Three new governance surveys prepared by outside consultants and
released in October offer particular lessons to boards of
sophisticated nonprofit health systems on a broad variety of
commitment, service, performance and other relevant governance
topics.
For example, a new survey by the national accounting
firm BDO USA indicates that a substantial number of
director/respondents supported specific, stringent limits
(e.g., less than five) on the total number of outside
company boards on which a director may serve. In addition, a separate survey published with a group
associated with Spencer Stuart reported a substantial
gap between the oversight expectations placed on corporate
governance, and the actual ability of a board to exercise oversight
over the organization. Other relevant results from the Spencer
Stuart survey included an acknowledgment of the increasing
preparation requirements being placed on board members, and the
value of recruiting director candidates
