AHIM: A Career In The Health Profession

Management. The size of the facility dictates the functions of health service managers. For instance, at a small health care facility or hospital, administrators may oversee the routine tasks of the entire staff. Strong management and organizational skills ensure the facility operates smoothly.

The high cost of healthcare continues to rise and many in the United States are optimistic for health information technology to reduce and improve our current situation. Health IT encompasses a broad array of new technologies designed to manage and share health-related information. When properly implemented, these systems can help coordinate patient care, reduce medical errors, and improve administrative efficiency. Therefore, implementing a Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO) will help the National Health Information Network (NHIN) achieve their goals in improving quality of care for the citizens of the United States. Thus, in order for the health IT to deliver on its promise, several obstacles must be overcome.

If you are interested in an exciting career in health information management or getting started in your new career in HIM, then this is your guide to career development, improved salary, and greater success in your chosen profession. Receiving an AHIMA credential puts you in a unique organization. AHIMA credentials are earned through a stimulating platform through extensive education, experience, and maintained through endless review and continuing education. The experience, cost, and education requirements vary between the different AHIMA credentials that are available for you to obtain. Some benefits of attaining the AHIMA certification credentials are demonstrated capabilities, successful income, and devotion to high standards of care, quality,

The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is a recognized, respected association of health information management (HIM) professionals worldwide. Founded in 1928, AHIMA has become a respected authority for professional education and training in the effective management of health data and medical records needed to deliver quality healthcare to the public. Throughout AHIMA’s history back to 1928, the American College of Surgeons established the Association of Record Librarians of North America (ARNLA) to “elevate the standards of clinical records in hospitals and other medical institutions” (www.ahima.org, 2015). Since its formation, the Association has undergone several name changes in its evolution of the profession. In 1938 the Association changed its name to the American Association of Medical Record Librarians (AAMRL) for a more concise representation. When the Association became the American Medical Record Association in 1970, health information professionals had increased their involvement in hospitals, community health centers, and other health service facilities. As the health industry continues to evolve, the Association changed its name in 1991 to American Health Information Management Association to capture the expanded scope of clinical data beyond medical records to health information comprising the entire continuum of care.

They do this by providing resources such as credentials; textbook’ meetings; online education; etc. to improve the HIM professionals knowledge and skills. The AHIMA has taken a lead in evolving information, data analytics, and informatics for healthcare. All while continuing to support and lead the best quality HIM practices and standards. AHIMA offers many certification the categories are HIM, coding, and specialty certification. Within the HIM credentials they offer Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) and Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). The coding category includes Certified Coding Associate (CCA); Certified Coding Specialist (CCS); and Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-based (CCS-P). The specialty certifications include Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA); Certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security (CHPS); Certified Documentation Improvement Practitioner (CDIP); and Certified Professional in Health Informatics

AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association) was a recognizable acronym, but there were others that were unfamiliar like AMIA (American Medical Informatics Association) and ANIA (American Nurse Informatics Association). In the past, I considered becoming AHMIA certified to obtain a career with an electronic health record company; not knowing nurses had a professional

AHIMA recognizes that superior quality health care and clinical data are critical resources needed for effective healthcare, and works to assure that the health information used in care, research, and health management is valid, accurate, complete, trustworthy, and timely. This group is concerned about the effective management of health information from all sources and its application in all forms of healthcare and wellness preservation. Health issues, disease, and care quality also transcend across national borders. AHIMA’s professional interest is in the application of best health information management practices when and wherever they are needed. (The American Health Information Management Association, 2010).

The ARRA includes the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, which pursues to improve American Healthcare and patient care through an extraordinary investment in Healthcare IT (HIT). The requirements of the HITECH Act are precisely designed to work jointly to provide the necessary assistance and technical operation to providers, enable grammatical relation and organization within and among states, establish connectivity in case of emergencies, and see to it the workforce is properly trained and equipped to be meaningful users of certified Electronic Health Records (EHRs). These computer software products are designed collaboratively to intensify the footing for every American to profit from an electronic health record (EHR) as part of a modernized, interrelated, and vastly improved grouping of care delivery.

It has only been within the last five years that health information management (HIM) has experienced exponential changes, due to the healthcare reform. The electronic health record (EHR) is connected to health information exchanges and other systems of interoperability. The timely completion of charts, coding and release of information (ROI) has become much more efficient with the electronic record. Traditional HIM functions will just be transformed and will always be an integral part of successful patient care. Professionals must be flexible and willing to adapt and even generate change. As Health Information Technology continues to evolve, so will the roles

AHIMA stands for American Health Information Management. This association provides resources, exam preparations, job placement, to support Health Information Management, HIM professionals. The association continues to work with HIM professionals so they can evolve to the ever changing health data field. According to American Health Information Management Association, Get to know AHIMA (2017), “It is recognized as the leading source of “Him Knowledge,” a respected authority for rigorous professional education and training.”

Medical records and health information technicians/managers manages any facility and hospital. Employment of health information technicians was projected to grow 15 percent from 2014-2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. Medical records and health service managers are also called healthcare executives or healthcare administration plan, direct, and providing information to customers. Healthcare management will manage facilities or hospital settings. Will discuss all requirements and certifications in this field. Explain the personality traits and skill set required for this profession. How Kaplan will assist me in obtaining my goals, and where I see myself in five years.

Health Information Exchange is the electronic movement of healthcare information amongst organizations according to the national standards. HIE as it is widely known, serves the purpose of providing a safe, timely, and efficient way of accessing or retrieving patient clinical data. Health Information Exchange allows for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other vital healthcare professionals to have appropriate access and securely share vital medical information regarding patient care. Health Information Exchange has been in efforts of developing for over 20 years in the United States. In 1990 the Community Health Management Information Systems (CHMIS) program was formed by the Hartford Foundation to foster a development of a centralized data repository in seven different geographically defined communities. Many of the communities struggled in securing a cost-effective technology with interoperable data sources and gaining political support. In the mid-1990s a similar initiative began known as the Community Health Information Networks (CHINs) with the intention of sharing data between providers in a more cost-effective manner. In 2004, the Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research Health Information Technology Portfolio was funded $166 million in grants and contracts to improve the quality and safety to support more patient-centered care. This was the beginning of the progress we have seen in HIE today. Health Information Exchange devolvement serves the purpose of improving

The forerunner to HIE was the brain child of The Hartford, who founded the Community Health Management Information Systems (CHMIS) in 1990 “to foster the creation of a centralized data repository in seven geographically defined communities.” (Dullabh) The second great attempt was in 1996, with the development of Community Health Information Networks (CHINs). Neither of these systems succeeded, because of the inherent problems which included setup and maintenance costs, competition, limited information sharing, transmission issues, and political support. (Dullabh)

Health Care Information Management is something that is becoming extremely popular. Health Care Information Management Systems are computer systems that keep patient files, protect the security of the patient’s information, and keep everything more organized than what can be accomplished by individual people. Employment in this field is expected to grow faster than it has been. Jobs for this field include: Director HIM, Supervisor HIM Data Analyst, Auditor, Private Officer,

Management as it relates to the health services realm requires a deep understanding of coordinating the delivery of healthcare. One must be able to utilize frameworks to recognize and develop solutions to challenges within managing healthcare. My desire to become a health services manager (HSM) spawns directly from this concept of identifying an issue and being able to present interventions and approaches to improve the overall quality of life for communities.