ASK HIM: What is HIMR and how can we learn more?

Question submitted via email: What is HIMR and how can we learn more?

Answer from Beth Liette (OHIMA Board Member):
HIM Reimagined (HIMR) is an AHIMA Leadership initiative approved by the AHIMA Board of Directors in February, 2017. The program offers strategies to transform health information management (HIM) for the future. The primary goals of the HIMR plan include:
•    Increasing the number of HIM professionals holding relevant graduate degrees;
•    Ensuring a strong and valid body of knowledge through research; and
•    Developing career pathways.

The primary focus for HIMR is on curriculum revisions to ensure alignment with jobs of the future. The new competencies are designed to give students the skills needed to remain relevant in the new healthcare environment in areas like informatics, information governance, revenue cycle, and data analytics.

The HIMR Task Force will begin to move forward in implementing activities during 2017. Primary market research, to be completed in 2017, will identify career roles and pathways to move the HIM profession forward into the future.  As more information is made available through research, plan revisions may occur.

To read more about HIMR and watch a video, visit the AHIMA website (EXPIRED).  The draft Whitepaper details numerous recommendations with the rationale for each recommendation.

If you want more information, you can also contact the OHIMA Central Office via email (ohima@ohima.org). 

About the Author 

Beth Liette, MS, RHIA is the current Past-President of OHIMA and Senior Director of HIM at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.  She also serves on AHIMA's House of Delegates and is OHIMA's Delegate Coordinator.

 

Do you have a question??  Ask an HIM expert!  We will do our best to answer questions on any topic ranging from HIM, management, beginning your HIM career, CEUs, OHIMA, AHIMA, etc.!  Submit your question HERE.

ASK HIM: How do I apply to get an apprenticeship?

Question submitted via email: How does a very interested RHIT apply to get into the apprenticeship program as a future employee?

Answer from Mary Taylor-Blasi (AHIMA Foundation): Apprenticeships help to mobilize workforce with structured on-the-job learning in the HIM industry.  The apprenticeship connects job seekers looking to learn new skills with employers looking for qualified workers, resulting in a workforce with HIM industry - driven training and employers with a competitive edge.

• An apprenticeship is a paid position that bridges education and employment in an organization. 
• Apprentices start at an entry level scale of an occupation that increases as certain checkpoints are reached.  They learn while you both earn, financially and professionally! 
• Apprentices may be temporary or permanent employees and are usually full-time positions. 
• Apprentice qualifications vary according to role (for example, a coding professional apprentice may hold a CCA, RHIT, or RHIA credential while a data analyst apprentice must hold a minimum of a RHIA credential) 
• An apprenticeship program lasts from one to two years, with the goal of a permanent position.  The apprentice candidate gains real-world working experience that can be of substantial work to any company.

Apprentice Application of Interest Process
 
Individuals interested in applying for consideration as an apprentice candidate must meet the following requirements:

• Depending on apprentice type and role, applicants may need to have passed a qualifying CCA, RHIT, or RHIA exam. Individuals may initiate an application of interest at any time. 
• Be available to commit to an apprenticeship opportunity lasting from one to two years. 
• Meet the apprentice qualifications as outlined in the application. 
• Encouraged to listen to the AHIMA Foundation - Apprenticeship Program webinar (EXPIRED).

Due to the limited number of available positions, this is a competitive process and apprentices are selected from the candidates who submit interest applications and meet the criteria established by employers.

Submit your Apprentice Interest Application: Apply today!
If you'd like to learn more about how an apprenticeship program can work to benefit you by contacting the AHIMA Foundation at apprenticeship@ahimafoundation.org for more information on this exciting new program.

Interested in becoming an employer for the registered apprenticeship program there are two ways to let us know:

  1.   Fill out the interest survey today so we can learn more about your organization's need. Once completed the AHIMA Foundation will contact you to set-up a call and discuss the apprenticeship one-on-one.

  2.  Email apprenticeship@ahimafoundation.org regarding your interest and we will set-up a call to discuss how apprenticeships can be assist your organization with your workforce needs.  

