July 1989
May
1994
November
1997 (revised)
November
2000 (revised)
November
2003 (reaffirmed)
November
2006 (revised)
Statement
of the Issue
A
commitment to access to
care regardless of the
patient’s ability
to pay has long been a cornerstone
of our healthcare system.
It is also a commitment
personally embraced by healthcare
executives who lead healthcare
organizations. But the healthcare
executive's responsibility
to the community does not
end here—it encompasses
commitment to improving
community health status
and addressing the societal
issues that contribute to
poor health as well as
personally working for the
betterment of the community-at-large.
Taking a leadership role
in serving the community
is the responsibility of
all healthcare executives
regardless of occupational
setting or ownership structure.
Further, when providers,
individuals and communities
work toward common goals,
the results can be significant:
reduced healthcare costs,
appropriate use of limited
healthcare resources and,
ultimately, a healthier
community.
Policy Position
The American College of
Healthcare Executives (ACHE)
believes that all healthcare
executives have a professional
obligation to serve their
communities through support
of organizational initiatives
and personal involvement
in community and civic affairs.
In addition, ACHE believes
that healthcare executives
should take a proactive
role in individual and community
health improvement efforts.
ACHE recognizes that communities
vary widely in demographics,
resources, traditions and
needs. Therefore, each community
may identify different priorities
and approaches.
Healthcare executives
can lead or participate
in community and organizational
initiatives through the
following actions:
- Work with other concerned
organizations and individuals
to develop effective measures
of community health status.
Collaborative efforts
should lead to an accurate
assessment of their community's
health status, including
the most prevalent health
problems, causes of those
problems, associated risk
factors and available
resources.
- Lead their organizations
in collaborative efforts
to address health concerns
by working with public
health and other government
agencies, businesses,
associations, educational
groups, religious organizations,
elected officials, financing
entities, foundations
and others. Diverse interests
and resources could be
applied to addressing
community health concerns.
- Support
the dissemination of
accurate information
about community health
status, the services provided
and programs available
to prevent and treat illness
and patients’ responsibility
for their own health.
- Participate in efforts
to communicate organizational
effectiveness in matching
healthcare resources with
community needs, improved
clinical outcomes and
community health status
and their organizations'
volunteerism roles.
- Incorporate community
service responsibilities
into policies and programs
over which they have authority.
- Advocate and participate
in their organizations'
collaborative efforts
with other community healthcare
providers and social service
agencies.
- Demonstrate
that their organizations'
commitment to the community
is multifaceted and
may include support
of medical research,
training of healthcare
professionals, charity
care and civic contributions
as well as a host of
other activities that
contribute to the community’s
well-being.
- Offer health promotion
and illness prevention
programs to their employees,
positively benefiting
staff, as well as sending
an important message to
the community.
Healthcare executives
can personally demonstrate
their commitment to the
community through the following
actions:
- Embrace a healthy lifestyle.
ACHE affiliates should
model behavior they are
advocating for their employees
and the community-at-large.
Appropriate behavior may
include exercising regularly,
taking steps to reduce
stress and getting preventive
checkups to address health
problems before they become
serious.
- Participate in local
assessments of community
need.
- Participate in regional,
state and local task forces
to resolve access to care
and other community healthcare
problems.
- Volunteer to meet on
behalf of their organizations
with the public, policymakers
and other key stakeholders
to define community healthcare
priorities so that healthcare
resources can be used
equitably and effectively.
- Become involved in
community service projects,
civic organizations and
public dialogue on healthcare
policy issues affecting
the community.
- Share models of successful
healthy community projects
with others to enhance
efforts in other communities.
ACHE urges all healthcare
executives to affirm their
responsibility to their
communities through their
professional actions and
personal contributions.
To further strengthen its
position on community responsibility,
ACHE requires its affiliates
to produce evidence of participation
and leadership in healthcare
and community/civic affairs
to advance within ACHE.
In
the current healthcare
marketplace, the demand
for health promotion and
illness prevention activities
will grow. By making a personal
and professional commitment
to improving the community’s
health status, healthcare
executives will be taking
an important step toward
addressing this demand.
Approved by the Board
of Governors of the American
College of Healthcare Executives
on November 6, 2006.
