There are a variety of professional associations that a healthcare manager can use to stay connected to new rules and changes being experienced within the healthcare delivery system. These allow access to changes as they are happening as well as helpful guidelines on how to adhere to the new or changed criteria. Some of these association include:
Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) – With over 40,000 members, the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) is designed primarily for Healthcare Finance Leaders. They work to build and support coalitions alongside healthcare associations and industry groups to achieve consensus on solutions for the challenges facing the healthcare industry. HFMA identifies gaps throughout the healthcare delivery system and creates bridges to establish and share knowledge and best practices. The mission statement for the organization is “leading the financial management of health care”. HFMA works to promote and complete this mission through the following:
- Providing education, analysis, and guidance to those in the field
- Building and supporting coalitions with other healthcare associations to provide accurate representation of the healthcare finance profession
- Educating key industry decision-makers on the intricacies and realities of maintaining fiscally healthy healthcare organizations
- Work with a cross-section of stakeholders in order to improve the healthcare industry identifying and bridging gaps in knowledge, best practices, and standards
The American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM) – The AAHAM is a professional organization in healthcare administrative management for information, education and advocacy in the areas of reimbursement, admitting and registration, data management, medical records and patient relations. AAHAM was founded in 1968 as the American Guild of Patient Account Management, with the goal to serve the interests of hospital patient account managers. Since the associations inception it has evolved into a national association representing a broad-based constituency of healthcare professionals. One of the primary goals of the association is the professional development of its members. Publications, conferences and seminars, professional certification and networking opportunities offered by AAHAM provide opportunities for increasing the skills and knowledge to function effectively in today’s health care environment.
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) – The AHIMA provides knowledge, resources and tools to advance health information professional practice and standards for the delivery of quality healthcare. AHIMA is the premier association of health information management professionals worldwide. Currently there are 52 state associations and more than 101,000 health information professionals connecting through AHIMA. The association was founded in 1928 with the mission to improve health record quality, AHIMA has played a major leadership role in the evolving management of health data and medical records.
American Public Health Association (APHA) – The American Public Health Association (APHA) is a Washington, D.C. based professional organization for public health professionals. Founded in 1872 by a group of physicians, APHA has more than 30,000 members worldwide. The association defines itself as being “the oldest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world.” With a mission (as stated by the APHA) to “protect all Americans and their communities from preventable, serious health threats and strives to assure that community-based health promotion and disease prevention activities and preventative health services are universally accessible in the United States”.
These are a just a few of the many professional associations and organization available to professionals in the HCM field. There are a range of associations that provide support to professionals in the healthcare management field.