ALLENTOWN, PA - - As part of the American College of Healthcare Executive's (ACHE) Chapter Management and Awards Program (MAP), 23 national chapters were recently presented with the Award for Chapter Merit. Among those recognized was the Eastern Pennsylvania Healthcare Executives Network (EPAHEN), which currently serves as the regionally chartered ACHE chapter for Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe and Northampton counties.

In order to ensure that ACHE members have convenient, close-to-home opportunities available to them, ACHE established chapters to provide networking, education and career development at the local level. The MAP program is designed to ensure the delivery of these high-quality services.To be selected, chapters must meet certain performance standards for member satisfaction, membership growth and member advancement, educational and networking performance, and advancement of affiliates to ACHE Fellowship (the FACHE® credential). In addition to the Eastern Pennsylvania Healthcare Executives Network, regional ACHE chapters recognized included the Healthcare Executive Forum of Central Pennsylvania, Healthcare Leadership Network of the Delaware Valley, Healthcare Management Forum of Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Twin Tier Healthcare Executive Association.The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) is an international professional society of 30,000 health care executives who lead hospitals, health care systems and other health care organizations. ACHE is known for its prestigious credentialing and educational programs, and its annual Congress on Healthcare Leadership, which draws more than 4,000 participants each year.Currently serving approximately 150 members, EPAHEN is Eastern Pennsylvania's independently chartered chapter of the ACHE. Membership in EPAHEN provides an opportunity for area health care leaders to share experiences, take advantage of networking opportunities, and attend education events presented by local, regional, state and national health care experts. For more information or programs or services offered by EPAHEN, visit

http://epahen.ache.org.