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 67,000 members, 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 working to advance the implementation of electronic health records (EHRs) by leading key industry initiatives and advocating high and consistent standards. AHIMA members stay one step ahead through AHIMA's accreditation of cutting-edge academic programs and professional development opportunities, including comprehensive continuing education.
AHIMA keeps HIM professionals posted on 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 and is one of the four cooperating parties responsible for the ICD-10 Coding Guidelines.
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 is evolving quickly, and AHIMA is working to advance the implementation and effective management of electronic health records (EHRs) by leading key industry initiatives and advocating for consistent standards. Needs are evolving from simply translating data, to having instant access to intelligence that can drive clinical and administrative decision-making in real time. AHIMA ensures that HIM professionals are armed with the skills and tools to act as leaders, using quality information to achieve the triple aims of reduced costs, better care, and improved population health.
AHIMA leads the health informatics and information management community to advance professional practice and standards.
AHIMA is working to promote this mission thorough:
Informatics: Transforming data into Health Intelligence
Leadership: Developing HIM leaders across all healthcare sectors
Information Governance: Being recognized as the health industry experts in information governance
Innovation: Increasing thought leadership and evidence-based HIM research
Public Good: Empowering consumers to optimize their health through management of their personal health information
AHIMA … leading the advancement and ethical use of quality health information to promote health and wellness worldwide
- AHIMA is the worldwide professional association of recognized leaders in health information management, informatics, heath data technology, and innovation.
- AHIMA proactively promotes the technological advancement of health information systems that enhance the delivery of quality healthcare.
- Based on AHIMA’s Code of Ethics and applicable law, AHIMA will promote the ethical and appropriate use of health information, and its members will ascribe to and conduct themselves in accordance with the Code of Ethics as part of their professional responsibility.
- AHIMA recognizes that quality health and clinical data are critical resources needed for efficacious healthcare and works to assure that the health information used in care, research, and health management is valid, accurate, complete, trustworthy, and timely.
- AHIMA 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 transcend national borders. AHIMA’s professional interest is in the application of best health information management practices wherever they are needed.
QUALITY: Demonstrated by an abiding commitment to innovation, relevance and continuous improvement in programs, products and services.
INTEGRITY: Demonstrated by openness in decision-making, honesty in communication and activity, and ethical practices that command trust and support collaboration.
RESPECT: Demonstrated by appreciation of the value of differing perspectives, enjoyable experiences, courteous interaction, and celebration of achievements that advance our common cause.
LEADERSHIP- Demonstrated by visionary thinking, decisions responsive to membership and mission, and accountability for actions and outcomes.
AHIMA's Strategic Plan
Drive the Power of Knowledge- Health Information Where and When It’s Needed
This long-term goal reflects AHIMA’s continued focus on its vision of advancing the ethical use of quality health information to promote health and wellness worldwide. As big data and interoperability create both challenges and opportunities, AHIMA and the HIM profession are positioned to take leadership roles in consumer education and data analytics, and create health intelligence that can be used to lower costs and improve patient care.
The healthcare industry will continue to change rapidly over the next 10 years. To ensure that needed information is available and secure, AHIMA and the profession must convene collaborative groups and accomplish three major initiatives:
- Take the lead in driving information governance and defining standards for electronic health information.
The healthcare industry will recognize HIM professionals as the experts in health information governance, with superior skills in providing consistent management, guidance, policies, and processes to ensure accurate, accessible health information and improved longitudinal coordination of care.
- Contribute to sound healthcare decision-making through analytics, informatics and decision support.
Healthcare organizations will depend on HIM professionals as leaders across all healthcare sectors, with expertise in predictive modeling of clinical information, trend analysis, and revenue cycle management.
- Empower consumers to optimize their health through management of their personal health information.
This includes advocating or advancing progress toward the day when all consumers can securely transport their health information with them, no matter where they may travel in the world, ensuring timely access to their own information, where and when it’s needed.
With this strategic plan, AHIMA reasserts its belief in the necessity of building quality healthcare through quality information. In the modern healthcare delivery system, HIM professionals will become recognized leaders whose work is imperative to clinical and administrative decision-making by healthcare leaders.
2012 Annual Report
2012 was both a celebration of the past and the beginning of a new day at AHIMA. The Department of Health and Human Services proposed a one-year delay for the final compliance date for ICD-10-CM/PCS, making October 1, 2014, the new date. While this slowed down some aspects of the business, it also allowed us to spend time focusing on the future and on new ways to engage members and improve the AHIMA experience. This included creating the first AHIMA mobile “app”, building the value and image of HIM professionals to the industry and their >employers, and focusing the Board on developing a long-term strategy that will create new opportunities in HIM.
The goal of this report is to give our members, customers, and friends confidence that AHIMA will continue to serve as a lighthouse for the healthcare industry and to be innovative to meet future needs. We would like to thank the AHIMA Board of Directors for their continued leadership, as well as all of the members who make our work so meaningful. We are looking forward to a great 2013, as we continue to “Dream Big” and begin to “Believe”.
Read AHIMA's 2012 Annual Report
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 interrupt 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
ProfGov.Fax@ahima.org
Fax: 312-233-1464
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 September, 2008.
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.