On-Demand Learning Lab - Engaging and Communicating to Your Board: Demonstrating the Impact of Quality-Recording - Engaging and Communicating to Your Board Demonstrating the Impact of Quality

Video Transcription

Video Summary

NACU hosted a Live Learning Lab webinar, “Engaging and Communicating to Your Board,” featuring Dr. Sarah Pavelka, an organizational performance and continuous improvement leader. Pavelka focused on how healthcare quality professionals can increase board engagement, support, and effective governance through stronger communication and influence.<br /><br />She framed “impact and influence” as the ability to persuade by aligning messages to board motivations and “speaking their language.” Key communication practices included knowing the audience’s background, using concise executive-summary “elevator speeches,” being clear on agenda purpose (inform, gain support, or seek a decision), and keeping presentations short while retaining details for questions.<br /><br />Pavelka emphasized that boards should primarily ask questions—not provide operational answers—such as benchmarking, targets, and progress toward goals. Tools included a board communication checklist (right people present, opening statement, note taker, recap and follow-up) and connecting messages to NAHQ’s leadership and integration competencies.<br /><br />She outlined the board’s role in promoting a culture of quality and safety, participating through oversight and inquiry, holding leaders accountable, and addressing quality early in meetings. To strengthen data-driven decision-making, she recommended linking quality to strategic planning, using dashboards/scorecards to spark questions, and pairing data with clear visuals and patient-centered storytelling.

Keywords

board engagement

healthcare quality governance

executive communication

influence and persuasion

board oversight and inquiry

quality and safety culture

dashboards and scorecards

data-driven decision making

patient-centered storytelling