CHCE Candidate Overview – National Association for Home Care & Hospice

Testimonials

The HHFMA Mentorship program has provided me with a great professional relationship with someone outside of my own organization. My mentor has been a great sounding board and someone I can reach out to as for insight and guidance related to professional development, speaking opportunities, educational resources and especially career aspirations. We often work together to discuss both financial and regulatory changes that will impact the home health and/or hospice industries. I cannot stress enough the value I have received being in the HHFMA Mentorship program and plan to become a mentor myself.
Mike Simione, Director of Cost Reports, SimiTree Healthcare Consulting
Through the HHFMA Mentorship program I have had several formal and informal conversations with my assigned mentor. This has provided the opportunity to evaluate and achieve my career goals within the industry – like being appointed to the HHFMA Workgroup. The knowledge I have gained since joining the industry has been extensive and the HHFMA Mentorship program has played a major role in my career development. I will continue to contribute to the success of this initiative, including becoming a mentor myself.
RJ Gagnon, CFO, Androscoggin Home Health and Hospice
One of the most significant benefits of joining a professional organization, like NAHC, is the opportunity it provides to either be a mentor or to find one. As a previous “mentoree,” I am a huge advocate for the NAHC Mentorship program. I was blessed to gain Carolyn Fleistra as a mentor. Carolyn offered me the ability to learn the industry and association from someone who had worked in the industry at the executive level for years and someone who had been involved in the organization at a high level. She shared her experiences, shared tips, ensured I knew where to be, and above all, gave me a sense of belonging. I highly encourage anyone to seek mentorship
Summer Napier, President, Healing Hands Healthcare, LLC
When I first became a homecare executive, my predecessor and first home health & hospice mentor advised me to join HHFMA. “And never miss the Finance conference!” It was fantastic advice. The HHFMA has been a great source of current information over my career, and its mentoring program was a terrific additional benefit. I was fortunate to be assigned a wonderful mentor, Marcylle Combs. She answered my questions, introduced me to others, and helped me navigate all the resources available to members through NAHC and the HHFMA. I’ve also really enjoyed mentoring others over the years. If you are new to the HHFMA, a mentor can help you optimize your membership. If you are experienced, serving as a mentor is a wonderful way to give back to the homecare and hospice community.
Carolyn Flietstra BSN RN, Executive Vice President (Retired), Christian Living Services

CHCE Candidate Information

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) is a professional trade association representing the interests of providers and consumers of in-home health and supportive services, including acute, long-term and terminal care. To meet the needs of its members and the consumer population, NAHC is committed to promoting quality leadership of home care and hospice organizations. In support of this mission, NAHC offers, through its affiliate, Home Care University (HCU), a comprehensive certification program for credentialing home care and hospice executives, designated by the initials, CHCE* (Certified Home Care & Hospice Executive).

Why is Credentialing Important?

Quality leadership by the home care or hospice executive is necessary to develop an effective framework to support the two organization’s mission and purpose. Credentialing home care and hospice executives is also important during this time of increased public scrutiny and rapid growth in the number of home care and hospice providers. Certification of home care and hospice executives provides the home care community with a mechanism to establish credentials, acknowledge experience and career involvement, and define a body of knowledge for individuals in leadership positions in home care and hospice organizations.

What Does Certification Mean?

Certification represents achievement of a gold standard of knowledge for the operation of a home care or hospice organization. It signifies that the individual has attained a defined level of education, experience and knowledge. Certified individuals may use the initials CHCE behind their names. CHCE is a trademark of NAHC and Home Care University. Its use is strictly limited to those who successfully complete the application and testing process. Unauthorized users will be prosecuted.

What Are the Advantages of a Certification Program?

To the Home Care Community

Certification provides the opportunity to define the profession of home care and hospice executives by establishing and maintaining a uniform standard.
The certification program encourages continuing education and professional development of home care and hospice executives, which contributes to continuous improvement in home care leadership.

To the Consumer

The certification program facilitates the delivery of quality home care and hospice services through promoting standards for professionals who lead organizations that provide such services.
Certification is a symbol to the public that the individual has attained a defined level of education, experience, and knowledge.

To the Individual

Certification provides national recognition to home care and hospice executives who successfully meet the requirements for education, experience, knowledge, and professional conduct of the CHCE program.
Certification may provide enhanced career opportunities as employers recognize that certification represents professional commitment, motivation, and competency in a defined body of knowledge.

What are the Key Areas of Practice?

Home care and hospice executives set expectations, develop plans, manage, assess, improve, and maintain their organization’s activities. The areas of practice span finance, reimbursement, legal and regulatory issues, organization planning and management, human resources, quality and risk management, public relations and marketing, ethics, and information management. Home care and hospice executives use a comprehensive approach in the management and coordination of staff to provide efficient and effective home care and hospice services.

What are the Requirements to Become Certified?

Completed and signed application
Documentation of eligibility requirements
Attestation to adhere to NAHC Code of Ethics
Payment of application fees
Approval of the Application
Successful Completion of the Certification Exam

The purpose of the CHCE examination is to test the candidate’s knowledge in areas related to the job functions performed by home care and hospice executives. Candidates who meet the education and experience requirements must successfully complete the certification examination.

Who is Eligible to Take the Certification Exam?

The CHCE program and examination are intended for individuals in leadership positions in home care and hospice provider organizations and related* organizations.

Home care provider organizations include:

Home health care
Hospice
Support care
Personal care
Home infusion therapy

* Home care and hospice-related organizations include:

Home care/hospice consultant organizations
Home care/hospice regulatory organizations
Home care/hospice accreditation organizations
State home care associations

Note: Staffing agencies and durable medical equipment (DME) companies are not included.

Eligibility requirements vary with the applicant’s education background. Once eligibility is determined, candidates will receive approval from Home Care University and may proceed with test registration.

To determine eligibility:

Managers and executives in provider organizations should use Chart I (below).
Managers, executives, and surveyors in related organizations should use Chart II (below).

EDUCATION	YEARS EXPERIENCE IN HOME CARE/ HOSPICE PROVIDER ORGANIZATION	EXECUTIVE LEVEL EXPERIENCE HOME CARE/HOSPICE	MANAGEMENT LEVEL EXPERIENCE HOME CARE/HOSPICE
Master’s Degree	Three years	12 consecutive months full time within the last 3 years	24 consecutive months full time
Bachelor’s Degree	Four years	18 consecutive months full time within the last 3 years	30 consecutive months full time within the last 4 years
Associate Degree or professional licensure in a health-related field	Five years	24 consecutive months full time within the last 3 years	36 consecutive months full time within the last 4 years
*The executive or management position in home care or hospice must have included a majority of the activities and responsibilities in the areas listed. Full time means FTE 1800 work hours equals one year.

EDUCATION	PAST EXECUTIVE OR SENIOR MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE IN PROVIDER ORGANIZATION*	**LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE IN HOME CARE/HOSPICE RELATED ORGANIZATION
Master’s Degree	36 consecutive months full time equivalent within the last 6 years	36 months (†full time equivalent) within the last 4 years
Bachelor’s Degree	48 consecutive months full time equivalent within the last 8 years	48 months (†full time equivalent) within the last 5 years
Associate Degree or professional licensure in a health-related field	60 consecutive months full time equivalent within the last 10 years	60 months (†full time equivalent) within the last 6 years
Executive or Senior Management level experience must have included a majority of the activities and responsibilities in the areas listed. *May be fulfilled by home care experience to the extent the experience falls within the allowable time frame. †Full time means FTE 1800 work hours equals one year.