Transcript Completing the Certification Process

The
American College
of
Healthcare Architects
(ACHA)
College Member
Board Certification Process
Board Certification for Architects who
practice as healthcare specialists in the
U.S. and Canada
 Recognized by the American Institute of Architects
as specialty certification program
 Began in 1999; close to 400 members
 Structure:
1. Founding members (prior to 2001)
2. College members (you!)
3. Fellowship members (5 years exemplary
performance and ACHA nominated/elected)
4. Emeritus members (non-practicing Fellows)
ACHA’s Vision
 To be the organizational voice of architects with
healthcare facility competence
ACHA’s Mission
 Credentials: Offer architects Board certification within
the specialized field of healthcare architecture
 Leadership: Members that advance knowledge and
serve the public in matters of HC planning, design,
delivery, efficacy
 Community: Provide members networking, educational
and marketplace opportunities
ACHA’s Milestones
ACHA Guides
ACHA Executive Office
(913) 895-4604
[email protected]
http://www.healtharchitects.org
Five Steps to ACHA certification:
1. Meet the Experience requirements

Practice as a Licensed architect for at least 5 years; majority of the
applicant’s full-time practice is within the specialty of healthcare facilities
for at least 3 of last 5 years
Current license in at least 1 State, U.S. possessions or Canada
_______________________________

2. Complete application
3. Secure (6) Letter of Recommendation (with application)
4. Submit a Portfolio (with application)
_______________________________
5. Pass the Exam
Step 2. Application

There are (6) sections:
I. General information
II. Qualifications (license)
III. Experience
IV. Previous Practice/Non-traditional practice narrative
(optional)
V. Reference Letters
 3 letters of recommendation from architects not in
firm where employed
 3 letters of reference from healthcare clients (can
be different individuals from the same provider)
VI. Portfolio
III. D
EXPERIENCE: Project Experience
Project Name/Location
Describe Your
Role
Phone Number and Position of
Project Contact
Date of
Project
Completion
Total Cost:
Construction (C)
Project (P)
Meriter Hospital
Madison, WI
Medical Planner
Gerard Rabas P.E.,Construction
Manager
Meriter Hospital
Madison, WI 53715
608-267-6572
Est. 2012
(C) $45.5 million (several
projects)
(P) $61.5 million
Mercy Health System
Walworth Medical Center
Expansion,
Walworth, WI
Medical Planner
David Kurtz, Vice President
1000 Mineral Point Avenue
P.O. Box 503
Janesville, WI 53547
Est. 2010
(C) $50 million
(P) $65 million
St. Luke’s Iowa Health System
Surgery Center,
Sioux City, IA
Medical Planner
Project Architect
John Green
Director Facilities & Engineering
St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center
Sioux City, IA
712-279-3536
Est. Dec.
2009
(C) $9.8 million
(P) $12.25 million
Owatonna Hospital and Clinc
Expansion
Owatonna, MN
Medical Planner
David Albrecht
Director Operations & Finance
Allina Health System
Owatonna, MN
507-455-7646
Est. Dec.
2009
(C) $46 million
(P) $58.5 million
University of Minnesota
Veterinary Imaging Medical
Center,
St. Paul, MN
Project Manager
Project Architect
Construction
Administration
Pete Nickel, Project Manager
Capital Planning & Project
Management
University of Minnesota,
Minneapolis, MN
612-626-0861
January 2008
(C) $1.6 million
(P) $3.0 million
Sample Section III. Experience
Reference Letters




