Application to Serve

APPLICATION TO SERVE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

GUIDE FOR NOMINEES

FOR ELECTION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The positions to be filled are:

President/Chair-Elect
Directors – Three positions

The President/Chair-Elect and Directors will assume office on January 1, 2013

Descriptions of open positions:

President/Chair-Elect: The AHIMA President/Chair-Elect serves a three-year term (the first year as president-elect, second year as President/Chair and the third year as Past President). The President/Chair chairs the Board of Directors, which governs the association, sets strategy, budget and maintains fiduciary oversight. The President/Chair serves as an ex officio member of all volunteer groups.

Director: The AHIMA Director serves a three-year term. The authority of the director derives from serving as a voting member of the Board of Directors. Directors are also voting members of the House of Delegates. The Board of Directors governs the association, sets strategy, budget and maintains fiduciary oversight.

These positions also serve as liaisons to the Commission, Council, committees, task forces and affiliated organizations. Members of the Board are called upon to represent the association at meetings and to speak on behalf of AHIMA and the HIM profession.

Duties and Qualifications of the AHIMA Board of Directors:

Candidate Qualifications:

To qualify for candidacy for the AHIMA Board of Directors President/Chair-Elect, individuals must be *Active members holding an AHIMA credential, and for director, Active members. All should candidates are to demonstrate leadership skills and experience that reflect the attributes shown on page 5 of this Guide. The Nominating Committee might seek candidates with certain types of skills or experience to complement those of continuing Directors thereby strengthening the Board’s overall ability to govern and represent the interests of our diverse membership. Candidates for President-elect must have demonstrated leadership qualities and experience that demonstrates the ability to effectively chair a Board of Directors and be an accomplished communicator.

Term of Office and Time Commitment

The President/Chair-Elect serves on AHIMA's Board of Directors for three years -- the first year as President/Chair-Elect, the second year as President/Chair, and the third year as Past President. Directors also serve a three-year term. Members of the Board of Directors attend five board meetings, participate in conference calls, and attend the annual Leadership Conference and Annual Convention. The President-elect and Directors may attend committee, and council meetings and may be called on to represent AHIMA at alliance or component state association meetings. The President/Chair and President/Chair-Elect devote an average of four hours per week to AHIMA, Directors devote two hours per week.

*Active members are described as “individuals interested in the AHIMA purpose and will to abide by the Code of Ethics.”

Select the "Elected Groups" section of the "Application to Serve."

Application to Serve – Board of Directors

President/Chair-Elect

Duties:

AHIMA membership, during its annual election, names a new President/Chair-Elect who serves a three-year term in the following capacities: the first year as President/Chair-Elect, the second year as President/Chair, and the third year as Past President. Throughout these three years the individual’s responsibilities are outlined in the position description for an individual Director of the AHIMA Board, along with additional responsibilities specific to the role of president-elect. Some of those varied duties are listed below. Therefore, the position description for the President/Chair-Elect is actually comprised of both the position description for an individual member and these supplemental responsibilities:

Chairs board meetings in the president’s absence:

Serves on the Governance Committee of the Board of Directors
Works closely with the president in order to ensure continuity is kept from one year to the next; this may involve the President/Chair-Elect attending:

certain council, committee, or task force meetings, if:

The President/Chair-Elect will benefit from a first-hand understanding of the council/committee’s functions
Issues to be discussed are of a critical nature requiring close Board coordination
The President/Chair, Chief Executive Officer or Board Liaison requests the presence of the President/Chair-Elect

CSA meetings, as requested
Meetings of other associations or groups

(The President/Chair-Elect will coordinate invitations with the President/Chair and the Chief Executive Officer and handle assignments that are feasible, given one’s job commitments, personal interests and AHIMA’s needs)

Meets with the President/Chair and Chief Executive Officer to develop the calendar of association activities, including:

Reminding state president of AHIMA’s need for nominees for council/committee appointments and for nominees for the following year’s ballot
Nominating appointees for committee/task force chairpersons and members (for the year coinciding with the President/Chair-Elect’s term of office as president) as indicated by the Bylaws, procedures and/or strategic plan;
Preparing (with the Chief Executive Officer the agenda for the Strategic Work Session

Participates in the Leadership Conference, designated Team Talks, and the Annual Convention

Delivers incoming presidential address at convention
Assumes the duties of the president in the event the president is unable to perform

Select the "Elected Groups" section of the "Application to Serve."

