American College of Healthcare Executives

The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) is an international professional association of healthcare executives (high-level hospital administrators, CEOs, COOs, health system officers, etc.) Its central offices are located at 1 N. Franklin Street in Chicago, Illinois, USA. ACHE is one of the healthcare industry's top professional associations. Its President and Chief Executive Officer is Tom Dolan, PhD, FACHE, CAE.

Credentialing
ACHE's credential, the FACHE, is considered the gold standard in the healthcare industry. Since January 1, 2007, healthcare executives who wish to obtain the FACHE credential must fulfill the following:


 * Receive a Master's degree.
 * Be a member of ACHE for at least three years.
 * Have five years of health management experience, which includes any one of the following four criteria: "responsibility for hiring, training or directing others; oversight or participation in a project with budget, staff or other resources; responsible for decisions that affect the acquisition or distribution of resources; a potential to influence overall community health."
 * Pass the Board of Governors exam.
 * Three references from current FACHEs.
 * Forty hours of continuing education credits over five years (which can be obtained via ACHE's self-study program).
 * Community or civic participation.

Divisions
ACHE itself is made up of a number of divisions, including membership, education, research and publications.

Education
Ongoing education for ACHE's affiliates is a key element of ACHE's program. In 2005, these offerings included a two-day conference for Chief Operating Officers, a Canadian seminar offered in partnership with the Canadian College of Health Service Executives, and the ACHE annual congress. Over 4,500 healthcare executives attended the 2006 annual congress.

Publications
Health Administration Press (HAP) is ACHE's publisher. In 2005 HAP sold 54,000 publications, published 18 books, and published 10 issues of their two journals (the Journal of Healthcare Management and Frontiers of Health Services Management).