FACHE study plan
FACHE · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Business Skills and Knowledge
Map the Domain 5 blueprint into budget/finance, operations, and strategy subtopics
Compute and interpret a break-even volume for a hypothetical service line
Build a one-page formula sheet covering contribution margin, days cash on hand, and payer mix
Draft 10 original recall prompts on cost accounting and capital budgeting
Your checkpoint
Formula sheet plus a scored 10-question self-quiz (target 70% or higher)
Business Skills and Knowledge
Work through 20 original practice items on budgeting and variance analysis
Explain how capital budgeting decisions differ from operating budgets in a written paragraph
Compare fee-for-service and value-based payment mechanics from memory
Identify and log three personal weak spots for later review
Your checkpoint
Error log listing every missed item with the underlying concept and a corrective note
Knowledge of the Healthcare Environment
Outline the major payer types and how each reimburses providers
Summarize key regulatory frameworks (licensure, accreditation, fraud and abuse) in your own words
Diagram the flow of a patient through a hospital revenue cycle
List five current healthcare delivery trends and their operational implications
Your checkpoint
One-page annotated diagram of payer-to-provider payment flows
Knowledge of the Healthcare Environment
Complete 25 original practice items across Domain 4 subtopics
Recite the difference between Medicare and Medicaid eligibility from memory
Explain population health and community benefit requirements in a short written summary
Review all flagged items from weeks 1-3
Your checkpoint
Timed 25-item Domain 4 practice set with a score and review notes
Leadership
Distinguish leadership theories and apply each to a healthcare scenario
Write three original situational-judgment vignettes and justify the best response
Describe change-management steps using a concrete hospital example
Draft a personal approach to physician engagement and conflict
Your checkpoint
Three written case analyses, each one page, with a chosen action and rationale
Leadership & Communication and Relationship Management
Practice delivering a two-minute persuasive message to a governing board
Identify communication styles and match them to stakeholder scenarios
Review negotiation and conflict-resolution tactics with worked examples
Complete 20 original practice items split between Domains 1 and 2
Your checkpoint
Recorded or written two-minute board pitch plus a scored 20-item practice set
Professionalism
Summarize the professional and ethical obligations of a healthcare executive
Apply an ethical decision framework to two original dilemmas
Explain governance structures and board fiduciary duties from memory
Review continuing-education and credentialing expectations
Your checkpoint
Two written ethical-dilemma analyses using a stated decision framework
Communication and Relationship Management & Leadership & Professionalism & Knowledge of the Healthcare Environment & Business Skills and Knowledge
Take a full-length timed mock exam weighted to the blueprint
Review every missed item and re-teach the underlying concept
Re-drill the weakest subtopics identified across all weeks
Confirm logistics and test-day strategy
Your checkpoint
Full mock exam score report with a remediation list and final readiness rating
Milestones
Week 2: Score 70% or higher on the Domain 5 practice set and show an error log with at least three logged weak spots
Week 4: Score 70% or higher on the Domain 4 timed set and confirm all weeks 1-3 flagged items were re-reviewed
Week 6: Complete the board-pitch deliverable and score 70% or higher on the combined Domain 1-2 set
Week 8: Achieve 75% or higher on the full mock exam and produce a written final readiness rating