Achieve your career resolutions in 2016

Whether you are a seasoned veteran or new to the field of health care facility management, design or construction, the new year provides an opportunity to consider your career goals.

If you want to get up to speed with certain topics — including waterborne pathogens, infection prevention, health care construction and more — consider taking an ASHE education course. ASHE offers several courses this year and a full calendar is available online.

For those specifically interested in energy management and related issues, ASHE and Schneider Electric provide free online classes through Energy University. To find out more about these educational offerings, visit www.ashe.org and explore the “Events & Education” section of the website.

Certification and other career builders

If you already have several years of experience, consider earning your Certified Healthcare Facility Manager (CHFM) or Certified Healthcare Contractor (CHC) credentials. Professionals with a CHFM or CHC designation tend to earn more money on average than those without the designation. A 2015 salary survey conducted by ASHE, the Association for the Healthcare Environment and Health Facilities Management found that facility managers with a CHFM credential earned an average of $22,000 more than those without. ASHE offers preparation courses for both the CHFM and CHC exams. Learn more about certifications at www.ashe.org/certifications.

Another way to give your career a boost in 2016 is to become a fellow or senior of ASHE. Earning your FASHE or SASHE designation demonstrates your commitment to the profession. To earn senior or fellow status, you must show your contributions to the field through leadership, education and publishing. Find out more about the requirements or apply today at www.ashe.org/designations.

If you’re having trouble determining the next step on your career path, ASHE has just the resources you need. For example, the winter 2015 edition of Inside ASHE focused on career development. ASHE also has a career development Web page where you can find ways to increase your education, engagement and leadership. Explore your possible next career steps at www.ashe.org/resources/careerresources.

Plan to take steps now, and by the time you ring in 2017, you may have something new to add to your résumé.

Deanna Martin is the communications manager at the American Society for Healthcare Engineering.

ASHE INSIGHTS

Important monographs available from ASHE

Following are two recently released monographs that can be accessed by ASHE members as free PDFs at www.ashe.org/resourcelibrary.

• HCAHPS Scores, the Patient Experience, and the Affordable Care Act from the Facility Perspective. This new ASHE monograph explores how the health care physical environment and facility professionals can improve patient satisfaction scores.

• Risk Assessment of Medical Equipment. A key part of the Joint Commission’s environment of care management plans, risk assessments of medical equipment are covered in this new ASHE monograph. It presents a framework for facilities professionals to follow.

Design guidelines available to industry through ASHE

The 2014 editions of the Facility Guidelines Institute’s Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals and Outpatient Facilities and the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Residential Health, Care, and Support Facilities can be purchased at www.ASHEstore.com.