Defining the Personal Health Information Management Role

CHICAGO, June 12, 2008—The emergence of consumer-driven personal health records (PHRs) represent a major challenge for health information management (HIM) professionals to realign their roles and responsibilities to effectively manage health information. PHRs embody the healthcare industry’s transition from a narrower, provider-centric model to an all encompassing, patient-centric model, according to an article in the June issue of the Journal of AHIMA.

This transition has prompted HIM professionals to develop a multitude of new responsibilities in personal health information management (PHIM). An illustration displays new PHIM roles and responsibilities as policies and procedures, privacy and security, patient advocacy, information access and release, work force training, and integration with the electronic health record. The illustration also shows the issues where HIM practice could intersect with PHR management.

The article includes survey findings that indicate PHRs are becoming an everyday part of HIM.  Also included is an action plan to guide HIM professionals in preparation for the anticipated rise in the use of PHRs.

Read the complete article in the June issue of the Journal of AHIMA or online at journal.ahima.org.

About AHIMA

The American Health Information Management Association is America’s leading professional society whose mission is to “improve healthcare by advancing best practices and standards for health information management and [serve as] the trusted source for education, research and professional credentialing.” AHIMA represents more than 51,000 specially educated HIM professionals who serve healthcare and the public by managing, analyzing and utilizing data vital for health system management.