Health Information Management History

Health information management, also known as HIM, has been acknowledged as an allied health profession since 1928. HIM is a profession dedicated to the effective management of patient information and healthcare data needed to deliver quality treatment and care to the public. The original objective was to elevate the standards of clinical recordkeeping in hospitals, dispensaries, and other healthcare facilities (Sayles, 2014). Today HIM is known as the American Health Information Management Association or AHIMA. It still holds similar underlying purposes: to ensure the quality, confidentiality, and availability of health information across diverse organizations, settings, and disciplines (Sayles, 2014). HIM plays a critical role in the successful implementation of electronic health records and ensures that providers, healthcare organizations, and patients have access to the right health information when and where it is needed while maintaining the highest standards of data integrity, confidentiality, and security. It ensures compliance with legal mandates, but it has proven to be a challenge with the constant change in legislation and regulatory environment. Past surveys suggest that HIM plays some type of importance in accordance to HIPAA privacy and security compliance. In a 2006 AHIMA survey, members were asked about the progress of their organizations’ privacy and security compliance efforts. Margret Amatayakul & Mitch Work discuss those results in a 2007 journal article

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.

Above all the Director of HIM will have to increase their knowledge and serve as a professional resource for their organization by staying knowledgeable in health informatics standards. In addition, they will have to continually investigating the data systems that are currently in use, accessing information on prevailing healthcare standards, and determining the current healthcare standards that are used in your organization. It would also

Joining the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) benefits individuals and distinguishes them apart from others. AHIMA labels individual’s as competent, knowledgeable and committed to the association through quality healthcare delivery and quality information.

In October 1928, Ms. Grace Whitney Myers and the American College of Surgeons created the Association of Record Librarians of North America (ARLNA) which later became known as American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). During the 1970s, the association became more engaged with community health clinics, hospitals, and other medical care facilities that were not associated health care centers. At the same time, AHIMA established their position at the federal level with the administration of Medicare (AHIMA.org, 2017).

The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) website was very detailed and laid out. It was also very user friendly when it came to learning or finding information on health information technology. The AHIMA is the most leading association of health information management (HIM) specialists globally. The AHIMA has played a major role in leadership and in finding efficient ways for management of health data and medical records that are required to distribute quality healthcare to the patients. Furthermore, AHIMA is supporters for the HIM profession, aids as a “thought leader” in the global world of HIM. Also, AHIMA is “one of the four cooperating parties responsible for the ICD-10 Coding

Paper-based health records have existed since the time of Hippocrates. The most significant change in paper-based health records occurred in the 20th century with the development of electronic health records (EHRs), due to evolution of technology (Rocha & Rocha, 2014). The development of EHRs began in the mid-1960s. Since that time, EHRs have continued to advance. Many institutions are now placing a greater effort in the utilization of this advancing technology (Atherton, 2011). The main purpose of EHRs is to increase efficiency of care and organize and improve quality of data storage through new resources and applications (Rocha & Rocha, 2014). EHRs play a vital role in the healthcare system, patient care, and

Lauren Thompson-Director of Federal Health Architecture at Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology

What is Health Information Management? Health information management (HIM) is information management applied to health and health care. It is the practice of acquiring, analyzing and protecting digital and traditional medical information vital to providing quality patient care. Currently, Northwest Arkansas Community College had launched out the Health Information Management program for the purpose of getting more people to join the health care system. I am currently enrolling in the Health Information Management program. This program can give a graduating student a variety choice of career. Therefore, we have a project to research and interview RHIT or RHIA people, to get more understanding and knowledge about their job or duties as an RHIT or RHIA. To know more about jobs that are available out there, I had researched about RHIT, RHIA, interviewed two health professionals and compare both of them to have a better idea of what I want to do in the future when I am done with the Health Information Management program.

Health Information Management, ‘The purpose of the HIM Committee is to provide physician-based oversight to the acquisition, and use of Information Technology and Management Services. The HIM aims to improve the overall quality of patient care, and services at SHC,’ (SHC).

As a Health Information Management professional, I believe in the accuracy and integrity of HIM department’s staff to achieve and maintain a higher level of effectiveness. As a HIM Coding and Compliance Auditor, administrators of a facility can use the data to ensure compliance with the Office of Inspector General and identify opportunities for improvement. As an auditor, meeting the goals of a facility, education whether it is the department manager or other employees to improve the revenue cycle process and work flow.

The HIM professionals are in a great position to provide essential role with the management of the patient web portal; and there strong base knowledge in health IT are central to the daily management and function of the portal (Dixon, A).Their roles include and not limited to:

There are many components that required to building a successful framework for a new health information system. Some of these components include (1) better patient experiences through quality and satisfaction; (2) better health outcomes of populations; and (3) reduction of per capita cost of health care (Feldman, 2014, para. 3). Other designs include several levels of abstraction including mechanical (hardware), informational (software), psychological (person), and social (community). Such an inclusive approach is aimed at understanding interdependent linkages between increasingly complex social and technological components. Working together, these components consider social motivations and accomplish a set of social goals that otherwise

In 2009, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) developed literature that outlined Data Warehousing and its impact within Healthcare Data Management. A study showed that companies who implemented a data warehouse had one consistent data store for reporting, forecasting, and analysis (HIMSS, 2009). Additionally, they had easier and more timely ways to access data, improved end-user productivity, improved IS productivity, reduced cost, scalability, flexibility, reliability, and an overall better competitive advantage (HIMSS, 2009).

Health Information managers oversee and guard patient health information. Managers represent the patient’s in matters of privacy and security, information release, issues and guidelines regarding record access, and general public education about personal health records. They specialize in managing patient health information and medical records, administering computer information systems, and classifying using standard coding systems, the diagnoses, and procedures for health care services provided to patients.