Chapter 1: Health Information Management Profession

Sayles Textbook - Chapter 1

American Academy of Professional Coders

The American Academy of Professional Coders provides certified credentials to medical coders in physician offices, hospital outpatient facilities, ambulatory surgical centers, and in payer organizations

Active membership

Individuals interested in the AHIMA purpose and willing to abide by the Code of Ethics are eligible for active membership. Active members in good standing shall be entitled to all membership privileges including the right to vote

Accreditation

1. A voluntary process of institutional or organizational review in which a quasi-independent body created for this purpose periodically evaluates the quality of the entity's work against preestablished written criteria

2. A determination by an accrediting body that an eligible organization, network, program, group, or individual complies with applicable standards

3. The act of granting approval to a healthcare organization based on whether the organization has met a set of voluntary standards developed by an accreditation agency.

American Association of Medical Record Librarians (AAMRL)

The name adopted by the Association of Record Librarians of North America in 1944; precursor of the American Health Information Management Association.

American College of Surgeons (ACS)

The scientific and educational association of surgeons formed to improve the quality of surgical care by setting high standards for surgical education and practice.

American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)

The professional membership organization for managers of health record services and healthcare information systems as well as coding services; provides accreditation, advocacy, certification, and educational services.

American Medical Record Association (ARMA)

The name adopted by the American Association of Medical Record Librarians in 1970; precursor of the American Health Information Management Association.

Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI)

Formerly the American Association for Medical Transcription (AAMT), the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity has a model curriculum for former educational programs that includes the study of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, medical science, operative procedures, instruments, supplies, laboratory values, reference use and research techniques, and English grammar.

Association of Record Librarians of North America (ARLNA)

Organization formed 10 years after the beginning of the hospital standardization movement whose original objective was to elevate the standards of clinical recordkeeping in hospitals, dispensaries, and other healthcare facilities; precursor of the American Health Information Management Association.

Board of directors

The elected or appointed group of officials who bear ultimate responsibility for the successful operation of a healthcare organization.

Certification

1. The process by which a duly authorized body evaluates and recognizes an individual, institution, or educational program as meeting predetermined requirements

2. An evaluation performed to establish the extent to which a particular computer system, network design, or application implementation meets a specified set of requirements.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

The senior manager appointed by a governing board to direct an organization's overall long-term strategic management.

Code of ethics

A statement of ethical principles regarding business practices and professional behavior.

Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)

An independent accrediting organization whose mission is to serve the public interest by establishing and enforcing quality accreditation standards for health informatics and health information management educational programs.

Component state associations (CSAs)

Component state associations are part of the volunteer structure of AHIMA and are organized in every state, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The purpose of each Component State Association shall be to promote the mission and purpose of AHIMA in its state.

Continuing education units (CEUs)

Training that enables employees to remain current with advancing knowledge in their profession; activities that qualify for continuing education units include such things as attending workshops and seminars, taking college courses, participating in independent study activities, and engaging in self-assessment activities.

Credential

A formal agreement granting an individual permission to practice in a profession, usually conferred by a national professional organization dedicated to a specific area of healthcare practice; or the accordance of permission by a healthcare organization to a licensed, independent practitioner (physician, nurse practitioner, or other professional) to practice in a specific area of specialty within that organization. Usually requires an applicant to pass an examination to obtain the credential initially and then to participate in continuing education activities to maintain the credential thereafter.

Emeritus membership

AHIMA membership category for members who are 65 years old or older

Engage

A virtual network of AHIMA members who communicate via a web-based program managed by AHIMA.

Fellowship program

Program of earned recognition for AHIMA members who have made significant and sustained contributions to the HIM profession throughout meritorious service, excellence in professional practice, education, and advancement of the profession through innovation and knowledge sharing.

Group membership

Allows multiple individuals from an organization to join AHIMA at one time; student and business groups are eligible for this membership type.

Health information management (HIM)

An allied health profession that is responsible for ensuring that availability, accuracy, and protection of the clinical information that is needed to deliver healthcare services and to make appropriate healthcare-related decisions.

Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)

A cause-based, not-for-profit organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal use of IT and management systems for the betterment of healthcare.

Hospital Standardization Program

An early 20th-century mechanism instituted by the American College of Surgeons and aimed at identifying quality-of-care problems and improving patient care; precursor to the survey program offered by the Joint Commission.

House of Delegates

An important component of the volunteer structure of the American Health Information Management Association that conducts the official business of the organization and functions as its legislative body.

Information governance

The accountability framework and decision rights to achieve enterprise information management (EIM). IG is the responsibility of executive leadership for developing and driving the IG strategy throughout the organization. IG encompasses both data governance (DG) and information technology governance (ITG).

National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA)

A not-for-profit association representing cancer registry professionals and Certified Tumor Registrars (CTR). The primary focus is education and certification with the goal to ensure all cancer registry professionals have the required knowledge to be superior in their field.

New graduate membership

AHIMA membership level for student members who are recent graduates of accredited associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs as well as AHIMA-approved coding programs.

Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)

A type of certification granted after completion of an AHIMA-accredited four-year program in health information management and a credentialing examination.

Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)

A type of certification granted after completion of an AHIMA-accredited two-year program in health information management and a credentialing examination.

Registration

The act of enrolling

Student membership

AHIMA membership level that includes any student who does not have an AHIMA credential, has not previously been an active member of AHIMA, and who is formally enrolled in a Professional Certificate Approval Program or Approved Committee for Certificate Programs, or in a CAHIIM-accredited HIM program.