Get To Know AHIMA
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is the premier association of health information management (HIM) professionals worldwide. Serving 52 affiliated component state associations and more than 103,000 health information professionals, it is recognized as the leading source of "HIM knowledge," a respected authority for rigorous professional education and training.
Founded in 1928 to improve health record quality, AHIMA has played a leadership role in the effective management of health data and medical records needed to deliver quality healthcare to the public.
AHIMA is taking a lead in advancing informatics, data analytics, and information governance for healthcare while continuing to lead and support world class HIM practices and standards. AHIMA members stay one step ahead through AHIMA’s cutting-edge programs and professional development opportunities, including comprehensive continuing education.
AHIMA keeps HIM professionals abreast of the healthcare industry through resources to improve their knowledge, skills, and abilities. Some of AHIMA’s offering include:
- Text books
- Credentials
- Live meetings
- Online Education
- The Journal of AHIMA
- The HIM Body of Knowledge (BoK)
- Engage Communities
- Newsletters
- E-Alerts
In addition to providing resources, AHIMA actively advocates for the HIM profession, serves as a thought leader in the world of HIM, is one of the four cooperating parties responsible for the ICD-10 coding guidelines, and leads the development of information governance principles for healthcare.
AHIMA members affect the quality of patient information and patient care at every touchpoint in the healthcare delivery cycle. Our members perform diverse roles in healthcare and are employed in a variety of work settings, including hospitals, physician offices, ambulatory care facilities, managed care facilities, long-term care facilities, consulting firms, information system vendors, colleges and universities, insurance providers, pharmaceutical companies, rehabilitation centers, and other venues.
Become an AHIMA member now.
AHIMA traces its history back to 1928 when the American College of Surgeons established the Association of Record Librarians of North America (ARLNA) to "elevate the standards of clinical records in hospitals and other medical institutions." This farsighted recognition of the importance of medical record quality to patient care and research underlies the organization today.
Since its formation, the organization known now as AHIMA has undergone several name changes that reflect the evolution of the profession. In 1938 the Association changed its name to the American Association of Medical Record Librarians (AAMRL) for a more succinct representation of the membership. AAMRL moved forward with the creation of standards and regulations that established its members as medical record experts. When the Association became the American Medical Record Association in 1970, medical record professionals had increased their involvement in hospitals, community health centers, and to other health service facilities outside the hospital. They had also begun to play a critical role at their institutions in the administration of federal programs such as Medicare.
As the healthcare industry underwent restructuring and decision-making became increasingly driven by data, the Association changed its name in 1991 to the American Health Information Management Association. Its current name captures the expanded scope of clinical data beyond the single hospital medical record to health information comprising the entire continuum of care.
Learn more about the history of the association and view AHIMA's timeline.
AHIMA is committed to advancing the HIM profession in an increasingly electronic and global environment through leadership in advocacy, education, certification, and lifelong learning. The health industry continues to evolve, and AHIMA is working to advance the accuracy, reliability, and usefulness of health data by leading key industry initiatives and advocating for consistent standards. Needs are evolving from simply translating data to turning data into knowledge that powers better healthcare decision making.
AHIMA ensures that HIM professionals are armed with the skills and tools to act as leaders, using quality information to achieve the Triple Aim of reduced costs, better care, and improved population health.
Download AHIMA's Mission, Vision, and Values
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AHIMA’s focus in providing expertise to ensure trusted information for healthcare is reflected throughout our strategic objectives. As big data and interoperability create both challenges and opportunities, AHIMA and the HIM profession are positioned to take leadership roles in informatics, data analytics, information governance, and consumer education, while creating health intelligence that can be used to lower costs and improve patient care.
The healthcare industry will continue to change. To ensure that needed information is accurate, reliable, and secure, AHIMA and the profession must convene collaborative groups and accomplish four major objectives:
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AHIMA's Strategic Objectives
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Sharpen your focus on Ethics. Update yourself on the Code of Ethics and 2 sets of Standards. Complete the Ethics Self Assessment and review the Case Studies.
The AHIMA Code of Ethics is intended to serve as a professional ethics guide for AHIMA members and credentialed professionals who are not members. The code provides the ethical obligations of AHIMA members and credentialed non members as well as the 11 ethical principles that are the foundation of AHIMA’s Code of ethics. After reading the code of ethics you should be able to interpret the code of ethics and know how to use it.
Code of Ethics Violations
The AHIMA Code of Ethics applies to AHIMA members and credentialed HIM professionals who are not members. If you believe an AHIMA member or credentialed professional has violated the Code of Ethics, you may file a complaint with AHIMA. Please see the Professional Ethics Committee Policy and Procedures for filing a complaint. A completed Ethics Complaint Form must be submitted along with supporting documentation to:
AHIMA
Profession Governance - Professional Ethics Committee
233 N. Michigan Ave, 21st Floor
Chicago, IL 60601
profession.governance@ahima.org
Standards of Ethical Coding
Health information coding is one of HIM’s core functions. Due to the complex regulatory requirements affecting the coding process, coding professionals are frequently faced with ethical challenges. The AHIMA Standards of Ethical Coding are intended to:
- assist coding professionals and managers in decision-making
- outline expectations for making ethical decisions in the workplace
- demonstrate coding professionals’ commitment to integrity during the coding process, regardless of the purpose for which codes are being reported
The Standards are relevant to all coding professionals and those managing the coding function, regardless of healthcare setting or AHIMA membership status.
Review the AHIMA Standards of Ethical Coding, which was revised and approved by the House of Delegates in December, 2016.
Standards for Clinical Documentation Improvement Professionals
The AHIMA Ethical Standards for Clinical Documentation Improvement Professionals are intended to assist in decision-making processes and actions, outline expectations for making ethical decisions in the workplace, and demonstrate the professionals' commitment to integrity. They are relevant to all clinical documentation improvement professionals and those who manage the clinical documentation improvement (CDI) function, regardless of the healthcare setting in which they work, or whether they are AHIMA members or nonmembers.