And if you'd like more information, listen to the WEBINAR (EXPIRED) hosted by OHIMA and the AHIMA Foundation on February 22nd for employers interested learning more about the apprenticeship program.

 

Do you have a question??  Ask an HIM expert!  We will do our best to answer questions on any topic ranging from HIM, management, beginning your HIM career, CEUs, OHIMA, AHIMA, etc.!  Submit your question HERE.

ASK HIM: Where do HIM professionals typically go to gather new information about their role in the healthcare industry?

Question: I'd be interested in knowing where, in addition to OHIMA and AHIMA, HIM professionals typically go to gather new information about their role in the healthcare industry?


Answer from Lauren Manson, RHIA: I could share with you the resources that I personally use.  But I am just one person!  So I took your question to the OHIMA Board of Directors and other HIM Leaders nationwide on AHIMA’s Engage Communities.   We received SO MANY great responses.  Here is an all-encompassing list of the responses (in alphabetical order):  

• Advance for Health Information Professionals
• Annual Healthcare Reports 
• Some consulting firms like Deloitte and Huron have annual healthcare reports that they publish that are also very informative.
• Becker’s Hospital Review
• Clinisync
• The Commonwealth Fund
• FierceHealthcare
• For the Record Magazine
• Google (I’d like to repeat what one of our board members stated: “One hiccup with just googling is making sure that you find information from a reputable source!”) 
• Government Agencies
• Federal
• US Department of Health & Human Services
• Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
• CMS Updates are provided via the MLN Matters articles
• Office of the Inspector General
• OIG Reports and Publications
•  Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) via HealthIT.gov Newsletters 
  
•  HealthIT.gov
• State of Ohio
• Ohio Department of Health
• Office of Health Transformation
• Mental Health & Addiction Services 
• Harvard Business Review
• Health Data Management
• HCPro
• Health Affairs
• Health Policy Institute of Ohio
• Healthcare Finance News
• Healthcare Informatics
• Healthcare IT News 
• Healthcare Scene 
• Hospitals and Health Networks
• Healthcare IT News
• Joint Commission
• The Journal of AHIMA
• Just Coding
• Medscape
• Modern Healthcare
• Other Professional Associations’ Websites, Publications & Newsletters 
• American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)
• America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)
• American Hospital Association (AHA) 
• Ohio Hospital Association (OHA)
•  American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA)
• American Medical Association (AMA) 
• Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA) 
• Association of Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialists (ACDIS) 
• Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) 
• Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA)
• Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) 
• Central & Southern Ohio HIMSS (CSOHIMSS) 
• Northern Ohio HIMSS (NOHIMSS) 
• Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) 
• National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA) 
• Ohio Cancer Registrars Association (OCRA) 
• Smart Brief - Health IT News 
• Social Media 
• Facebook 
• Twitter 
• The Health IT has a thriving social media community. 
• Follow #HITsm.
• @HCLDR is a moderated, weekly educational tweetchat. Forums are based on healthcare topics and questions posted in advance of the tweetchat. 
• @BradJustus for the latest news on all things HIM.
• Follow #HIMsocial and #HIMsm for health information management postings. 
• Both @leonardkl (senior healthcare writer for USNews) and @erictopol (healthcare Futurist) are very helpful.
• LinkedIn 
• Follow a variety of healthcare leaders and discussion groups.  The Story of Digital Health, managed my Paul Sonnier is a fantastic resource.
• YouTube
• TED Talks
• Xtelligent Media Publications which includes: 
• EHRIntelligence.com 
• HealthITSecurity.com 
• HealthITAnalytics.com 
• RevCycleIntelligence.com 
• mHealthIntelligence.com 
• HealthITInteroperability.com 
• HealthPayerIntelligence.com 
• HITInfrastructure.com 
• PatientEngagementHIT.com

Do you have a question??  Ask an HIM expert!  We will do our best to answer questions on any topic ranging from HIM, management, beginning your HIM career, CEUs, OHIMA, AHIMA, etc.!  Submit your question HERE.

ASK HIM: I was thrown under the bus by an associate and reassigned to new duties. What do I do now?

