Understanding the value of an HFMA membership for students and professionals

Saginaw Valley State University Professor Marilyn Skrocki recruits 12 student members.

Q. How long have you been an HFMA member and what keeps you renewing?

A. I have been an HFMA member for as long as I have been teaching health administration courses, which is 11 years. HFMA membership is constantly updating and providing a strong product for members. The all-access membership is amazing. Where else can you access online education programs, case studies, podcasts, videos and peer-generated content? Let’s not forget the up-to-date content in the hfm magazine. Since my students also become HFMA members, we can all access such information for online discussions and various assignments.

Q. You recruited 12 college students to become members. How did you go about doing that?

A. Students in our Master of Science Health Administration and Leadership [MSHAL] program are introduced to HFMA through their healthcare finance course. All students are expected to join HFMA as members during the course. Saginaw Valley State University worked with Todd Nelson, HFMA’s director of partner relationships, and Joseph Fifer, FHFMA, CPA, HFMA’s president and CEO, to incorporate the association’s content into our healthcare finance course and MSHAL program.

I know from my past HFMA membership that HFMA is at the front line of equipping new and current healthcare professionals with the knowledge of the ever-changing healthcare finance field. No specific textbook or combination of textbooks could provide such immense and relevant information for the students. The more students appreciate the value of the content, the more students can earn the respected national certification to better prepare them for the healthcare finance job market. Once they see the value of HFMA membership, the more likely they will continue membership after graduation.

Q. What role do you see HFMA playing in developing future healthcare finance leaders?

A. Healthcare administrators, including those whose professional responsibilities lie mostly outside of the finance department, need to understand financial implications of all nonfinance decisions. HFMA provides networking and educational content to individuals interested in a career in healthcare administration, with or without a focus on healthcare financial management.

Joining HFMA would allow students to:

• Develop network affiliations with key healthcare finance personnel
• Identify career opportunities in healthcare finance and its related fields
• Identify and discuss current topics affecting healthcare finance professionals through educational programs and activities
• Understand the benefit of HFMA certifications, what is involved in earning and maintaining certifications

THREE FAST FACTS:

1. Great Lakes Chapter Member
2. American College of Healthcare Executives Board Member
3. American College of Healthcare Executives Education Committee Member