Volunteer Governance of Health Services in Canada: Redundant or Relevant?

Abstract

With the continued growth in size and complexity of healthcare organizations, trustees/directors are increasingly called upon to provide strategic leadership. In response, new recruitment methods have been adopted in order to meet the need for skilled and knowledgeable trustees. Volunteer governance models need to be carefully evaluated in comparison to government control models in order to determine how relations of accountability and responsibility change with a shift in models. The central question is whether volunteer governance remains a viable concept in Canada.