MHP Board of Trustees Receive Education Certification from IHA

The MHP Board of Trustees have received, or are on track to receive, certification from the Iowa Hospital Association Trustee Education Certification Program. The certification is designed to help board members stay current with the ever-changing healthcare industry. Shown, from left: Mike Grim, Paul Swenson, Becky Siefering, Jim Hansen, Amy McGriff and Dave Langkamp.

The Mahaska Health Partnership Board of Trustees currently has six of its seven members who have graduated, or on schedule to graduate, from the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA) Trustee Education Certification Program.

Included in that group are board members Amy McGriff from New Sharon, Becky Siefering, Jim Hansen, Paul Swenson and Dave Langkamp from Oskaloosa, and Mike Grim from Eddyville.

“MHP is fortunate to have engaged and informed board members to function as an integral part of our leadership team,” said MHP CEO Jay Christensen. “The IHA launched its Trustee Education Certification Program is 2010. To date, more than 100 trustees across the state have completed the program, which provides a framework in developing highly-effective board members.”

Goals of the program include helping hospitals use governance best practices; promoting the coordination of care and the best use of resources; and demonstrating to community stakeholders that Iowa hospitals are dedicated to accountability and transparency and are governed at the highest levels of excellence.

MHP’s Board of Trustees is a seven member group comprised of elected representatives throughout Mahaska County. Members are elected every six years, with many trustees serving multiple terms. The Board is the governing body of MHP, serving as the sounding board and decision makers for new services and projects as well as staffing and community needs.

“As a public entity, our elected Board of Trustees provides oversight and strategic direction to MHP,” Christensen explained. “This board, who works closely with our Executive Team, does not receive compensation for their volunteer efforts.

“The extra time and effort our board members take to stay current with the ever-changing healthcare industry and particularly critical access and rural hospitals, shows that they want to ensure MHP continues to provide quality and personalized healthcare resources to the communities they serve.”

Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, call 641.672.3240 or visit www.mahaskahealth.org.