Chapter partnership with OU drives student engagement

In just over two years, a partnership between the HFMA Oklahoma Chapter and the University of Oklahoma (OU) Hudson College of Public Health has not only enhanced students’ healthcare finance education but also helped 54 of those students earn the Certified Specialist in Payment and Reimbursement (CSPR) certification.

Bringing HFMA certifications to local university curriculum

In that time frame, OU student members of HFMA earned a total of 62 HFMA certifications, which included others besides CSPR available to them through their membership. Students enrolled in the OU MHA program are required to pass only HFMA’s CSPR certification exam, which is complementary to the university’s Managed Care and Integrated Systems course.

The course is taught by university lecturer Ann Paul, DrPH, MPH, who has required students pass the certification exam as part of the curriculum since the fall semester of 2023. The initiative is growing, with Paul’s colleague in the MHA program, Ganisher Davlyatov, PhD, requiring students to achieve Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR) certification as part of his course on health information systems this coming fall.

“Resources offered by organizations such as HFMA are integral to student education because much of what we do in healthcare relies upon understanding the finance side,” said Paul, a retired healthcare executive who has been an HFMA member since 1995.

Securing HFMA chapter resources

Paul connected with Chapter leadership on ways to have students join HFMA so they could complete the certification and asked for financial support because the school has a policy of not paying for this type of membership. The cost per student membership is $50.

Tyler Bernier, FHFMA, CPA, partner, Eide Bailly LLP, Oklahoma City, and an Oklahoma Chapter Committee Chair, said the Chapter was already having discussions about leveraging scholarships for student engagement when Paul’s request was received.

“This opportunity fit well with a concerted effort we were developing to improve student involvement with the Chapter,” said Bernier.

As the certification initiative evolves, the Chapter is seeking ways to increase student engagement with its activities and events. Current tactics under discussion include discounted or complimentary conference access for students, recognition opportunities and identification of individual student interests to increase involvement.