Question submitted via email:
I was sabotaged by someone in my office and was reassigned to new duties.  Now the department is in turmoil.  Management simply wants the situation to “go away” and the staff wants me to “fight it.” I just don’t know which way to turn. I like my job, but the situation has made it almost unbearable to do my job. What do I do?

Answer from Marie Janes, MEd, RHIA, FAHIMA: 

I’ll assume it’s safe to agree with you that the situation was sabotage.  It appears you weren’t able to take precautions to avoid the situation, so your options are limited. Your best line of defense is keeping your emotional intelligence in check and continuing to communicate with others. With time, the truth will win out, unless the office politics are extremely toxic, and then you may have to resort to tougher measures. For now, take a deep breath, do your work and concentrate on the big picture. Your credibility will be recognized once the damage is discovered.

Follow-up: Sabotage is the worst of all office conflicts, but employees face daily challenges that affect their feelings and productivity. Some helpful ideas are as follows:

• Distance yourself from the drama

• Focus your attention on tasks and responsibilities 

• Engage in workplace activities that offer a diversity 

• Be kind, not cruel

• Document the circumstances 

• Use your day planner or calendar to document any unusual situations 

• Guard personal and private reports 

• Be trusting, but don’t be naive
  

• Ascertain whether the coworker was an acquaintance or colleague or unknown

• Determine your relationship, if possible

• Saboteurs want you to take them into your confidence and use your own words against you 

• Maintain your standards and work ethics 

• Length of time in friendships is not always a gauge of loyalty. 

• Along with trying to understand the sabotage is the feeling of loss or death of a previous friendship

•  To compound matters, it’s worse when several coworkers conspire to oust a person

• Plan for the future 

• Jot down the pros and cons of remaining at the company or with the organization 

• Don’t let the saboteur alter your career plans 

• List reasons to stay 

• List reasons to leave 

• Make your own decision (often employment contracts are involved and apply to the situation)

• Acknowledge your emotions and devise coping mechanisms 

• Use an employee assistance program (EAP), if available 

• Seek counseling to alleviate feelings of anger, anxiety, depression, etc. 

• It’s okay to have a good cry—as long as it is a cathartic episode that clears the air and helps you move forward

Remember the saying, "nothing surprises me anymore."  Just when you’ve think you have life figured out, someone will throw a curveball your way. Be true to yourself and maintain a healthy respect for others. Backstabbers may change an office dynamic, but it may not work out according to their plans.

Good Read: https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/win-at-office-politics

 

Do you have a question??  Ask an HIM expert!  We will do our best to answer questions on any topic ranging from HIM, management, beginning your HIM career, CEUs, OHIMA, AHIMA, etc.!  Submit your question HERE.

ASK HIM: How do I find a job working from home in the HIM field?

Question submitted via email: How do I find a job working from home in the HIM field?  I am an RHIT with billing and health information experience.

Answer from Lauren Manson, RHIA: More and more HIM positions are being sent home to work these days!  With so many facilities now using Electronic Medical Records, it is not necessary for many positions to remain onsite.

When looking for a work-from-home position, keep in mind the following:

• Many positions require the employee to be onsite for a period of time and then will later be sent home.

• Some positions are work from home part-time.

• Working from home has it perks; but it takes much self-discipline and focus to be successful.  Working from home is not for everyone.  An article titled REMOTE CONTROL: How to be a Successful HIM Telecommuter by Deanna Rasch was just recently published on the OHIMA Blog.  This is a great resource for those who want to work from home!   

Most positions that are work from home will state that they are remote in the job description.  Here are some HIM job categories that possibly are work from home positions:

• Coding and Billing 
• Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI)
• Deficiency & Correction 
• EHR Analysts
• Some operations positions

Check the OHIMA Career Center frequently for new job postings!  It’s free for Job Seekers!  Good luck finding a work from home position! 

Do you have a question??  Ask an HIM expert!  We will do our best to answer questions on any topic ranging from HIM, management, beginning your HIM career, CEUs, OHIMA, AHIMA, etc.!  Submit your question HERE.