MAJORITY OF HEALTHCARE EMPLOYERS SUPPORT INDUSTRY CREDENTIALS

Chicago, November 7—A majority of healthcare employers favor industry credentials, according to a survey conducted by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Respondents indicated that the financial impact of credentials drove their support of certification—agreeing that credentialed employees help reduce exposure to fraud and abuse (70%), improve the delivery of quality healthcare (68%), and require less training (68%).

The survey also revealed that hiring and promotion practices are influenced by credentials. 68% of employers reported choosing a credentialed candidate over one who is not, all else being equal, and 53% prefer credentials when promoting. According to one respondent of the anonymous survey, “Those that are certified look at their careers differently. I would pick a certified person over another one hands down.” Another added that “Certification helps to differentiate between the candidate who ‘evolved’ into their job versus the one who had a strategic goal and achieved it.”

Employers felt that credentials are most important for medical coding professionals (73%), and other HIM professionals (67%), followed by IT professionals (53%) and privacy and security officers (45%).

“It’s encouraging to see the value employers place on industry credentials. Although certification does not guarantee success, it does set individuals apart in today’s competitive job market,” states AHIMA President Mervat Abdelhak, PhD, RHIA. “Certification speaks to the dedication and efforts these individuals put into mastering the knowledge it takes to be successful at what they do.”

AHIMA releases these results in conjunction with National Health Information and Technology (HI&T) Week, November 6-12. Sponsored by AHIMA and the Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA), this annual event recognizes the work of those professionals who manage patient health information. AHIMA issues credentials in health information management, coding, and healthcare privacy and security.

Respondents of the survey represented C-level and other non-AHIMA credentialed employers from various healthcare work settings. 26% reported working in a hospital, 18% a physician office, 17% an integrated delivery system, while the others are distributed among ambulatory, long-term care, educational institutions and other settings. To view the complete summary of survey results, go to http://www.ahima.org/hitweek/.

AHIMA is the national association of HIM professionals. AHIMA's 52,000 members are dedicated to the effective management of personal health information needed to deliver quality healthcare to the public. Founded in 1928 to improve the quality of medical records, AHIMA is committed to advancing the HIM profession in an increasingly electronic and global environment through leadership in advocacy, education, certification, and lifelong learning. For information about the association, go to www.ahima.org.