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A resolution identifying the skills and qualities needed for the next Chief Operating Officer of Nashville General Hospital.
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WHEREAS, Nashville General Hospital (“NGH”) opened as “City Hospital” in 1890 as Nashville’s original community hospital with a commitment to serve all residents of Nashville and Davidson County; and
WHEREAS, Nashville General Hospital’s mission is “To improve the health and wellness of Nashville by providing equitable access to coordinated patient-centered care, supporting tomorrow's caregivers, and translating science into clinical practice;” and
WHEREAS, Nashville General Hospital serves as Nashville’s only safety net hospital, where all residents of Nashville and Davidson County can receive needed healthcare services regardless of the patient’s insured status or ability to pay; and
WHEREAS, Nashville General Hospital is controlled and operated by the Hospital Authority of the Metropolitan Government, which was created pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated § 7-57-101 et seq. and Resolution No. R99-1410; and
WHEREAS, the Hospital Authority is authorized to “[a]ppoint all administrative, professional, technical, and other employees” pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated § 7-57-301, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”); and
WHEREAS, Dr. Joseph Webb resigned as the CEO of NGH effective March 14, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the CEO is an integral position within Nashville General Hospital and it requires a skilled and experienced individual who is passionate about the needs of Nashville General Hospital and also possesses the ability to successfully guide the operations and initiatives of Nashville’s only safety net hospital; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council recommends the Hospital Authority facilitate a transparent process and solicit and consider feedback from community stakeholders and the NGH workforce as practicable during the selection process to ensure that the next CEO aligns with the priorities of the hospital and the needs of the community; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council went on record as supporting eight capability and competency domains in the evaluation of candidates for Metro Nashville’s Director of Health through Resolution No. RS2024-799; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council urges the Hospital Authority’s consideration of similar capabilities and competencies as they evaluate candidates for CEO of Nashville General Hospital. Of note, the American College of Healthcare Executives, in partnership with thought leaders, American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) faculty, and system learning officers, identified five competencies that all health care CEOs should have to lead health care organizations:
• Visionary and Adaptive Leadership. CEO candidates who possess this competency are leaders who plan and execute their vision based on both current and future possibilities, and they inspire their teams to adapt and thrive in a changing environment. The qualities of a visionary and adaptive leader include openness, imagination, persistence, conviction and the ability to lead a meaningful process of change in a purposeful manner.
• Ability to Build Loyalty and Trust. Relationship-building skills and collaboration of a new magnitude are now required of health care CEOs. In addition to building and managing relationships within their organizations, transformational leaders must build loyalty and trust outside of their organizations - and sometimes outside the health care field - to develop strategic relationships and alliances. To build loyalty and trust, leaders must inspire others to embrace the vision and view relationships as key to leading change.
• Self-Mastery. Transformational leaders need to be able to perceive, understand, control and evaluate their own emotions and those of others. Being emotionally intelligent allows leaders to influence, motivate and inspire others. Self-mastery requires insight into your own strengths and developmental needs, as well as the will and discipline to use these strengths for the benefit of others. It also acknowledges that learning is a tool to further development.
• Strategic Thinking, Strategic Scanning. As the business of health care moves beyond the traditional paradigms of care delivery, so must leaders apply new approaches and perspectives to solve problems. Looking beyond the old ways of doing business requires leaders to look beyond traditional boundaries to explore the new. Strategic thinkers are future-based, curious, long-term-focused, willing to take risks, able to prioritize, and both nimble and creative.
• Masterful Execution. This competency involves using appropriate methods of power (formal and informal) to motivate colleagues and stakeholders into action for accomplishing needed tasks and objectives. It also includes knowing how to create focus around key priorities (right work) and building the capability (right people) to deliver results (great results). Good strategy is worthless if it cannot be executed. Good execution also requires a discipline of evaluation to understand what is working and what is not - using data to make necessary changes to improve results.; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Metropolitan Council to support the Hospital Authority and Nashville General Hospital by continuing to engage with the Hospital Authority and the public to ensure the success of Nashville’s only safety net hospital.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as supporting the Hospital Authority of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County and Nashville General Hospital in their collective mission to improve the health and wellness of Nashville by providing equitable access to healthcare.
Section 2. The Metropolitan County Council believes that the selection of a new Chief Executive Officer is a critical decision with far-reaching implications for the future success of Nashville General Hospital as well as the health and well-being of all residents of Nashville and Davidson County.
Section 3. The Metropolitan County Council goes on record as requesting the Hospital Authority adopt a transparent process to consider the ongoing feedback from community stakeholders, including Nashville General Hospital employees, as part of their selection and future evaluation of the next Chief Executive Officer of Nashville General Hospital. The Metropolitan County Council requests that the Hospital Authority share this resolution with each candidate selected for an interview.
Section 4. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.