August 20 – 22, 2008 at the Cobb Galleria Convention Center! The host hotel will once again will be the Renaissance Waverly.

The agenda and registration are now available on the GHIMA website. Please extend your thanks to Tammy Phillips for preparing a great program. Once again we will be offering three educational tracks: Coding, e-HIM and Management. This year, we will also be offering a track targeted specifically for students in the HIM programs.

Our keynote speaker this year is Jody Urquhart. Jody is a feature speaker for the GE Healthcare Tip-TV program broadcast in over 2600 healthcare facilities. Jody will be speaking on ‘The Joy of the Job… Keys to Find More Fulfillment in your Work’. OK, you're really busy. While you are dutifully doing your job, do you ever get a sense that you are disconnected from the purpose of your work? Do you sometimes find that your work lacks fun and enjoyment? By adopting a humorous and fun approach, the Joy of the Job inspires professionals to be focused and productive by nourishing the meaning, fun, and joy of their work. Plan to join us in August to find out how we can all find more fulfillment in our work!

Online registration will close on Tuesday, August 12th.

Submitted By: Bob Lantis, GHIMA President

At the most recent Summer Team Talks, conducted in Chicago in July, there was discussion of several items to be addressed by the AHIMA House of Delegates (HOD) when it meets in October, in conjunction with AHIMA’s annual meeting. One of those was the matter of approving alternate paths to become eligible to sit for the RHIA examination. The AHIMA Council on Certification (CoC) has recommended that individuals with a minimum of a baccalaureate degree and five years (documented) experience be considered eligible to sit for the RHIA exam. It was indicated that the driving force behind their recommendation is the unmet demand in the workforce for HIM professionals at the managerial level. This issue was first raised in the HOD in 2006 and resulted in the recently approved amendments to AHIMA’s bylaws to permit inclusive membership. The expanded pathways now being recommended by the CoC include the following:

Route 1:

• Education: minimum of a bachelor’s degree
   
• Experience: five (5) years of full-time management-level work experience in the HIM field, or, as a full-time educator in a college or university either currently accredited by CAHIIM or in candidate status.

- Management-level experience is typically defined as a salaried position involving substantive responsibility for people, functions, processes, or projects. Job titles will typically consist of descriptors including, but not limited to: director, manager, analyst, specialist, and in some cases coordinator.

- Candidates will be required to demonstrate competence in all five HIM domains through successful completion of the standard RHIA examination, regardless of their specific work experience.

• Endorsement: the endorsement of two RHIA-credentialed professionals will be required.

- In addition to a certified transcript from the college or university granting the bachelor’s degree, applications of this type will be required to submit their current resume to demonstrate relevant experience in the HIM domain, as well as current job description detailing HIM-related duties and responsibilities.

- As noted above, the review and endorsement of the applicant’s work experience by two RHIA-credentialed professional will also be required. In the event the candidate does not have access to two RHIA professionals, this verification of eligibility will be completed by an independent panel appointed by the CoC.

Route 2:

• Education: Master’s degree in an HIM-related curriculum, or, in Education.

- Examples include but are not limited to: Master’s in Health or Medical Informatics, MBA in Healthcare Management or Health Services, MHA, M.Ed., and MHSA.

• Experience: two (2) years of full-time management level work experience in the HIM field, or, as a full-time educator in a college or university either currently accredited by CAHIIM or in candidate status.

- Management-level experience is typically defined as a salaried position involving substantive responsibility for people, functions, processes, or projects. Job titles will typically consist of descriptors including but not limited to: director, manager, analyst, specialist, and in some cases, coordinator.

- Candidates will be required to demonstrate competence in all five HIM domains through successful completion of the standard RHIA examination, regardless of their specific work experience.

• Endorsement: the endorsement of two RHIA-credentialed professionals will be required.

- In addition to a certified transcript from the college or university granting the bachelor’s degree, applications of this type will be required to submit their current resume to demonstrate relevant experience in the HIM domain, as well as current job description detailing HIM-related duties and responsibilities.

