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Alternate Paths to RHIA Exam Eligibility 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.

New Credential in Health Data Analytics 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: Baccalaureate degree or higher and a minimum of five years of healthcare data experience; or   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.

3rd Party Accreditation of AHIMA’s Council on Certification 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: 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.   Encourage both domestic and international confidence in the AHIMA certification programs.   Promote consistency and equivalency of multiple exam forms by adopting evidence-based best practices confirmed through independent peer review.   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.

If you have questions or wish to comment on any AHIMA issues, contact one of the 2008-2009 GHIMA Delegates listed below:

President:  Lori Nobles, RHIA
Past President:  Ginna Evans, MBA, RHIA
President Elect:  Bob Lantis, MHA, RHIA
Delegate (2nd yr):  Ralph Morrison, RHIA
Delegate (1st yr): Ginna Evans, MBA, RHIA

GHIMA has established a mentoring program.  A GHIMA Mentor will provide insight into career paths and development for those individuals new in the profession and have indicated that they would like assistance from a mentor. Learn more.

Learn more about GHIMA's My PHR initiatives!

For information regarding regional health information management associations in Georgia to include contact names and meeting dates, click here.

Please support GHIMA by recognizing the outstanding contributions made by its members. Take a look at some of the previous GHIMA award recipients and learn more about the awards.

Congratulations to the 2008 GHIMA Award winners!

Award	Recipient
Champion	Loren Brumbaugh
Clinical Site	Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Augusta
Distinguished Member	Ginna Evans, MBA, RHIA
Distinguished Service	Ralph Morrison, RHIA, CPC
Mentor	Betty Gentry, RHIA, CTR
New Graduate Award	Ginna Marshall
Outstanding New Professional	Sangeeta Baurai, RHIA
Established Professional	Kay Zettler, RHIT

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Congratulations to the 2008 GHIMA scholarship recipient! 

Carlissa D. Smith, CPC, CPC - H, Clarkson College

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