Alphabet Soup (Affiliations)

An explanation of some of the frequently used abbreviations or acronyms you will find in our profession:

VSDHVS: Our organization: Virginia Society for Directors of Healthcare Volunteer Services. The Virginia state professional organization for volunteer management professionals, gift shop managers and others who work in a paid capacity to coordinate operations and activities of volunteers in healthcare organizations.

DVS/DOV: Director of Volunteer Services or Director of Volunteers, referring to any paid volunteer management professionals. Managers, Volunteer Coordinators, or other similar titles are also included as members.

Certifications: CAVS/CDVS/CVA, etc.  The professionally recognized designations for credentialed volunteer leaders.  Certified Director of Volunteer Services, Certified Volunteer Administrator; Certified Administrator of Volunteer Services. Designation dependent upon credentialing organization.  See: Professional Certification Information under the Members-only section of this website.

SHVL: Society for Healthcare Volunteer Leaders. This national professional organization for volunteer leaders holds an annual conference and provides resources to volunteer management professionals in healthcare organizations. See website: http://www.shvlonline.org/

VHHA:The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) formed in 1926 as a trade association of Virginia hospitals. In 1995, members voted to change the name from  Virginia Hospital Association to reflect changing membership, which includes not only rural and urban hospitals, but integrated health care delivery systems and their long-term care facilities and services, ambulatory care sites, home health services, insurance subsidaries, and other health system-related entities. VAHHA's activities focus on four areas: representation and advocacy, education, communication and health care data. See website: VHHA.com

AHA: The American Hospital Association is the national organization that represents and serves all types of hospitals, health care networks, and their patients and communities. Close to 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, other providers of care and 40,000 individual members come together to form the AHA.  Through representation and advocacy activities, AHA ensures that members' perspectives and needs are heard and addressed in national health policy development, legislative and regulatory debates, and judicial matters. Advocacy efforts include the legislative and executive branches and include the legislative and regulatory arenas.  Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. See website: www.aha.org.