Application to Serve – Board of Directors

Director

Duties:

The authority of the Director derives from serving as a voting member of the Board of Directors. Individual Directors have no special privileges, prerogatives, or authority apart from the whole. At the same time, being a Director of AHIMA and member of its Board of Directors is a special trust, and individual directors are expected to meet high standards of personal conduct on behalf of AHIMA. This position description outlines these special obligations of Board service. It is intended for use in conjunction with the Position Description of the AHIMA Board of Directors to clarify the special obligations of serving the members of AHIMA in this most important of roles.

General Expectations:

Understand and articulate AHIMA’s mission, vision, values, strategies, policies, programs, services, and strengths.
Perform duties of board membership responsibly and uphold the values of the Association.
Suggest possible nominees for the Board, councils, committees, and task forces and submit names of individuals who should be recognized through awards and other forms of recognition.
Support an atmosphere in which every member of the Board can actively and fully participate.
Mentor future leaders of the Association.
Serve in leadership positions and undertake special assignments willingly and enthusiastically.
Represent the Association when called upon to do so.
Become informed about and follow relevant trends in healthcare and HIM.
Refer matters of potential significance to the President and the chief executive officer.
Bring goodwill and a sense of humor to the Board’s deliberations.
Express opinions for the good of the Association, rather than to advance one’s personal agenda.
Communicate between regularly scheduled meetings, by participating in conference calls collectively or as part of a team.
Monitoring the Board of Directors Community of Practice on a weekly basis.
Answering correspondence promptly.

Liaison Roles and Special Assignments

To the extent feasible, the director is expected to help advance the work of the Association and its good will by:

Serving on one of the Board Teams and on special subcommittees as assigned.
Serving as a delegate to the House of Delegates.
Speaking to groups of members at component state association or other meetings, as requested.
Serving as liaison from the Board of Directors to committees, councils, task forces and other bodies.
Representing AHIMA with alliance and other groups.

Board of Directors

Meetings

Prepare for and participate in Board, Team, committee and other meetings, including Team Talks, Leadership Conference, and the Annual Meeting.
Ask timely and substantive questions at Board, committee and other meetings consistent with your conscience and convictions, while supporting the majority decision on issues decided by the Board.
Maintain confidentiality of the board’s executive sessions and speak for the Board or AHIMA only when authorized to do so.

Avoiding Conflicts

Serve AHIMA as a whole rather than any special interest group or constituency.
Avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest that might embarrass the board or AHIMA and disclose any possible conflicts to the board in a timely fashion.
Maintain independence and objectivity and do what a sense of fairness, ethics, and personal integrity dictate.
Understand fully comply with, and adhere to the terms and spirit of AHIMA’s conflicts and dualities and confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements.

Fiduciary Responsibilities

Exercise prudence with the Board in the control, transfer, and investment of funds.
Consider the impact of each recommendation and decision on AHIMA’s mission and resources.
Adhere to expense guidelines and expense reporting procedures
Read and understand the AHIMA financial statements and status, and otherwise help the board fulfill its fiduciary responsibility.

Fundraising

Give an annual gift to the AHIMA Foundation according to personal means
Assist the Foundation and staff by supporting fundraising strategies through personal influence with others (corporations, individuals, and foundations).