- As noted above, the review and endorsement of the applicant’s work experience by two RHIA-credentialed professional will also be required. In the event the candidate does not have access to two RHIA professionals, this verification of eligibility will be completed by an independent panel appointed by the CoC.

Among the items of concern expressed by members of the HOD are the following:

• How will approval of this proposal impact the future expansion of existing baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate programs and current associate degree programs?
   
• How does this proposal fit with “Vision 2016” goals? Would it be a catalyst to decrease the enrollment in existing master’s degree programs and would it discourage the establishment of new HIM-related master’s degree programs?
   
• How does expanding RHIA eligibility enhance our profession?
   
• Does expanding the RHIA exam eligibility criteria lessen the “professionalism” of the credential?
   
• How would this impact the positioning of HIM in relation to other allied health professions?
   
• Wouldn’t this permit this proposal permit someone who has obtained the RHIA credential by one of these ‘non-traditional’ routes to become President of AHIMA? Is that important?

As you can see, there are many concerns over this proposal. There has been and there continues to be much discussion about it. All members of GHIMA are encouraged to give consideration to this proposal and to let their elected-GHIMA representatives know where they stand on the issue. A great deal more information is available in discussion threads on the Communities of Practice (CoP). Now is the time for individual GHIMA members to become educated on this issue, share their thoughts with their GHIMA representatives, and help influence the future growth and development of our profession.

Submitted By: Bob Lantis, GHIMA President

In 2007, the AHIMA Council on Certification (CoC) was charged to determine the need for a new credential in HIM, to increase the size of the HIM-certified workforce and to further engage new, non-certified members at a professional level. Subsequently, the CoC presented a plan to develop a new credential in the area of Health Data Analytics. The CoC reports that the majority of the feedback it has received from HOD members has been positive.

The CoC based its proposal to establish the new credential on the results of a 2006 job analysis study, which indicated the “emergence of a ‘data analytics’ domain as being both substantive and distinct as a full-time role in and of itself. They also noted that the study suggested that the performance domain associated with this role would increase in both importance and prevalence through the next 5-7 years. Although a definite title for this role has not been determined at this time, a CoC job analysis task force has developed this statement describing the job:

“The Certified Health Data Analyst (working title) professional provides expertise to acquire, manage, analyze, interpret, and transform data into accurate, consistent, and timely information. This individual balances the ‘big picture’ strategic vision with the details of the project. Duties include communicating with individuals and groups at multiple level internal and external to the organization. Therefore, this professional possesses broad knowledge of the processes and outputs of many departments within the organization. In addition, this professional possesses the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects.”

The CoC task force also identified the following job competencies as fundamental skills for this new credential:

1. Data Management

• Assist in the development and maintenance of the data architecture and model to provide a foundation for database design that supports the business’ needs.
   
• Establish uniform definitions of data captured in source systems to create a reference tool (data dictionary)
   
• Formulate validation strategies and methods (i.e., system edits, reports, and audits) to ensure accurate and reliable data.
   
• Evaluate existing data structures using data tables and field mapping to develop specifications that produce accurate and properly reported data.
   
• Integrate data from internal and external sources in order to provide data for analysis and/or reporting.
   
• Facilitate the update and maintenance of tables for organizations’ information systems in order to ensure the quality and accuracy of the data.

2. Data Analytics

• Analyze health data using appropriate testing methods to generate findings for interpretation.
   
• Interpret analytical findings by formulating recommendations for clinical, financial, and operational processes.
   
• Validate results through qualitative and quantitative analyses to confirm findings.

3. Data Reporting

• Design metrics and criteria to meet the end users’ needs through the collection and interpretation of data.
   
• Generate routine and criteria to meet the end users’ needs through the collection and interpretation of data.
   
• Generate routine and ad-hoc reports using internal and external data sources to complete data requests.
   
• Present information in a concise, user-friendly format by determining target audience needs to support decision processes.

