Health information management professionals work in a variety of different settings and job titles. They often serve in bridge roles, connecting clinical, operational, and administrative functions. These professionals affect the quality of patient information and patient care at every touch point in the healthcare delivery cycle. Having skilled HIM professionals on staff ensures that an organization has the right information on hand when and where it is needed while maintaining the highest standards of data integrity, confidentiality, and security.

Healthcare services in Qatar have benefited from decades of national investment, leading to high accessibility and excellent quality of care. As new technology is adopted, a trained HIM workforce is critical to providing data on care outcomes and population health throughout the country, as well as predicting future needs. AHIMA is ready to help with training, education standards, and resources that can prepare professionals to use HIM best practices in their daily work, no matter what their setting might be.

Constantly evolving regulations and technologies result in a need for lifelong learning and continued professional development. As healthcare advances, health information provides the patient data needed to successfully navigate the changes. As a result, health information professionals can expect to be in high demand as the health sector continues to expand. Demand is on the rise at all levels of education and credentialing. On top of strong job prospects, competitive salaries may also await graduates.

Learn about careers in HIM.

A career in HIM may be right for you if you:

• see yourself in a career that offers diverse opportunities.
• would like to work in healthcare, but not directly with patients.
• have an aptitude for science, but also like management, law, and computers.
• enjoy working with professionals: physicians, nurses, lawyers, administrators and executives.
• want a career where you can choose to work on your own, with others, or some of both.

Why should HIM have standards and competencies?

As health information technology (HIT) becomes more prevalent, health information practitioners will continue to be critical components of the electronic health record (EHR) workforce.

Across the world, health care systems are recognizing the need for innovation and health data management to make the most of their systems. Industries with an increased demand for health information professionals include academic institutions, consulting agencies, government agencies, and healthcare software companies. The technology-enabled, transforming health care system is producing an immense volume of information and, more specifically, how to interpret and use that data will be important. Much rides upon its availability, integrity, and confidentiality, which opens up opportunities for new support positions including mobile support adoption positions, public health informatics, implementation support specialists, and information management redesign specialists.

Competencies help HIM programs ensure that HIM students have skills that are appropriately aligned to the needs of the labor market. Professionals in health information management (HIM), industry leaders, and educators develop these maps as a guide to adequately prepare students in HIM. As a result, the curriculum competency maps are built to reflect changes in the workforce. Industry leaders who ensure that their staff meet HIM competencies understand that these competencies:

• Build a strong, dedicated team that is committed to high standards of care and quality

• Promote ongoing enhancement of knowledge and skills

• Improve the quality of information and care

• Minimize errors and reduce exposure to fraud and abuse charges

• Increase efficiency and reduce cost

AHIMA certification represents a high level of achievement, proving that individuals have demonstrated proficiency in these competencies and have a broad base of knowledge. AHIMA certified professionals pass a rigorous exam and commit to ongoing professional development and recertification. When a person becomes AHIMA-certified, it reflects a deep personal commitment and sense of accountability, inspiring credibility and confidence in an individual's professional knowledge.

Sample case study

AHIMA recently renewed the competency maps for students in the United States. And while there are currently no competency maps for international students, AHIMA is working with the GHWC as they oversee building on the AHIMA Foundation’s curricula competency, adding other countries curricula models, releasing a draft for public comment, editing to include the comments, and then releasing a final version at the end of the year. Programs are encouraged to begin self assessing their curriculum using these documents to align with industry and workforce needs. http://www.ahimafoundation.org/education/curricula.aspx

The competency development is a complex process based on a system model of Input -> Process -> Output -> Feedback. The curriculum development process is an example of the sources of input, how the input was processed and transformed into the new curriculum maps and how feedback was demonstrated through the steps taken to vet the outcomes.