Can you describe your role in the health care purchasing marketplace?
As a product manager my role with Nova is to understand market needs both broadly and for specific clients, investigate point solutions, collaborate with vendors on goals and outcomes, and serve as “the hub of the wheel” between operations, analytics, sales, and marketing to keep all areas connected.
Why did you think the CHVP classes would be useful in your role?
While Nova is technically a TPA, what we provide goes beyond the everyday services employer groups expect from their plan administrators. We know that effective benefit design and plan management exist at the intersection of art and science in understanding needs and providing solutions. In my role I need to understand the needs of CFOs, HR departments, brokers, etc and connect our company or our individual clients to solutions that deliver value. The CHVP classes offered a useful framework for both of these objectives.
What surprised you most from your CHVP classes?
I was really pleased with how much I recognized the work Nova is already doing to provide value and deliver results. What I was not surprised by was the quality of instruction, which was the same standard of excellence and thought leadership that I always associate with the Validation Institute.
How long did it take you to complete your courses?
I did them over about a month when I was at a slower time of the year and could focus on it on Friday afternoons when I was done with meetings. The certification project took a couple of weeks to complete but I was analyzing an existing vendor, so it was useful both for the CHVP and for my work processes.
Do you have any advice to those who may be on the fence about pursuing their CHVP?
I enjoyed the classes and appreciated the opportunity for professional development that I could put to use right away—even before I was done with the classes. It isn’t about studying to pass a test or regurgitate facts; it is about shifting your approach to evaluation and analysis. Take the time to really absorb the materials and the lessons, and then go out and use it in the real world!
