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Karma Bass Speaker Biography
Over her 20-year career, Karma Bass has been a sought-after speaker, facilitator, and consultant with deep knowledge and experience in governance, strategic planning, philanthropy, quality oversight, health care policy, and board effectiveness.
Before founding Via Healthcare Consulting, she worked with ACCORD LIMITED, a Chicago-based consulting firm serving clients nationwide with their strategic planning, governance, speaking and board retreats. She spent two years as president and CEO of Alliance Healthcare Foundation in San Diego, California where she reported to an independent, eleven-person not-for-profit board.
Notably, Ms. Bass spent 10 years at The Governance Institute holding various positions including Vice President, Membership Services and Director of Research & Publications. During her time at The Governance Institute, she oversaw the prestigious biennial hospital governance practices survey tracking trends in US hospitals and health systems.
During three years at the Hospital Council of San Diego and Imperial Counties, she facilitated the first-ever collaborative community health needs assessment for San Diego’s 32 hospitals, responding to the then-newly-implemented California Hospital Community Benefit law. Her experience gives her a uniquely valuable perspective as a consultant to hospital and health systems boards today.
Ms. Bass is board-certified in healthcare management and holds a master's degree in public health with a focus in health services administration from San Diego State University. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of California, San Diego. She lives in Carlsbad, California with her husband and two children.
Higher Stakes: How Board Responsibilities are Evolving in a Post-reform (Post-ACA) Era
Just as the reality of the Affordable Care Act is impacting hospitals and systems in tangible ways, we are now wondering if it will remain the law of the land. The national healthcare landscape is in uncharted territory: how should boards adapt? What are the new imperatives that must be addressed? Come hear how the shape of governance is changing in response to the evolution of our healthcare delivery system. With hospitals involved in so much more than just acute care, inpatient care, boards are reshaping the way they view their organizations and changing the way they work. Come hear how.
Governing for Population Health
With so many hospitals and systems shifting their focus to population health, thoughtful boards are reconsidering how they are governing. Are the board reports and discussions still focused solely on the inpatient side of business? How much time and consideration in board meetings should be given to community health? Come participate in a discussion about this emerging area of focus for hospital and system boards across the country.
Board and Governance Best Practices
How do boards at the nation’s leading healthcare organizations govern? What are the key practices that distinguish a top-notch board from a middling one? How do hardworking boards make the transition from good to great? Come learn what goes on in the best healthcare boardrooms around the country. Gain practical tips that can be applied to any board to increase its effectiveness today.
How to Best Serve the Community When You Have a Constituency
This session delves into the important and often-overlooked challenges facing elected or appointed hospital board members. It’s a well-established principle that boards can only speak with one voice. Yet, how does an elected board member ensure his or her constituents’ perspective is heard? What are the features that set an elected or appointed board apart from others? How can these boards implement practices that honor the electorate or appointing body while ensuring decisions are made in the best interest of the organization and it community, as a whole?
What is a Healthy Board Culture and How Can You Build One?
With so dialogue around board best practices and effective governance structures, an often overlooked feature is the culture of a board. Come hear from national governance expert Karma Bass on what a healthy board culture looks like and where she’s seen them flourish. Learn what features tend to mark a board as healthy and how you can build them into your board’s governance today.
What Should a Board and CEO Expect of Each Other?
It’s been said that all conflict stems from violated expectations. Come hear how conflicting expectations often set a board and CEO up for a poor working relationship from the very beginning. Having worked with hundreds of CEOs and boards, Karma Bass brings a unique perspective on this critical issue. With real world examples and practical tips, she will facilitate a lively discussion around how to increase the effectiveness of any board-CEO team.
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