Ask tough questions of executives. Seek outside counsel before approving transactions. Know what the purchaser's return on investment will be. Determine how the marketplace may react to the transaction in the future. Seek help or training when in doubt about deciphering balance sheets and other information pertinent to the transaction.
Delegate work on the transaction to the board's financial subcommittee to render a report.
Recruit trustees from beyond the community at large if hospital revenues and liabilities extend into billions of dollars. As chair-elect, she will preside over the AHA's Strategic Planning Committee, which identifies the association's priority initiatives. She will assume the AHA Board chairmanship in the year 2000. I accept the position with pride, humility, and a commitment to carry out the AHA's mission. While the challenges ahead are many, the opportunities to advance the health of individuals and communities are endless.