INSIDER REPRESENTATION ON THE GOVERNING BOARDS OF NONPROFIT HOSPITALS- TRENDS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR CHARITABLE CARE

Evidence indicates that the traditional, nonprofit hospital governing board, which is heavily comprised of community representatives, is cha nging to favor more insiders from the hospital senior management and m edical staff. In this study, I examine this trend, as well as the rela tionship between insider representation and the amount of charitable c are hospitals provide to their community. Study results indicate that insider representation on hospital boards increased substantially duri ng the 1980s. The findings also imply that the relationship between in sider representation and the provision of charitable care depends on c ontextual factors related to the hospital's viability.