Navigating Challenges, Seizing Opportunities: Insights for Impact and Success in 2024

By Jennifer Miller, MHIS, RHIA

Jennifer Miller, MHIS, RHIA, is a Loma Linda University graduate and a proud recipient of the university’s distinguished alum award. Throughout her career, she has actively contributed to teams engaged in significant endeavors, including multiple EHR implementations and the continual advancement of the utilization of EHRs, tools, information, and workflows for substantial impact and service. Over the years, she has volunteered with AHIMA on various topics and committees, adding value to their initiatives. She is filled with gratitude for the guidance provided by her educators and mentors, the remarkable organizations she’s had the privilege to work with, and the opportunities afforded to her to facilitate growth for health information management (HIM) students and team members. She is a proud part of the esteemed MD Anderson Cancer Center team, which was honored with the AHIMA Grace Award in 2022.

Challenges and opportunities in HI in 2024:

Now is the opportune moment to advance the integration of automation, such as robotic process automation (RPA), into routine HIM workflows while enhancing our proficiency with AI tools to streamline our tasks.

Additionally, there are prospects to diminish reliance on faxing for certain records processes and to bolster the utilization of more dependable file and data transfer methods. Despite electronic faxing advancements, it still operates through a phone line, leading to connection errors and challenges with handling large files, necessitating additional effort and time for processing.

The profession has made significant strides away from paper-based charts, and Jennifer advocates maintaining this momentum in 2024 by prioritizing reducing reliance on faxing.

Suggested action HI pros can take in 2024 to have maximum impact on healthcare/patient care (even if small steps in their own work):

Jennifer firmly believes that the HIM profession embodies influence and service. One actionable step she suggests is to routinely invest time in viewing your work from another's perspective. Understanding how others perceive and utilize the results of your efforts empowers enhanced performance.

Furthermore, she suggests reassessing and refining your listening skills. Recent studies have revealed that up to 80% of a workday is dedicated to communication and collaboration. Through active listening, we foster connections, cultivate robust relationships, gain insight into requirements, foster trust, and more. Reflect on the last occasion someone genuinely listened to you and consider its impact. Similarly, consider when you last truly listened to someone else at work. Listening likely constitutes a significant aspect of your role, and most of us can take steps to improve in this aspect.

Finally, embrace curiosity, creativity, and adaptability. This could entail revisiting formats such as SOAP, ASPO, or CAPS notes within your organization or, more subjectively, reevaluating success metrics and meaningful goals.

Action Jennifer plans to take in 2024 to have maximum impact on healthcare/patient care:

Jennifer is working to advance her team’s knowledge of social determinants of health, implement an exchange of records with payers, build an additional RPA for one of their workflows, and advance their already exceptional safety practices in their workplace and work outcomes. She is fortunate to work with a great team and is excited to support the MD Anderson HIM team as they present and highlight their work.

Steps HI pros can take in 2024 to thrive in the profession:

To excel in 2024, Jennifer urges HI professionals to actively nurture close relationships, help others, and capitalize on their strengths. It's essential to have someone with whom you can discuss both your work-related matters and your overall well-being. As Women's History Month draws to a close, it presents an opportunity to contemplate your contributions to supporting others within your team. Lastly, prioritize working from your strengths and endeavor to allocate more time each day to tasks that align with your preferences and expertise and provide you with a sense of fulfillment and energy.

Small steps HI pros can take to advance their career, especially anything you can think of AHIMA-specific:

To advance in your career, actively engage with a mentor, sponsor, or coach. AHIMA offers the M2M Connect program, and numerous state associations provide mentorship match initiatives. Sponsors are crucial in advocating for you regarding new projects and roles, so embrace challenges and explore new opportunities.

Create a comprehensive list outlining the unique value you contribute to your team and organization, then focus on amplifying those strengths. Consider strategies to enhance your visibility within your organization, whether through increased participation in local networking events, conferences, or other professional platforms.

Moreover, consider volunteering for roles within local and state component associations to share your time and expertise, further expanding your professional network and making meaningful contributions to the field.

Anything additional you would like to include:

Take a moment to listen to and accept compliments. Your work in HI is significant, and you are making a positive impact. Embrace these compliments as affirmations of your abilities and contributions.

Reflect on your accomplishments and identify what you're truly proud of. Share your achievements with AHIMA by applying for the Grace Award. Additionally, consider nominating your mentors and educators for Triumph Awards and state association awards to recognize their guidance and support.