Hospital Board Certification Program

The Iowa Hospital Association has designed the Hospital Board Certification Program to help hospitals use governance best practices, promote the coordination of care and make the best use of resources. This demonstrates to lawmakers, regulators, physicians, employees, the business community and other community stakeholders that Iowa hospitals:

• Are committed to coordination of resources in their communities.
• Are willing to formally certify their adherence to governance best practices.
• Embrace community accountability and transparency.
• Govern according to a standard of excellence.
• Integrate local health efforts with state programs.
• Structure their community benefit and outreach programs to meet community needs.
• Understand and embrace the need for governance accountability.
• Use data from the Iowa Hospital Association to identify and address areas of need, especially for the uninsured and underinsured.
• Use performance data to identify opportunities for improvement and monitor progress that improves quality and safety.

Iowa Hospital Association Trustee Certification Program 101 video.

Certified trustees are recognized each year at the Iowa Hospital Association Governance Forum.

Hospitals and health systems can register their entire boards to complete the Hospital Board Certification Program. Three levels of board certification are recognized:

• One star – 40-69% of board members are certified.
• Two stars – 70-99% of board members are certified.
• Three stars – All board members are certified.

2025 events with continuing board education hours

• Governance Forum, March 5, 2024 – 5.75 hours
• Rural Hospital Leadership Forum, June 17, 5.0 hours; pre-conference Workshop – 3.0 hours
• IHA Annual Meeting, Oct. 7-8 – TBD

Click the links below to learn more about the Iowa Hospital Association Hospital Board Certification Program and to see previous certified trustee awards:

• Iowa Hospital Association Hospital Board Certification brochure
• IHA Hospital Board Certification Education Log (Use this form to record your hours)
• IHA Hospital board certification basic certification Form
• IHA Hospital Board certification advanced certification Form

Certification education log submission page

Current certified trustees:

• Class of 2024 certified trustees
• Class of 2023 certified trustees

(40-69% participation)

• Adair County Health Systems, Greenfield
• Clarke County Hospital, Osceola
• Floyd County Medical Center, Charles City
• Henry County Health Center, Mount Pleasant
• MercyOne Newton Medical Center, Newton
• UnityPoint Health - Grinnell Regional Medical Center, Grinnell

(70-99% participation)

• Great River Health, West Burlington
• Madison County Health Care System, Winterset
• Monroe County Hospital & Clinics, Albia
• Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center, Fort Madison and West Burlington
• Story County Medical Center, Nevada
• UnityPoint Health - Allen Hospital, Waterloo
• Van Diest Medical Center, Webster City

(100% participation)

• Clarinda Regional Health Center, Clarinda
• Dallas County Hospital, Perry
• Greene County Medical Center, Jefferson
• Jefferson County Health Center, Fairfield
• Kossuth Regional Health Center, Algona
• Lucas County Health Center, Chariton
• Mary Greeley Medical Center, Ames
• Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, Red Oak