Send a request
Set a deadline
Send a draft letter
Follow-up!
Dear - - - - :
Thank you for agreeing to provide me with a letter of
recommendation for my application for certification for
the American College of Healthcare Architects.
The application states that "the letters of reference
must contain specific language that indicates
the referring architect (or healthcare client) believes the
applicant to be qualified for ACHA Board certification".
January 1, 2010
American College of Healthcare Architects
c/o Mary Smith, AIA, LEED AP
A1 Architects, Inc.
111 Washington Avenue North
Chicago, IL 98765-4321
Subject: Reference Letter for Mary Smith
Sample Architect
Reference Letter
(consultant)
Dear College members:
This letter is written as an endorsement for Mary Smith in her
membership application to the American College of Healthcare Architects
(ACHA).
Ms. Smith worked with ABCD & Associates as the medical planner for St.
John’s Surgery Center Expansion, a 33,600SF, $10 million Surgery Center
remodeling project, from fall 2007 through 2008. Ms. Smith works well
with the team members that are involved in healthcare work; she
understands their needs and works towards the best design solution
possible. She is well organized, and is familiar with the many technical
details required in hospital design. She ensures that the requirements of
applicable codes and regulatory agencies are met.
- - - add here or revise the above - - - In conclusion, I recommend Ms. Smith for membership in the ACHA
based on my experience working with her on this project.
Sincerely yours,
September 10, 2008
American College of Healthcare Architects
c/o Mary Smith, AIA, LEED AP
A1 Architects, Inc.
111 Washington Avenue North
Chicago, IL 98765-4321
Subject: Reference Letter for Mary Smith
Sample Architect
Reference Letter
(former co-worker)
Dear College members:
This letter is written as an endorsement for Mary Smith in her
membership application to the American College of Healthcare Architects
(ACHA). I have known Mary for the past fifteen years and have had the
opportunity to work directly with her on a variety of projects.
Ms. Smith works well with the variety of team members that are involved
in healthcare work, and is adept at listening to them, understanding their
needs, and working towards the best design solution possible. She also
ensures that the requirements of applicable codes and regulatory
agencies are met. ABC’s Healthcare campus presented a complex mix of
providers; Mary’s healthcare knowledge and dedicated efforts
contributed to the successful completion of this project starting with local
governance submittals through construction administration, and finishing
with post-occupancy evaluations.
In conclusion, Ms. Smith is well qualified for ACHA Board certification,
and I recommend her for membership based on my experience working
with her.
Sincerely yours,
3. Portfolio

Include no more than (9 ) projects from past 5 years (if
projects are older than 5 years submit and attach an
explanation)

Acceptable to use marketing project sheets, project plans and
photographs

Intent: A demonstration of your knowledge/healthcare facility
competence

Sample of portfolio is available on-line:
go to http://www.healtharchitects.org and click on
“Certification” then click on application/study materials
Sample Portfolio sheet
Sample Portfolio sheet
Sample Portfolio sheet
Completed Applications

Submit:
A. (1) Copy of original application & portfolio
bound in 8 ½” X 11” loose-leaf format
B. (1) CD containing all of the application and
portfolio pages saved in Adobe .pdf

Fees: $150 Application; $250 Exam
Application Deadlines
Application deadline is (60) days prior to Exam dates

March Examination Cycle
Application Deadline: December 31
Exam dates: March 1 thru 31st
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June Examination Cycle:
Application Deadline: March 31
Exam dates: June 1 thru June 30th

September Examination Cycle
Application Deadline: June 30
Exam dates: September 1 thru 30th
4. Exam Preparation

Upon acceptance of application, the ACHA Executive Office
sends via e-mail examination scheduling instructions

Eligible Candidates have (1) year to take the examination

Candidate Handbook: All about the Exam (reading list)


ACHA Planning & Programming
Workshops (check website)
Practice Exam (50) questions; $50
http://www.healtharchitects.org

Find a mentor; contact the
ACHA office
Exam Content Areas
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Planning
Programming
Design
Documentation
Construction Admin
Post Construction
20
19
27
17
11
6
Total: 100 questions
Exam Resource List

Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospital and Health
Care Facilities Facility Guidelines Institute, American Institute of
Architects, Academy of Architecture for Health., current edition.

National Fire Protection Association. Specific codes and standards
include: NFPA 101: Life Safety Code current edition.
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Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines
for Buildings and Facilities. 36 CFR 1191, Washington, DC:
Government Printing Office, current edition

Planning, Design, and Construction of Health Care Facilities,
Joint Commission Resources, Oakbrook Terrace, IL, current edition
As listed on the ACHA Website: http://www.healtharchitects.org
Planning and Programming
Planning & Programming: 39% of the Exam!
Planning
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Strategic Planning
Feasibility
Site and Facilities Master Planning
Programming
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Program (multipliers) NSF to DGSF to BGSF
Adjacency of Departments
Work Flow & Process
Industry standards and direction
Design and Documentation
Design
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Facilities Code Research
Space Requirements and Adjacencies
Room Data Sheets
Equipment Planning
Documentation
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Contracts
Construction Documents
Specifications
Construction Admin and
Post Construction
Construction Administration
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Government Review
Issue Changes
Review Owner Provided Equipment
Post Construction Services
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Commissioning
Post Occupancy Evaluation
Research and Development
4. Exam Preparation
Helpful hints . . .

