The Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE) of the American Hospital Association (AHA) announces a new certificate program for strategic leaders in healthcare that will teach advanced skills in value analysis and in determining total cost of ownership for products and equipment.
 
Value-based Product Evaluation & Implementation (VPEI) is a certificate of mastery program designed for leaders in environmental services, supply chain, and other aspects of healthcare who purchase or recommend products and equipment, and who participate or contribute to value analysis team work. The program sets a new standard of excellence with respect to procurement and change management in healthcare.
 
The VPEI curriculum is built around four core competencies, and is structured to help participants cultivate and demonstrate their ability to analyze, evaluate, influence, and justify cleaning and disinfection decisions (products & processes) that impact patient safety and quality of care. The 2-day face-to-face instructor-led workshop uses multiple modalities including classroom instruction, video, games, small group discussion, hands-on activities, and take-away tools to allow learners the opportunity to process and apply the concepts and skills being taught.

“The VPEI certificate program is unique in that it’s designed around a real-life example of a director at a facility creating an actionable plan for change based on the principles of value analysis,” says AHE president Pam Toppel. “Participants learn to identify credible research and data to make a sound purchasing decision and craft an evidence-based proposal to influence targeted key stakeholders and value analysis team members.”
 
Upon completion of VPEI Certificate of Mastery Program, participants will be equipped to: 
• Analyze available data regarding products, techniques, and technologies to inform decision making. 
• Evaluate a product, technique, or technology for budgetary, operational, and cultural fit within their facility. 
• Influence stakeholders to support cleaning/disinfection recommendations using communication best practices. 
• Justify cleaning and disinfection decisions, balancing data-driven outcomes with strategic initiatives. 
 
AHE launched the strategic leadership series to enable today’s healthcare supervisors, managers, and directors to lead with confidence in the fast-paced and ever-changing field of healthcare. AHE Executive Director Patti Costello notes, “Healthcare has changed dramatically in the last five years, where reimbursements are increasingly tied to clinical outcomes. To be relevant in today’s healthcare environment, professionals must become experts of their domain; strategic in nature, and ready to drive change in their organizations. A certificate of mastery in VPEI validates and strengthens existing skills, and teaches a new holistic approach to operations from a cost, quality, and outcomes perspective.”
 
The VPEI certificate program will be offered starting in April 2018.
 
For complete information on the VPEI certificate, visit 