Overview of the Board of Governor’s Exam

“People frequently ask me what do the initials, FACHE, after my name mean. After they hear about board certification and Fellow status in our organization, they are very impressed and recognize that this distinction reflects a level of professionalism similar to members of the Medical Staff who are board certified in their clinical specialty. I am pleased to demonstrate my expertise, experience and commitment to the healthcare field through fellowship in ACHE.”

Jerrold A. Maki, FACHE

Vice President, Clinical Services, Stanford Hospital and Clinics

The Board of Governor’s Exam represents a comprehensive review and assessment of 10 key areas of knowledge:

Governance and Organizational Structure

This area deals with the development and analysis of the organizational structure and with delineating responsibility, authority, and accountability at all levels of the organization. Functions include the development and implementation of policies and procedures for the governance process.

Human Resources

This area deals with assessing the need for and the supply of professional and other personnel. Functions include recruitment, selection, training, compensation, and evaluation of such personnel and examining ways to evaluate productivity and monitor accountability for results.

Finance

This area deals with the planning, development, establishment, analysis, and assessment of financial management processes for an organization’s capital, budget, accounting, and related reporting systems.

Healthcare Technology and Information Management

This covers both management information and clinical information systems, including computer-based support for management, assessing how current technologies and major innovations are changing the way healthcare executives manage, using information systems for short- and long-range planning, using clinical information systems, and information systems acquisitions.

Quality and Performance Improvement

This area deals with the development, implementation, and evaluation of organizational accountability including TQM/CQI programs, quality assessment and assurance philosophies, policies, programs, and procedures.

Laws and Regulations

This area deals with identifying and interpreting the impact of government regulations and law on the organization; identifying the need for and working with others to develop new regulations and laws; investigating, monitoring, documenting, and enforcing existing statutes; and maintaining communication and cooperation with both public and private organizations.

Professionalism and Ethics

Professionalism deals with the development, monitoring, and maintenance of procedures to ensure that the needs of professional staff are met. Ethics includes identifying, monitoring, and disseminating codes of professional conduct; understanding the implications of ethical decisions, providing procedures to monitor standards of behavior within the organization; and determining, maintaining, and monitoring accountability procedures.

Healthcare

This area includes a broad range of organizations and professions involved in the delivery of healthcare. Included are managed care models, healthcare trends, and ancillary services provided.

Management

This area covers general management principles, planning, organizing, directing, and controlling in addressing overall organizational objectives.

Business

Knowledge that pertains to specific areas/concepts of the organization (e.g., marketing, business planning, strategic planning).