A NEW BLUEPRINT FOR HIM EDUCATION

AHIMA proposes challenges to change formal education in HIM by 2016

CHICAGO, September 5, 2007—According to a story in the September issue of the Journal of AHIMA The AHIMA HIM Education Strategy Committee proposed a 10-year strategy to transform and realign formal education in health information management (HIM) by 2016.

The strategy emphasizes AHIMA make an objective assessment of the need for future HIM education, such that the profession will continue to  sustain and lead within a rapidly changing healthcare environment. That assessment, based on the premise that health information itself is being redefined in the next decade, centers on three key goals for HIM education:

1. Transform HIM to a graduate-level profession

2. Realign the HIM associate degree with work force needs

3. Prepare an effective, qualified pool of HIM faculty

This strategy is presented in a white paper “Vision 2016: A Blueprint for Quality Education in Health Information Management,” which discusses the necessity for HIM to be viewed as a graduate-level profession, with solid technical skills exemplifying graduates of associate degree programs and coding specialty programs, in order to remain competitive in the e-HIM environment.

The white paper serves to generate public discussions about the future of HIM and establishes annual milestones to work toward changing the educational structure by 2016.

“Vision 2016: A Blueprint for Quality Education in Health Information Management” can be found on the AHIMA web sit under “HIM Resources.”

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