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AHIMA is a global nonprofit association representing health information professionals who work with health data for more than one billion patient visits each year.

Since its formation, the organization known now as AHIMA has undergone several name changes that reflect the evolution of the profession.

grace whiting myers quote

AHIMA's founder and catalyst for change, Grace Whiting Myers

Association of Record Librarians of North America: 1928 – 1938

The organization traces its origin back to 1928 when the American College of Surgeons established the Association of Record Librarians of North America to "elevate the standards of clinical records in hospitals and other medical institutions."

Such a prescient recognition of the importance of health information underlies the work we do today. Health information remains complex, nuanced, and ever-changing.

American Association of Medical Record Librarians: 1938 – 1970

In 1938, the Association changed its name to the American Association of Medical Record Librarians (AAMRL) to better communicate the organization’s focus on health records. It was at that time that AAMRL moved forward with the creation of rigorous standards to officially designate expertise in medical record administration.

American Medical Record Association: 1970 – 1991

When the Association became the American Medical Record Association in 1970, hospitals and community health centers actively recruited association members to manage complex programs such as Medicare.

American Health Information Management Association: 1991 – Present

When data analytics and technology began to effect healthcare's momentum, the Association changed its name in 1991 to the American Health Information Management Association. “Health Information Management” accurately captures the influence clinical data has on the entire continuum of care, from the physician’s office, the hospital and beyond.

 

Year Details
1928 Association of Record Librarians of North American (ARLNA) founded
1929 Bulletin of the Association of Record Librarians of North America published
1933 Registered Record Librarian (RRL) credential established.
1938 Bulletin, American Association of Medical Record Librarians, replaces the Bulletin of the Association of Record Librarians of North America
1938 Name of association changed to American Association of Medical Record Librarians (AAMRL
1944 Journal of the American Association of Medical Record Librarians replaces Bulletin, American Association of Medical Record Librarians
1953 Accredited Record Technician (ART), credential established.
1954 Certified Record Librarian (CRL) designation established to recognize RRLs who had been in the field for at least 15 years and had made significant contributions to the profession. It was discontinued in 1964 because the general membership thought its use detracted from that of the RRL.
1964 Medical Record News, the Journal of the American Association of Medical Record Librarians replaces Journal of the American Association of Medical Record Librarians
1970 Name of association changed to American Medical Record Association (AMRA)
1970 Medical Record News, the Journal of the American Medical Record Association replaces Medical Record News, the Journal of the American Association of Medical Record Librarians
1978 Registered Record Administrator (RRA) credential replaces the Registered Record Librarian (RRL) credential
1980 Journal of the American Medical Record Association replaces Medical Record News
1991 Name of association changed to American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
1991 Journal of the American Health Information Management Association (Journal of AHIMA) replaces Journal of the American Medical Record Association
1992 Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) credential established
1997 Certified Coding Specialist - Physician-based (CCS-P) credential established
1999 Fellow of the American Health Information Management Association (FAHIMA) designation established to recognize members who have made significant and lasting contributions to the HIM profession
2000 Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential replaces the Accredited Record Technician (ART) credential; Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) credential replaces the Registered Record Administrator (RRA) credential.
2001 Certified Coding Associate (CCA) entry-level coding credential established
2002 Certified in Healthcare Privacy (CHP) credential created
2002 Certified in Healthcare Security (CHS) credential, sponsored by HIMSS and administered by AHIMA created
2002 Certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security (CHPS) credential, sponsored jointly by AHIMA and HIMSS, created
2008 Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA) credential created
2011 Certified Documentation Improvement Practitioner (CDIP) credential created
2011 Certified Healthcare Technology Specialist (CHTS) credential
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