News: AHIMA releases new white paper, HIM Reimagined
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) released a new White Paper titled HIM Reimagined: Transformation Starts with You. The paper seeks to “help HIM professionals thrive in a fast-evolving healthcare landscape,” according to a press release from the group.
The paper sites studies which worry about the susceptibility of healthcare information technicians to job placement downsizing and offshoring due to increases in computerization. Focus group studies by AHIMA found a large number of participants “who commented on the future demand of coding professionals foresaw significant decline in demand in the next 10 years.”
However, new technology in health information management also present certain opportunities, as the paper supports states that ambulatory efforts, areas requiring specialized knowledge, and sifting data into actionable information, all represent growing areas where advanced talent may be needed. Such new roles for HIM professionals, according to AHIMA, could include “coding auditors, data quality management specialists, analytics specialists, and patient advocates.”
The white paper lays out an expanded skillset for HIM professionals, encouraging them to:
- Obtain advanced degrees
- Engage in healthcare research
- Seek out HIM specialization
- Obtain the RHIA and/or RHIT certification