What are healthcare associations?

Healthcare associations are professional organizations for employers, facilities or individuals in the medical industry. They may educate and connect members, publish guidance or represent members’ interests in public policy discussions.

Healthcare associations usually serve individuals or organizations with shared specialties, roles and professional interests. For example, the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) serves rural hospitals and clinics, while the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) includes professionals and facilities that provide healthcare to children.

The missions of healthcare organizations vary. They may:

• Lobby lawmakers on healthcare-related issues
• Facilitate conversations about important health topics
• Publish research journals to educate members and other healthcare professionals
• Certify medical professionals based on established criteria
• Issue health or medical guidelines for the public or members
• Set practice standards for members
• Provide continuing education opportunities
• Help members resolve common challenges

Professional medical associations establish their own membership rules and guidelines and are overseen by executive teams and boards of directors or trustees.

How do healthcare associations benefit employers?

Professional healthcare associations can benefit employers by providing:

• Advocacy: Some organizations lobby government officials to represent the interests of hospitals and other facilities.
• Networking: Facility leaders can use association networking events to build relationships with healthcare organizations, suppliers and partners. You might also find opportunities to join projects and task forces with other healthcare companies.
• Support: Associations may share resources on common operational challenges, including digital patient records, insurance claims and staff burnout.
• Recruiting and hiring: Professional association events may help employers meet administrators and medical professionals who are interested in new opportunities.
• Industry updates: Many associations publish resources and host workshops to communicate new medical, technological and regulatory developments that affect members.

How can employers support association membership?

Employers may encourage voluntary membership in relevant associations. Participation can give employees access to:

• Practice resources: Associations may publish standards, research summaries and educational resources that members can apply within their professional scope.
• Regulatory awareness: Many healthcare associations alert members to regulatory developments and point them to official guidance.
• Professional development: Associations may offer continuing education, publications, conferences and certification programs.

To encourage employees to join professional associations, consider covering the membership dues and the costs of training, continuing education or conference travel.

What healthcare associations exist by role and organization type?

The following examples are organized by facility type, profession and specialty. Confirm current membership requirements and services with each association.

Associations for medical facilities

These organizations support specific types of medical organizations, facilities and employers:

• National Rural Health Association (NRHA) for facilities and individuals providing care in rural areas
• American Hospital Association (AHA) for hospitals and healthcare networks
• National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) for health centers, primary care associations and health center networks
• National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC) for clinics and pharmacies
• National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) for clinics in rural and underserved communities
• Mobile Healthcare Association for mobile clinics

Associations for financial management in healthcare

These organizations provide the resources to help facilities manage finances effectively:

• Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) for financial managers
• National Association of Healthcare Revenue Integrity (NAHRI) for professionals involved in revenue integrity
• Healthcare Business Management Association (HBMA) for revenue cycle professionals
• Home Health and Hospice Financial Managers Association (HHFMA) for financial managers and leaders

Associations for healthcare IT and technology

As more facilities integrate cloud systems, digital patient records and advanced technologies, these associations provide updates, resources and continuing education:

• American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) for data and informatics professionals
• College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) for digital health leaders
• Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) for health information and technology professionals

Associations for physicians

The American Medical Association (AMA) serves physicians and medical students. The National Medical Association (NMA) represents physicians and other medical professionals.

You might also encourage physicians to join healthcare associations for individual specialties, including:

• American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)
• American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)
• American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS)
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
• American Association of Immunologists (AAI)
• American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS)
• American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)
• American College of Surgeons (ACS)
• American Optometric Association (AOA)
• American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA)
• American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
• American Society of Hematology (ASH)
• American Urological Association (AUA)
• Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA)
• Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO)
• National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME)
• Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU)
• American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
• American College of Physicians (ACP)

Organizations for nurses

The American Nurses Association (ANA) represents registered nurses in the U.S. and provides advocacy, professional development and practice resources.

Your nurses can also join healthcare organizations related to specific specialties, including:

• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
• American Association of Managed Care Nurses (AAMCN)
• American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA)
• American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
• American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN)
• American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA)
• Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON)
• Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN)
• Emergency Nurses Association (ENA)
• Infusion Nurses Society (INS)
• National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS)
• National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN)
• Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN)

Associations for allied health workers

Allied health includes many diagnostic, technical, therapeutic and support professions. Examples of allied professional organizations include:

• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for nutrition professionals
• American Academy of PAs (AAPA) for physician assistants
• American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) for respiratory therapists and related positions
• American Association of Medical Dosimetrists (AAMD) for medical dosimetrists
• American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) for occupational therapists
• American Society of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians (ASATT) for anesthesia technologists and technicians
• American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) for professionals who administer X-rays, MRIs and similar diagnostic tests
• Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) for surgical technologists and surgical technicians
• National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) for addiction treatment providers and organizations
• National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO) for state emergency medical services officials

Organizations for patient support staff

Patient support staff includes professionals who advocate for patients. Some healthcare organizations include:

• American Case Management Association (ACMA) and Case Management Society of America (CMSA) for case managers
• American College of Physician Advisors (ACPA) for physician advisors
• Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) for child life professionals
• National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM) for patient access service providers

Associations for administrative roles

Employees who work in administrative fields may join the following professional medical associations:

• American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) for professionals in health data
• American Society for Health Care Risk Management (ASHRM) for healthcare risk managers
• Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) for infection preventionists
• Association of Medical Illustrators (AMI) for medical illustrators
• Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) for compliance officers
• International Association for Healthcare Security & Safety (IAHSS) for security officers
• National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) for quality managers and staff
• National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association (NHCAA) for specialists who combat healthcare fraud

Associations for healthcare managers

Managers and leaders in the healthcare industry may become members of one of these healthcare associations:

• American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM) for healthcare administrative managers in hospitals and other facilities
• American Association of Medical Society Executives (AAMSE) for high-level executives of healthcare associations
• American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) for high-level executives employed by hospitals and other facilities
• Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) for managers of medical practices and medical groups
• Society for Health Care Strategy & Market Development (SHSMD) for members of leadership teams involved in strategy and marketing
• American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL) for physicians who work in leadership and management roles

General membership healthcare associations

The following healthcare associations represent professionals from a variety of backgrounds:

• American Society of Pharmacovigilance (ASP), focused on reducing adverse drug events
• Association for the Health Care Environment (AHE) for environmental services professionals in healthcare
• Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) for hospital medicine professionals
• International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (IARP) for all professionals involved in rehabilitative medicine

Membership in a professional healthcare association can provide access to education, advocacy, practice resources and professional connections. The most relevant options depend on your facility type, the employee’s role and the services each association currently offers.