HealthManagement, Volume 12, Issue 4 /2010
September 9-10 the 23rd congress of the European Association of Hospital Directors took place in Zurich. Many thanks to everyone who attended! We would particularly like to thank our colleagues from Switzerland for the organisation of the congress. It was a highlight in our programme of European cooperation.
The Executive Committee, Board and General Assembly of the EAHM also met in Zurich. The General Assembly voted for the new Board for the next 4 years. The result stands both for continuity and for new directions. The Executive Committee and the Board had already decided in the summer to reflect and restructure the strategy of the EAHM. This seems absolutely necessary due to the situation in our societies and also in the provision of health supply against the background of various structural changes taking place in Europe. On this basis, a working group was set up to engage specifically with this issue. The working group reflected upon the present situation of the EAHM and developed suggestions on aims and strategies in a closed meeting in Brussels in May.
Our new strategy concerns particularly our common identity as hospital managers in Europe. A close coordination between national associations and the EAHM and the further development of partnerships are prerequisites for our progression. The following aims have been formulated:
- To create an identity of the European hospital director;
- To ensure an active exchange of management experiences and the comparison of success models;
- To formulate new strategies and instruments to improve the management in hospitals; and
- To develop, together with partners, management training programmes and share this with younger hospital managers.
For these aims, corresponding working agendas have been developed. This is undoubtedly a very ambitious programme but the congress in Zurich has shown us the advantages of exchanging experiences at the European level and the importance of developing common ideas about a future- oriented health supply in our own countries and in Europe. Good management is an essential prerequisite for the success of our hospitals and our health systems. This is our contribution to a safe and social Europe. I am honoured to play a part in it as President of EAHM with the Board and Executive Committee.
Heinz Kolking
President of EAHM
