Newsletter

October 5, 2020


Leadership Spotlight: ACHE Announces FACHE® Membership Tenure Requirement Change

Becoming a Fellow of ACHE has long been the gold standard for leadership in our field. After much discussion and consideration, and with the support of the Membership Committee, the ACHE Board of Governors has decided to change the membership tenure requirement for initial Fellow advancement from three years to one year, effective Jan. 1, 2021. We hope this change will make attaining Fellow status possible for more Members who wish to reach this important leadership level.

The FACHE credential is one of the most recognized and respected symbols of a leader’s competency and commitment to healthcare management excellence, and this change in no way diminishes the hard work and ongoing commitment to the core values of ACHE that board certification represents. Candidates must still meet all of the other eligibility requirements, including holding an executive-level healthcare management position and having a minimum of five years of healthcare management experience at the department head or director level. The experience requirement also ensures that candidates demonstrate responsibility for departmental budgeting, planning and staffing, and accountability to senior management for departmental and team performance.

If you have any questions about the change to this eligibility requirement for initial advancement, or any questions regarding certification or recertification, please reach out to our Customer Service team at contact@ache.org or (312) 424-9400, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Central time. 

Online Seminar: Health Law Essentials

Faced with uncertainty surrounding the future of the U.S. health delivery system, it is necessary that healthcare leaders remain cognizant of legal and regulatory repercussions. The online seminar “Health Law Essentials” highlights the most crucial information for busy executives including fraud and abuse, the HITECH Act, patient privacy medical malpractice, the Affordable Care Act and more. From Oct. 14–Dec. 2, health law professor Sarah F. Fontenot, JD, adjunct professor at Trinity University, will facilitate learning by explaining legal issues within a broader context while encouraging interaction and discussion among participants through weekly postings and open forums. Register today and earn up to 9 ACHE Qualified Education credits.

Hospital Price Transparency Requirements Effective Jan. 1 

Each hospital operating in the United States is required to provide clear, accessible pricing information online about the items and services they provide starting Jan. 1, 2021, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Hospitals must provide this information in two ways:

  • Comprehensive machine-readable file with all items and services.
  • Display of shoppable services in a consumer-friendly format.

To check if your organization is compliant, visit CMS’ new hospital price transparency website, which has resources to help you prepare. These resources include the following:

How Women and Men Perceive Healthcare Workplaces 

Data from a 2018 survey of ACHE members show that women with five to 20 years of experience are significantly less likely than their male peers to perceive employers as gender-neutral in hiring, promotion, evaluation and compensation. A special report on the data, published in the September/October issue of the Journal of Healthcare Management, finds little to no improvement in these outcomes since ACHE began measuring them more than a decade ago. The report also finds that the perception that an employing organization is lacking in gender equity is also associated with lower overall satisfaction, and willingness to stay with the organization on the part of women executives.

The Journal continues its 65th year of thought leadership and original research with the September/October issue, now available online to all ACHE members at ache.org/Journals.

Share the Value of ACHE, Diversify Our Community

When you refer colleagues to join or help them earn their FACHE® credential, you’ll earn points you can redeem for ACHE-branded items or discount coupons. In addition, your encouragement will result in a more diverse and inclusive ACHE community.

The Leader-to-Leader Rewards Program supports your recruitment efforts by rewarding you with ACHE-branded merchandise or discount coupons. Use the referral form to share details about membership, or forward this email to those you believe can benefit from all that ACHE has to offer.

To earn points, your name must be listed as the referral on a new Member application or an FACHE application. Once the membership is activated or all Fellow requirements have been met, you will receive points to redeem for rewards. If you have any questions, please contact the Customer Service Center at (312) 424-9400 or email contact@ache.org.

Taking Time Out for Mental Health Awareness 

Mental illness affects everyone directly or indirectly through family, friends and coworkers, but stigma and misunderstanding about it remain widespread, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. That is why each year during the first week of October, NAMI highlights mental health conditions during Mental Illness Awareness Week. This week coincides with other related events, such as the World Health Organization’s World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10.

Research shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on the mental health of healthcare professionals. Healthcare organizations can help physicians manage the physical, emotional and financial toll of battling the virus with strategies such as easing some of the well-intended regulations that make it harder for physicians to provide care, according to a recent article on HealthcareExecutive.org.

Another article on ACHE’s blog discusses how leaders can nurture workforce resilience during a crisis like the novel coronavirus. Strategies include increasing the visibility of senior leadership throughout the organization to restore any trust lost during the pandemic.