knowing you only have a spare 10-15 minutes, all while other people are coming and going.
The current meeting structure is a waste of time for everyone involved, but at the end of the year, the CEO always lists these meetings as one of his completed objectives.
It doesn’t matter that they are worthless and a waste of time. For him, it is part of his bonus structure.
Meetings like these do give physicians the perception that the Board doesn’t care and that it is all for show, but it doesn’t have to be that way!
Will someone step up to the plate before it is too late?
posted by Anonymous at 5:40 AM
12 Comments:
HB you're absolutely correct. Most meetings are worthless. In fact, I've found that the only ones that are somewhat meaningful are the so-called agendaless meetings where small groups meet to discuss problems, direction and vision. In our society, we want to appear active, but unfortunately activity does not lead to accomplishments.
Did the Physician in question bring up the subject. If he did not do so why would the Board Members discuss it. Any meeting I ever attended if there was a subject of interst to me, I took the opportunity to voice my concerns. When you have a meeting, you should not fault one group over the other, it take 2 to make a meeting. If the Physicians do not want to voice their concerns, I agree they should not waste time with worthless meetings, on the other hand they should use this opportunity to voice any concerns they may have, they certainly use this Blog to do so. Why here and not in the worthless meetings?
Sounds like the MDs have some issues in mind that they wish would come up. Try forming a small committee of the MDs to develop a suggested agenda for the meetings and supply that to the Board members in advance.
It's been suggested, but we wanted it off site and without the CEO. The Board didn't want conflict with the CEO and has always declined.
Bringing up an issue as suggested when in the middle of a lounge while you have limited time is not a great way to discuss problems.
I think the problem being faced here is the same as with many large companies or corporations. Often times board members, either elected or appointed, tend to accept their positions just for the sake of having the prestige of saying they are on the board. In reality they don't play the vital role they should when issues come up (like resolving them). Instead they are content with just getting another meeting over with. They are happy when waves are not made and feathers are not ruffled. On one end of the spectrum they don't really care what the CEO is doing or thinking and on the other end don't care about the staff involved as well. This is probably why you are no longer a board member. You are an individual that truly cares what happens and you were making those waves or ruffling a few feathers. We have a wonderful bunch of physicians in New Albany, including yourself, and I am proud to be affiliated with each of you. By the way, I love how quickly others jump the gun and assume that the physicians don't bring up these issues during the Physician-Board breakfast.
I assume you are referring to my posting, I did not jump the gun. I just stated that the normal way to have a discussion of any topic that is of concern would be to approach the subject in a reasonable manner and open the discussion for all, not just voice the concerns for people to read and form only 1 sided conclusions.
If the board members refuse to discuss the issues, call in the news media. That would solve everyones problems. Both sides would have to respond and it would not have people trying to second-guess what everyone's agenda might
be in this ongoing battle between the current CEO and HB. If the Doctors that serve FMH have valid reasons to be so dissatisfied with the current Administration they should not have any trouble with bringing their issues to the Boardroom. Why has this not been done, I'm sure that any news person would happy to accomodate.
Issues have been brought to the Board room verbally, and by letters. They choose to ignore them and then discredit the sender.
Go back and read some postings just recently about the surgeon who sent them letters.
That would be a really good idea. Go back and see how HB never actually provided the text of the letter the "surgeon" is supposed to have sent to the board, nor is the identity of the surgeon revealed. As a matter of fact, in the past six or seven months that HB has been trashing the hospital and its management, not one single doctor has been willing to support his allegations of "discontent and distrust." There have been a couple of postings by someone stating that he/she is a doctor but not a single doctor has stepped up, by name, and agreed with HB. That would seem to suggest that all these accusations have a lot more to do with HB's personal vendetta against Hanson than with any medical staff uprising.
diogenestrainee, I agree, that was the point I was trying to make in my posting at 9:58AM & 6:19PM. Seems like some people just can't get it. I would think that if all Physcians were having problems, surely they would be able to voice
their concerns. It makes you wonder if 1 is trying to speak for all.
What a bunch of "know-it-alls". Must be "you know who" speaking out.
WHO? IS "YOU KNOW WHO"???????
I guess you are not a "know it all"
you certainly did not add anything to the discussion.
I would suggest that often a board member will not initiate a discussion with a physician because he/she is intimidated by the MD. Most of the board members have NO medical background and no training in the issues dealing with reimbursement or governmental regulations. And for most of them, the only relationship they have had with and MD has been as a patient which is certainly not on an equal level. Most have no experience in big budgets and finance. Most have no experience in management of a large corporation and all the issues of personnel. They have been appointed because they are a friend of one of the Commissioners or they have been active in their political party and are being "rewarded" with their appointment. It scares me to think that these people have such power! No wonder they are so easily intimidated by both the MD's and the CEO. They are nice people but they are not qualified to be in the position to which they have been appointed. Look at each of their resumes and determine if they qualify for an executive position in a major corporation. These people are intimidated by the setting. They are not about to initiate a conversation and get themselves boxed into a corner. If you don't believe me, ask to see the educational preparation and career experiece that qualifies them to oversee a multimillion dollar company. They are good people, but definitely out of their league. Could this be why Dr Dan had so much difficulty in getting his position understood. Could this be why the Board doesn't challenge the CEO. They are afraid. What would they do if suddenly he were gone and they had the responsibility by themselves?
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