The Jefferson County Health Center board of trustees was among those recognized last month at the Annual Iowa Hospital Association Governance Forum, receiving a three-star board certification — the program’s highest designation.
The forum, which drew 78 Iowa hospital trustees and 22 hospital boards, is dedicated to advancing education and governance practices for hospital trustees and governing boards across the state. The three-star certification provides a framework for trustees and governing boards to demonstrate their individual and collective commitment to their governance roles and responsibilities, encompassing education requirements, and recognized governance best practices.
All seven board trustees were newly certified or recertified at the event, including Merlin Miller, Greg Hanshaw, Joneane Parker, Julie Greeson, Joe Stever, Angie Atwood, and Alex Roth. Trustees earned certification by completing at least 12 hours of healthcare-specific education over a two-year period and affirming their individual and board use of recognized governance best practices. The Iowa Hospital Association awards one-, two-, or three-star board designations based on the percentage of certified members on a given board.
Board chair Merlin Miller reflected on what the role of trustee means to him and his fellow board members. “Being a trustee means being entrusted with the community’s well-being,” Miller said. “It’s not just a duty — it’s a privilege and a responsibility.”
The IHA Board Certification Program is designed to keep board members informed on pressing healthcare topics including finance, quality, compliance, and technology, while formally committing them to strong governance practices. As trustees for hospitals across Iowa, board members are held to a standard of dedication to both their organization’s success and the welfare of the communities they serve.
Since the certification program launched in 2014, 337 trustees and 31 boards statewide have completed its certification and education requirements through the Iowa Hospital Association.
Picture provided by the Jefferson County Health Center.
