AHIMA LAUNCHES A NEW WEBSITE TO BRING MORE PROFESSIONALS TO HEALTH INFORMATION FIELD

Chicago , IL , June, 14, 2007— Those in search of careers in health information management (HIM) are just a few mouse clicks away from the road to gainful employment. On June 18, the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) will launch www.healthinformationcareers.com, a new site that is part of AHIMA's national recruitment campaign to attract and increase student enrollment within accredited HIM college degree programs.

As the first website of its kind, www.healthinformationcareers.com is a one-stop destination for those interested in pursuing careers in health information management (HIM), one of the fastest growing healthcare fields that uses information technology to manage patient records and data at hospitals, physician offices, clinics and other health facilities. Aimed at sparking the interest of high school students and drawing them into the field, the site gives visitors an industry background, academic and career planning resources, steps towards receiving Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) certification, and financing an undergraduate degree.

“Workforce development is on the forefront of AHIMA's agenda in bringing more qualified and trained people to the field. The launch of this new site is pivotal in recruiting talent and we are excited to see the website to go public and become an invaluable resource for those in pursuit of degrees in HIM, or who are considering a career change,” said AHIMA CEO Linda Kloss, MA, RHIA.

With sharp, clean graphics, the site is easy to navigate, features testimonials from recent college graduates and working professionals, sample curricula and answers questions that help prospective students make informed decisions.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, health information technology and technology management will be among the fastest growing occupations in the U.S. through 2012 and the shift from paper to electronic health records systems (EHRs) has fueled an even greater demand for the profession. Starting salaries in the field range from $30,000 to $50,000. After five years of experience, many HIM professionals earn as much as $75,000.

AHIMA is the premier association of health information management (HIM) professionals. AHIMA's 50,000 members are dedicated to the effective management of personal health information needed to deliver quality health care 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.