Message from AVHAP Treasurer
I recently attended the spring IDN Conference in Orlando, FL, and took advantage of the educational sessions offered to attendees. Reflecting on my notes, one word stood out to me: value. Although each session mentioned value in healthcare, each was referenced through a different lens. Regardless of the topic, it was clear that value has different meanings to different people at different times and can change in the context of various topics. Discovering what a person considers “of value” is critical in communication and finding common ground.
This thought led me to consider the value of belonging to a professional organization such as AHVAP. While we belong to the same organization, what we value from our membership may vary. What I value in my AHVAP membership falls into a few buckets: professional development, networking opportunities, and credibility. This list is likely not the same as yours and that’s OK. As a matter of fact, each member of AHVAP will have a different list of what provides value to them. This is why an organization such as AHVAP must have multiple communication methods, diverse educational opportunities, and various options for members to connect.
Over the last few months, AHVAP has prioritized increasing our communication frequency and channels. This calculated increase is to ensure our members have an opportunity to connect with us in a way they will find value. Whether it is learning about the next micro-certification or hearing about a hot-button topic in healthcare, we want to ensure our members do not miss an opportunity to engage.
Speaking of changes to AHVAP’s education, we increased the variety of programs to include micro-certification. We expanded our offerings to include government agencies such as the CDC and FDA representatives. We have added additional time to our monthly educational events and provide CEs for member participation. Each of these changes aimed to offer educational value in various forms depending on the member’s needs.
Providing multiple ways for our members to connect is important to AHVAP and is also important to our members. We understand that our members have diverse backgrounds and value different ways to connect to each other and to the larger organization. Our monthly newsletter is one way to connect, but also there is opportunity through any of our social media platforms. Other avenues offered by AHVAP include the AHVAP Forum, the monthly district meetings, and AHVAP’s annual meeting.
From a revenue and income perspective, AHVAP is working hard despite difficult economic times to increase membership and diversity our income. In the month of April, the financial breakdown was as follows:
- Total Dues Income: $7,668
- Total Education Income: $4,282
- AHVAP Certification Center Micro-Credentials Income:
- TeamSTEPPS Program: $2,388
- Medical Device Safety: $3,486
- Industry Partnerships: $10,500
As you can see, AHVAP is diligently increasing our offerings to our members to drive even more value for your annual membership.
There are so many ways in which organizations provide value to their members. Since each member will have a different mindset of what they find “of value,” an organization like AHVAP must have multiple ways to engage their membership to ensure they provide this value and continue to be relevant. What do you value in your AHVAP membership?
Sincerely,
Anne Marie Orlando, MBA, RN, RCIS, CVAHP™
Treasurer, Board of Directors
AHVAP