The CoC has proposed the following standards for initial certification:

1. Baccalaureate degree or higher and a minimum of five years of healthcare data experience; or
    
2. Healthcare Information Administration credential (RHIA) and a minimum of one year of healthcare data experience.

They evidently intend to verify healthcare data experience through the application process, which will require submission of a resume describing work related experience in healthcare data management, analysis, and reporting. They propose to utilize the current CE structure and requirements, as defined for the RHIA and/or multiple credentials, for maintenance of the Health Data Analytics credential.

All members of GHIMA are encouraged to give consideration to this proposal and to let their elected-GHIMA representatives know where they stand on the issue. A great deal more information is available in discussion threads on the Communities of Practice (CoP). Now is the time for individual GHIMA members to become educated on this issue, share their thoughts with their GHIMA representatives, and help influence the future growth and development of our profession.

Submitted By: Bob Lantis, GHIMA President

A bylaws amendment has been proposed with the intent of gaining third party accreditation for the AHIMA Council on Certification (CoC). The CoC is responsible to create and maintain credentialing and re-credentialing processes for AHIMA, to include developing the future direction of AHIMA credentials, overseeing all aspects of test development, as well as administering policies and procedures pertaining to certification maintenance for all AHIMA credentials. The substance of the proposal is to transfer the powers and duties of approving the standards for initial certification and the standards for maintenance of certification from AHIMA’s House of Delegates (HOD) to the CoC. The CoC says that in order to receive the third party accreditation, by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), it must demonstrate autonomy in decision-making and protection from undue influence with respect to essential certification elements (i.e., standards for initial certification and the subsequent maintenance of certification for all AHIMA credentials).

As in accreditation by the JCAHO for hospitals, this accreditation process is voluntary and only granted to an organization that has met predetermined and standardized criteria in the areas of competency, authority, or credibility. The CoC indicates that such third party accreditation offers value to AHIMA in that:

1. It will enhance the competitive value of AHIMA credentials, by demonstrating independent verification of the validity of credentialing process, providing a means to differentiate AHIMA credentials from those of competitors.
    
2. Encourage both domestic and international confidence in the AHIMA certification programs.
    
3. Promote consistency and equivalency of multiple exam forms by adopting evidence-based best practices confirmed through independent peer review.
    
4. Reduce multiple audits and remove portability barriers to trade and/or globalization in working towards the goal of ‘certified once – accepted everywhere.’

CoC representatives have indicated that when and if third party accreditation is achieved, that the CoC will continue to be a standing committee of AHIMA. GHIMA members are encouraged to learn more about this proposal by researching the associated threads on the Communities of Practice and to share their opinions with their elected GHIMA leaders, so their views can be reflected when the Georgia delegates vote on this issue in the House of Delegates.

Submitted by: Sheryl Spohn, GHIMA Community Education Coordinator

Highlights from the PHR campaign since it’s rebirth of the campaign titled “It’s HI Time” at the beginning of this year include:

• PHR information has reached almost 4 million viewers in 11 major television markets featuring John Walsh from Americas Most Wanted.
   
• PHR information has reached almost 3 million listeners in 23 markets on 69 stations through Linda Kloss, AHIMA CEO.
   
• PHR articles have been published in the following

- Prevention Magazine

- Chicago Tribune

- Crain’s Chicago Business News

- Healthcare IT News

- Health Data Management

• The myPHR.com website received over 850,000 hits in the month of February
   
• PBS and cable news stations have begun running a 6 ½ minute video on PHRs as part of a 10-part series of health topics hosted by Hugh Downs, long time TV news announcer.

Personal Health Records are an excellent tool to improve consumers’ health, however, we must all work together to get the message out in our communities. According to Linda Kloss in the June publication of the Journal of AHIMA, the next 3-5 years will include a much larger range of personal health information tools to help us communicate with care givers and those around us regarding our health and the healthcare we receive. As more and more large technology companies (i.e. Microsoft, Google, etc.) begin to enter this arena, our consumers need to be educated to make good decisions about the tools that will work for them.

Come to the annual GHIMA to hear the most recent information on Personal Health Records and get involved by signing up to be a presenter or recommitting to the campaign. There will be a PHR update presentation on Wednesday afternoon and a PHR booth in the exhibit hall. Please stop by to hear the latest in personal health records and spreading the news in Georgia.