HFMA Academy: the biting point

The HFMA can now boast more than 2,800 hours of online learning with the addition of the new HFMA bitesize courses in healthcare business and finance.

The new HFMA bitesize portfolio – which is due to be unveiled at the HFMA annual conference this month – provides opportunities for NHS staff at all levels to develop a better understanding of key subjects or take steps towards a broader qualification.

The HFMA bitesize approach has been developed in response to demand from the NHS. Increasing numbers of healthcare finance practitioners, clinicians and staff from other disciplines have been signing up to the association’s intermediate (level 4) and advanced (level 7) qualifications in healthcare business and finance.

The HFMA bitesize courses will suit those who wish to learn on a topic-by-topic basis with no time constraints. They enable prospective learners to select specific topics where they want to develop their own or their team’s knowledge and understanding.

The courses also offer a route through to the established HFMA qualifications at intermediate and advanced levels, if desired. The HFMA’s new bitesize courses are available at three levels:

HFMA bitesize short courses, formerly known as HFMA e-learning, typically take three hours to complete. There are 40 courses to choose from, with some tailored specifically for different parts of the UK, and the aim is to give an overview of topic areas such as:

• How NHS providers are paid
• Integrated healthcare
• Budgeting
• Performance management.

Completion of five courses, including an NHS finance overview course, leads to the Introductory award in healthcare finance.

HFMA bitesize intermediate courses are a new offering with 21 courses each taking up to six hours to complete. These courses draw on the material used in the association’s level 4 intermediate qualifications in healthcare business and finance and are aimed at those who may want a deeper understanding of how healthcare finance and business works. There are courses covering funding and structure and others looking specifically at provider and commissioning roles, as well the issue of integration. Other courses look at management skills such as influencing and negotiation or communication and presentation, while a further set looks at issues connected to governance and risk management.

HFMA bitesize advanced courses are another new arrival, with 18 available courses typically taking up to 10 hours to complete. The courses cover material from the association’s masters-level qualifications, covering tools to support decision-making, such as primary sources of comparative data, and the delivery of value in the NHS, which looks at the role of payment systems and importance of measuring outcomes.

The intermediate and advanced courses themselves do not lead to level 4 or level 7 qualifications. But following completion of all the courses that make up a module, a learner would be eligible to complete the relevant qualification module assessment.

The association’s bitesize approach does not include the tutor-taught elements of the HFMA qualifications. There is no support for the development of academic skills and learners would not have ready-made access to a network of other students. However, the ability to
commit in smaller chunks, to spread the costs and to have complete control over when they study may well suit many learners.