05/28/2026
🎙️ Think Factory Podcast | The Power of Shared Governance in Healthcare
In this compelling episode of the Think Factory Podcast, hosted by Susan Schleck Kleiner, we’re joined by Dr. Bob Hess—Founder & CEO of the Forum for Shared Governance—for a powerful conversation on one of the most critical leadership topics in healthcare today: shared governance.
Dr. Hess breaks down what shared governance really means beyond the buzzwords—explaining how it gives bedside nurses and frontline teams a genuine voice in clinical practice, operational decisions, and the resources that shape patient care. Drawing on decades of research, he also shares the story behind the Index of Professional Nursing Governance, the first validated tool to measure how decision-making authority and accountability truly function inside healthcare organizations.
Throughout the episode, we explore:
✅ How authentic shared governance drives nurse retention and job satisfaction
✅ The link between collaborative decision-making and improved patient outcomes
✅ The risks of treating governance as a marketing slogan rather than a lived reality
✅ The global evolution of Dr. Hess’s accreditation model
✅ How AI-powered dashboards are transforming governance insights in real time
Equally important, Dr. Hess highlights the human side of leadership—underscoring the roles of trust, transparency, and leadership commitment in building cultures where people feel empowered to lead and contribute.
Whether you’re a healthcare executive, clinician, or organizational leader, this episode offers actionable insights into how shared governance can elevate both culture and performance.
🎧 Listen now on:
Apple Podcasts - https://conta.cc/3Q7uKCg
Spotify - https://conta.cc/4u0XzOI
RSS - https://conta.cc/4tUO5V3
🔗 Want to continue the conversation? Connect with Dr. Bob Hess on LinkedIn.