Read questions carefully to decipher what is being asked
prior to reading answers
 All questions are based on the Detailed Content Outline in
the Candidate Handbook
 ACHA Website (go to: home/application/study materials)
“Helpful hints for the ACHA Exam”
Exam Format
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110 questions (10 not scored)
(The 10 not scored are being tested prior to their use
in future exams; data is collected on number of
correct answers over 1 year of exams)
All Options (A, B, C, D) are plausible

(2) hour time limit
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Score automatically generated after hitting ‘send’ !
Question Types
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Recall/recognition of specific factual information
20
Application: comprehension, interpretation or
manipulation of concepts or data; basic calculations
or finding relationships between concepts
45
Analysis: integration of a variety of concepts to solve
a problem; an understanding of the variables will
provide the correct answer
35
Total: 100
Exam Question 1
When considering the design for
information systems in any inpatient or
outpatient healthcare project, the
acronym EMR refers to:
A. Equipment Management Roster
B. Electronic Medical Record
C. Emergency Medical Response
D. Electrical Maintenance Report
Exam Question 2
Which of the following design criteria is
LEAST important in planning a pediatric
critical care unit?
A. Visibility of the Patient
B. Ability to Accommodate Patient Families
C. Access to Patient Toilets
D. Ability to Accommodate Crisis
Interventions
Exam Question 3
The frozen section component of a
laboratory is often located in close
proximity to which of the following?
A. Blood Bank
B. Surgery
C. Imaging
D. Emergency
Exam Question 4
According to the Life Safety Code, which
of the following conditions is NOT
required to allow occupancy of new
construction or an existing building that
is in violation of the Life Safety Code?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A plan of correction has been approved.
A fire watch has been instituted.
The occupancy classification remains the same.
No serious life safety hazard exists as judged by
the AHJ.
Exam Question 5
The Emergency Dept. staff have stated
that they do not have sufficient space
as evidenced by patients and
equipment located in the corridor. The
architect should first
A. review volume and capacity data
B. study expansion options
C. propose fast track care unit
D. assess clinical decision unit length of stay
Exam Question 6
In the programming analysis of spaces in
a hospital, which of the following
conditions present the most significant
operational challenges?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Surgery separated from SICU
C-section separated from OB Unit
Pathology separated from Surgery
Emergency separated from Imaging
A.
B.
C.
D.
1, 2, and 3 only
1, 2, and 4 only
1, 3, and 4 only
2, 3, and 4 only
Exam Question 7
A common departmental adjacency
relationship would be to locate a Clinical
Decision Unit (CDU) adjacent to which of
the following departments:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Surgery
Medical records
Emergency
Nursing units
Exam Question 8
Which is one of the most dynamic
components for staffing of a 125 bed
suburban community hospital due to
cyclical demand?
A. intensive care
B. emergency
C. ambulatory surgery
D. imaging
Exam Question 9
When designed a rural Critical Access Hospital,
which of the following is the most important
aspect of the plan?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Efficient use of professional staff
Lower maintenance costs
Outpatient access
Helipad location on site
Exam Question 10
Per the Guidelines negative air pressure is
found in which of the following rooms?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Emergency Triage Room
Emergency Waiting Room
Operating Rooms
Patient Toilet Room
A. 1, 2, and 3 only
B. 1, 2, and 4 only
C. 1, 3, and 4 only
D. 2, 3, and 4 only
Exam Question 11
Nuclear Imaging scans typically allow
observations of which of the
following?
A. Brain activity thru electronic physiological
monitoring
B. Ambulatory EKG recorded over a 24 hour period
C. EEG & EKG monitoring via both video & audio
monitoring
D. Cardiovascular performance through monitoring
& SPECT (single proton emission computed
tomography)
Exam Question 12
Vibration considerations must be usually
considered in the ceiling mounted
equipment for which types of surgery?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Neurological
Ophthalmic
Oral
Cardiovascular
A. 3 and 4 only
B. 2 and 4 only
C. 1 and 2 only
D. 1 and 3 only
Exam Question 13
What is the maximum allowable
area for a smoke compartment in
a hospital?
A. 21,500
B. 22,000
C. 22,500
D. 23,000
Exam Question 14
An existing two-story hospital is adding
more patient beds. When preparing an
analysis to determine whether to expand
vertically or horizontally, which of the
following should be done first?
A. Evaluate potential disruptions.
B. Confirm the existing structural capacity.
C. Determine exiting requirements.
D. Analyze sharing of utility services.
Exam Question 15
At the completion of a large project to provide
inpatient beds, all the final project documents
have been collected. The air balance for bone
marrow transplant patient rooms is neutral with
12 air changes per hour. The architect should
instruct the contractor to
A. decrease air changes.
B. adjust for positive air balance.
C. adjust for negative air balance.
D. increase air changes.
Continuing Education
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Passing the test: (20) HSW AIA CEU’s
ACHA Members are required to maintain (18) CEU/year; (12)
hours must be healthcare related
The AIA CEU form is acceptable for submission
Questions ?
ACHA Executive Office
(913) 895-4604
[email protected]
http://www.healtharchitects.org
Sample Question Answers
1. B
2. C
3. B
4. B
5. A
6. B
7. C
8. B
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
A
B
D
C
C
B
B