AHIMA Board of Directors Candidate Desired Attributes

All Directors are expected to have high ethical standards in both personal and professional decision-making and acting in the best interest of the Association. The following areas of expertise would add extra value: research or analytical/legal, large company, international business, political or policy experience, strong financial background,data/content standards/quality/pay for performance, marketing. Nominee should have experience in alliance appointments, or a history of development of CSA relationships. Desired work settings: physician practice; educators or dean; governance experience; large healthcare corporation; diversity in age/youth; ethnicity and gender. The following characteristics are highly desired. Examples of each are given below.

Specific Attributes for 2012 Candidates

Potential candidates should have experience or special knowledge in at least one of the following practice-related areas:

Education
International experience
HIE
Government
Coding
Public Sector
Research
Industry Roles (ie. Walgreens)

Other desirable attributes:

Business acumen
Multinational perspective
Execellent public speaking skills
Connections (with legislators, sponsors, donors, etc.)

Volunteer Leadership Self-Assessment on Executive/Governance Level Leadership

Attribute	Examples
Business development experience	Managed a department, division or entity, private or non-profit; broad authority for service/product design and delivery, budget preparation and management
Broad understanding of profession and industry	Experience and/or exposure to diverse aspects of HIM practice; understands healthcare from provider, payer, private, and public perspectives
Critical thinking skills	Offers insightful and innovative contributions to complex situations; generates alternative hypotheses to explain information, observations or data; conceptualizes issues from different points of view
Vision and strategic thinking	Ability to think and work at a strategic level; demonstrates concern for the long-term good of the Association and profession
Engages (encourages) others to achieve	Moves easily between the roles of leader and participant in groups; engages well with others in team environment; works well with individuals with diverse and complementary skills; facilitates the communication of others
Good communicator	Writes clearly and concisely in a style appropriate to specific audiences; speaks and presents ideas effectively to a variety of audiences; actively listens to others
Presents a professional image	Potential to serve as an effective “ambassador” for the organization; can represent diverse opinions and constituencies; projects a professional demeanor and appearance; is self assured and confident
Recognized for accomplishments	Has served in a volunteer leadership role for AHIMA such as serving on a Council, Committee, Commission, Task Force, or Communities of Practice; has served in a state leadership role; has external alliances and contacts; is visible and widely recognized in the profession and/or industry for achievements
Experience with e-HIM Practice	Embraces effective practice of health information management, including use of contemporary methods and technology and approaches to leadership

Timeline for the 2012 Nomination and Election Process: (Updated 5/10/12)

January 31 - Deadline for Call for Nominations online submissions by close of business
February - Nominating Committee to review nominations
February- Nominating Committee to conduct telephone interviews with nominees and confirm ballot candidates
February/March - Candidates provide profile and other information for the AHIMA ballot to appear in the June Journal
The 2012 Ballot Candidate Bios and photos are posted on the AHIMA website and in the AHIMA and State Leaders and House Communities. - CSA Leaders will also feature candidates on their websites.
May - Candidate Community opens to the public (May 21 - 9:00 a.m. CST - June 1 - 5:00 p.m.)
June - AHIMA Polls open (June 4 - 12:00 a.m. CST - June 22 - 11:59 p.m. ) AHIMA ballot candidates are featured in the June Journal of AHIMA
Mid- July - Announcement of the 2012 AHIMA Election Results

Timeline for the 2013 Nomination and Election Process: (Subject to change)

March 29 - Deadline for Call for Nominations online submissions by close of business
May - Nominating Committee to review nominations
April - Nominating Committee to conduct telephone interviews with nominees and confirm ballot candidates
May - Candidates provide profile and other information for the AHIMA ballot to appear in the June Journal
June - The 2013 Ballot Candidate Bios and photos are posted on the AHIMA website and in the AHIMA and State Leaders and House Communities. - CSA Leaders will also feature candidates on their websites.
August - Candidate Community opens to the public (August 19 - 9:00 a.m. CT - August 30 - 5:00 p.m.)
AHIMA Polls open (September 3 - 12:00 a.m. CT - September 23 - 11:59 p.m.CT ) AHIMA ballot candidates are featured in the September Journal of AHIMA
After September, 2013 Announcement of the 2012 AHIMA Election Results