AHVAP BOD Highlights

Karen Niven, MS, BSN, RN, CVAHP
Senior Director, Clinical Value Analysis
Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals
(AHVAP) 2023 President Elect

What got you interested in value analysis?

It has always been especially important to me to be involved in the professional organizations guiding my practice. During my clinical nursing career, I was active in both ASPAN (the membership organization for Perianesthesia Nursing) and ABPANC, the Perianesthesia Certification Board on which I was President for two years. One of my personal values is professional growth and development, so when my career path led me to Premier, I fell in love with Value Analysis and since then have been active in AHVAP.

How long have you worked in healthcare and what is your professional background?

I have spent my entire career in healthcare starting as a nurse in the PACU. Even as a teenager, I was a candy-striper since I always knew that nursing and healthcare was my personal passion. For me, healthcare is a passion and drives me in my daily work. And providing healthcare that is sustainable is my absolute goal. I believe the path to sustainable healthcare is our Value Analysis process and practice. And what better way to strengthen Value Analysis than to be active in AHVAP?

What made you decide to serve on the AHVAP Board of Directors?

I am also very enthusiastic about leaving healthcare better than we found it and being personally active and involved in AHVAP is one to the best ways I can think of to have the opportunity to deliver on that goal: to leave healthcare better than we found it. While doing that by being active on our AHVAP Board of Directors, we are also able to grow in our own professional path. We are able to work for our AHVAP Members and give them the tools, education and opportunities to be part of “leaving healthcare better than we found it.” I am humbled to join each of you on that journey!