September 8, 2017
SVSU first in the nation to offer students Healthcare Financial Professional Certification
Saginaw Valley State University has become the first university in the nation to offer the Certified Healthcare Financial Professional credential when school leaders incorporate this certification into the curriculum this fall. The certification is available to those studying in SVSU's Master of Science in Health Administration and Leadership program.
The certification is made available in collaboration with the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), a national membership organization for healthcare finance professionals.
HFMA President and CEO Joseph J. Fifer, FHFMA, CPA, said the certification program is geared toward healthcare professionals, including clinical and nonclinical leaders, who are seeking to understand the new financial realities of health care.
"In my previous position in a healthcare system, physicians often approached me with questions about financial issues," Fifer said. "I spoke with them one-on-one because there was no structure for this. There is a tremendous unmet need for education in this area for all types of clinicians, and this certification program addresses that."
Marilyn Skrocki, an SVSU professor of health sciences and coordinator of the university's Master of Science in Health Administration and Leadership Program, said the certification will differentiate graduates of the master's degree program and "provide them with the enhanced skills and confidence needed to work in today's dynamic healthcare environment."
The certification program reflects a broad range of business and financial skills. The certification designation is geared toward clinical and health plan leaders as well as finance professionals, including both experienced leaders and those who are new to the field. The program includes two online learning modules that highlight the shift from volume to value in care delivery. The program also features coursework on the intersection among financial data, clinical decision-making, and health plan activities. The certification exam is self-administered online through HFMA.
About SVSU
SVSU is a comprehensive university with more than 90 programs of study for its more than 9,000 students. Located on a suburban campus in Michigan's Great Lakes Bay Region, SVSU is committed to quality teaching in the classroom, field-based learning outside, NCAA Division II athletics and a broad range of academic and extracurricular opportunities for students to excel. For more information, visit svsu.edu.
About HFMA
With more than 38,000 members, the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) is the nation's premier membership organization for healthcare finance leaders. HFMA builds and supports coalitions with other healthcare associations and industry groups to achieve consensus on solutions for the challenges the U.S. healthcare system faces today. Working with a broad cross-section of stakeholders, HFMA identifies gaps throughout the healthcare delivery system and bridges them through the establishment and sharing of knowledge and best practices. We help healthcare stakeholders achieve optimal results by creating and providing education, analysis, and practical tools and solutions. HFMA's mission is to lead the financial management of health care.