AHIMA Pillar: Innovation Increase ~ Thought Leadership and Evidence-based HIM Research

What is the definition of Innovation:  Per the Business Dictionary, Innovation is the process of translating an idea or invention into a good or service that creates value or for which customers will pay.
 
To be called an innovation, an idea must be replicable at an economical cost and must satisfy a specific need. Innovation involves deliberate application of information, imagination and initiative in deriving greater or different values from resources, and includes all processes by which new ideas are generated and converted into useful products. In business, innovation often results when ideas are applied by the company in order to further satisfy the needs and expectations of the customers.

In a social context, innovation helps create new methods for alliance creation, joint venturing, flexible work hours, and creation of buyers' purchasing power. Innovations are divided into two broad categories:

1. Evolutionary innovations (continuous or dynamic evolutionary innovation) that are brought about by many incremental advances in technology or processes and
2. Revolutionary innovations (also called discontinuous innovations) which are often disruptive and new.

Source:  http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/innovation.html (EXPIRED LINK)

                

AHIMA’s 2014 – 2017 Strategic Plan explains Innovation as being “Evidence-based research is rapidly increasing in provider settings as more and more data become available. Providing focused opportunities for research will advance the role of HIM in informing clinical practice and developing standards to improve data quality, informatics, and information exchange, and help organizations transition to the EHR. It will also position HIM experts on the forefront of healthcare strategy, using data-driven outcomes to predict trends and support decision making. The use of data creates great value for organizations and for society and allows a proactive approach to individual and population health”. (AHIMA 2014 - 2017 Strategic Plan)

           

With that being said, how would you define Innovation? I would define Innovation as a way to improve on current processes and establish more efficient ways to complete tasks.  Another way would be to recognize the changes in our industry and brainstorm ways to get facilities to include HIM in on more leadership driven initiatives.  I.e. informatics, data analytics, CDI, corporate compliance, security officers, etc. The demographical area in which I live tends to extend some of those opportunities to those professionals who hold business degrees or other technological degrees and/or credentials.  It’s time that we facilitate a way to make our voices and expertise heard and plea that we deserve a place in other areas of a healthcare network.

One way to initiate the Innovation process is “to increase the creation of thought leadership opportunities by convening leaders throughout the profession to envision and implement the future of HIM”. (AHIMA 2014 - 2017 Strategic Plan)  Leadership is also an area of strategic interest for AHIMA. That will be discussed further in another post. But thought leadership is another aspect where we can excel in our careers. We need to be creative and energetic when designing ways to more recognition for our industry.  Specific skill sets might need to be enhanced to get full return on new, fresh ideas to advance the profession.

Areas of interest for Innovation can be found in information governance, analytics, and integrity.  Metrics pulled from those areas can help to improve quality of care, overall organizational performance and reputable return on investments.  Please feel free to explore the topic of Innovation and see what you come up with that your organization might be willing to install based on your recommendation! 

Source: http://library.ahima.org/PdfView?oid=107449

About the Author

Kim Garver, RHIT, CHTS-IS is a CIS Application (Epic) Analyst at Dayton Children's Hospital.  Kim also serves on the OHIMA Board of Directors as the Director of Public Good and Committee Chair of the e-Newsletter Committee.  She is also active in the Miami Valley Health Information Management Association as a Student Involvement Project Leader.