Spectrum Health’s Fifer Named HFMA Head

Joseph J. Fifer, FHFMA, CPA, vice president, hospital finance, Spectrum Health Hospital Group, has been named the new President & CEO of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). HFMA is the leading membership organization for health care financial management executives and leaders. It has more than 37,000 members.

Fifer will assume his new position in June. Ronald Knaus, corporate controller, Spectrum Health System, will assume Fifer’s responsibilities on an interim basis.

“Although Spectrum Health will be losing a visionary and dedicated executive, Joe is moving on to a position that is one of the most important in health care finance today, one in which he can use his expertise to benefit health care organizations across the country at a time when such leadership is desperately needed,” said Michael P. Freed, executive vice president, corporate resources, and chief financial officer, Spectrum Health. “I will miss Joe as a friend as well as a colleague; however, we are all very proud that one of our Spectrum Health family members will now lead a national health care organization.”

Fifer is a past chairman of HFMA’s Board of Directors and has served in various HFMA roles. Fifer received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, Michigan.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which is comprised of nine hospitals including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, a state of the art children’s hospital that opened in January 2011, and 190 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group and West Michigan Heart, physician groups totaling more than 600 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with 625,000 members. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer with more than 18,000 employees. The organization provided $176.5 million in community benefit during its 2011 fiscal year.