Todd Norwood, PT, DPT, recently took part in the CAHL Board of Governors exam prep and earned his FACHE. Todd is Senior Director of Clinical Services at Omada Health
How do you see the FACHE credential helping you as a healthcare leader in the future?
Leadership is a craft that requires a commitment to continuous learning to hone one’s skill. The process of earning the FACHE credential required that I increased both the depth and breadth of my knowledge as a leader which I am certain will improve my ability to lead today and in the future. I view the credential as similar to my clinical board certifications in orthopedic and sports physical therapy, in that it communicates to others, both peers and prospective employers, that I possess a certain level of knowledge and expertise in the area and a commitment to professional growth.
What advice do you have for members who are on the fence about pursuing the FACHE credential?
Warren Buffett has been quoted as saying: “The most important investment you can make is in yourself.” If you are serious about investing in yourself as a leader, the process of preparing for the BOG exam will be an investment that has a very strong ROI because you will gain knowledge that you can apply in your current role and will prepare you for future roles. The other important piece is that the time commitment required is manageable, if you’re willing to commit to doing a little bit every day.
Could you share a helpful insight or learning that you got from the BOG prep sessions that you wouldn’t have had without them?
The test taking techniques were very helpful. I have taken plenty of standardized tests in my life, but I had never considered approaching test questions in the fashion described. Also it was helpful to work through some of the example questions live to see that approach demonstrated.
Share with us your most helpful study tip:
I used AI, specifically NotebookLM from Google (it’s free!), to support my studying. I found it to be an incredibly powerful tool. It was helpful in pulling key themes from content, generating “study guides” and some thought-provoking questions and it even has the ability to create a “podcast” discussing the content, so I was able to listen to content while traveling or doing mundane tasks like dishes or laundry.
How did CAHL and the BOG sessions help in your preparation?
The CAHL BOG prep sessions were an invaluable resource as I prepared to take the BOG exam. I would compare the prep sessions to having a tour guide to point you in the right direction and help to optimize your experience when you are visiting a new place. It would have been easy to be overwhelmed by the vastness of the knowledge areas on the BOG exam, but the prep sessions provided structure and guidance that helped me feel more comfortable with what I needed to know as I prepared for the exam. I feel it allowed me to more effectively identify my areas of relative strength and weakness in the knowledge areas and build my study plan accordingly. I also appreciated the format of the prep sessions as they were long enough to review each knowledge area in sufficient detail and yet short enough to fit into a busy schedule.
What other resources do you recommend to people on this path?
ACHE BOG Exam Flashcards, The Well-Managed Healthcare Organization, and Financial Intelligence for very accessible descriptions and examples of the financial concepts (e.g. financial statements and ratios)