Dear
Fellow GHIMA Members,
I am extremely honored to have been chosen to serve as President of
our association for 2010-2011 and contribute to GHIMA and our
profession. I am excited to be able to serve an organization that
has made such an indelible mark on the field of health information
management and that has been so influential in shaping my career and
providing me with rewarding educational and networking
opportunities.
This year we are celebrating our 75th Anniversary in
recognition of our association and its members – past, present, and
future. During the past year, I had the privilege of serving as an
AHIMA Delegate on the Professional Development and Recognition
Team. Across the nation, component state associations are working
diligently to provide relevant educational initiatives and promote
recognition of our members. As HIM professionals, it is crucial
that we adapt and remain vigilant in proactively responding to the
needs and challenging opportunities of the future. The 2010-2011
GHIMA board is working on several strategies to help us meets those
needs and opportunities, which include providing professional
development and recognition, promoting volunteerism and membership
engagement at the regional/state level, ICD-10 training and
implementation, mentoring of students and established professionals,
and long-range planning for the future.
Associations such as ours have much to offer in the way of HIM
leadership and best practices. Our roles as health information
professionals has never been more important, particularly as we are
on the eve of so many critical advancements in healthcare and health
information technology, namely provisions of the ARRA/HITECH Acts
and the implementation of ICD-10. Now more than ever, we must be
diligent about impressing upon the public and global health
information community that we have the knowledge, skills, and
expertise to be effective health information leaders. We must
continue to develop the capacity to learn as much as we can about
the health care environment in order to become key players and
stakeholders in the delivery and safeguarding of quality health
information and enhancing information portability and exchange. As
health information professionals, we must learn how to “get to the
table” with others in the healthcare industry, and have the skills
and fortitude to have staying power. We need expertise, enthusiasm,
and a commitment to excellence in our work. Therefore, I would like
to encourage and challenge of each of you to become INVOLVED.
Begin to seek out opportunities that will enhance your
professional and personal growth and development, network with those
in the healthcare information industry, and become a servant
leader. Know that no contribution to our field is too menial, no
opportunity too small to pass up. I believe passionately in our
profession and in what we can accomplish. Please feel free to
contact me with any ideas, questions, or concerns you may have (jmccollum@pyapc.com
or 678-533-1759). I look forward to what we can achieve together!
Sincerely,
Jennifer B. McCollum, RHIA, CCS
GHIMA President, 2010 - 2011
