In general, a health facility is any place that offers medical services. Small clinics, doctor’s offices, urgent care facilities, big hospitals with sophisticated emergency rooms, and trauma centers are all examples of healthcare facilities.

You might assume that hospital facilities managers must obtain a specialized master’s degree or, at the very least, a bachelor’s degree in facilities to be eligible for their positions. Although they exist,—the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) Foundation maintains a comprehensive list of certified facilities management programs—programs in facilities management are very uncommon, and even fewer expressly apply to healthcare settings. It’s still possible to advance through an apprenticeship or by beginning as a mechanic or janitor and moving up the ranks, even if some hospitals now require higher education and ongoing education for any person in a managerial function. But if your ten-year plan includes becoming a hospital facilities manager, experience, and an associate’s degree in health facilities administration (like the one Owensboro Community and Technical College offers) surely won’t be enough. You’ll also require extra education, such as the continuing education courses offered by the American Society for Health Care Engineering and the Certified Healthcare Facility Manager (CHFM) certificate provided by the American Hospital Association.

When a healthcare administrator who has completed the esteemed CHFM exam by the American Hospital Association is a Certified Healthcare Facility Manager (AHA).

Communication with stakeholders, recording and reporting risk and unfavorable circumstances, and developing processes, policies, and procedures for handling risk and uncertainty are some of the current duties of the healthcare risk manager.

An administrative healthcare expert who manages healthcare facility operations with AHA-approved certification is a Certified Healthcare Facility Manager.