1. Preparing to Challenge the CHIMA National Certification Examination

2. Overview Introduction to CHIMA/CCHIM Marking of exam
Exam & deadline dates
Certification exams
Multiple choice exams
Development of exam
Learning Outcomes in HIM
Why does the exam not have more coding questions?
Gap Analysis Tool
Marking of exam
Sectional breakdown
Seven competencies
Exam layout
Exam questions
Application process
Invigilator and exam site information
Future plans

3. Introduction
The Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA) is our national professional association; it was founded in 1942 to provide a forum for Health Information Management (HIM) professionals to share their expertise.
The Canadian College of Health Information Management (CCHIM) was formed in 1972 to provide educational standards and professional certification for the HIM profession
These bodies operate jointly, under the acronym CHIMA, to achieve the following mission, vision and values.

4. CHIMA’s Mission
CHIMA is the national organization that represents leadership and excellence in health information management.
As a national association, we:
support continuing education and professional practice of HIM professionals;
develop strategic partnerships to advance the development and integration of electronic HIM; and
advocate for and strengthen the HIM role in health care settings across the continuum of care.

5. CHIMA’s Mission As a federally chartered college, we:
are the single source of credentialed Health Information Management Professionals;
partner with educational institutions, our members, industry, and employers to develop the competencies, skills and knowledge for the HIM profession; and
provide essential research and expertise in health information standards and best practice.

6. CHIMA’s Mission As a profession, we:
contribute to client care, outcomes and safety through the provision of accurate, complete, timely and accessible health information; and
support the Canadian public by advocating for and monitoring the privacy, security and confidentiality of personal health information.

7. CHIMA’s Vision and Values
CHIMA VISION:
Advancing the health care system as the change leader in health information management.
CHIMA VALUES:
Learning
Leadership
Excellence
Integrity
Collaboration

8. CHIMA’s Domains of Practice
Electronic Health Information Management (e-HIM®)
Data Quality
Privacy
Health Information Management Standards

9. Strategic Direction Evolve and Advance the HIM® Profession
CCHIM Strategic Goals
Advance HIM® Professional Competencies
Promote Lifelong Learning
Collaborate with Academic Institutions to Promote Educational Excellence
CHIMA Strategic Goals
Enrich the Value and Benefits of Membership
Enhance the profile of certified HIM® Professionals in Advancing Quality Care and Healthcare System Efficiencies
Governance Strategic Goals
Uphold a Strong Governance Framework
Advocate for CHIMA and CCHIM
Sustain Organizational Capacity

10. Code of Ethics It is the responsibility of each member to:
Strive at all times to provide services consistent with quality health care, promotion and prevention;
Strive at all times to protect the privacy, security and confidentiality of health information in any form or medium;
Perform duties diligently and offer only those services for which one is qualified;
Conduct oneself in the practice of the profession so as to bring honour and dignity to oneself, the HIM profession and the Canadian College of Health Information Management;
Conduct oneself in an ethical manner consistent with the values of the Canadian College of Health Information Management and report any unethical practices to the appropriate authority;

11. Code of Ethics
Strive to improve one’s professional knowledge and competence through continuing education and lifelong learning;
Offer leadership and a proactive, innovative approach to advancements in health information management practices;
Abide by the policies and by-laws of the Canadian College of Health Information Management and actively support its strategic directions;
Support and mentor students, peers and colleagues to develop and strengthen the workforce and profession; and
Respect the dignity and worth of every person.
- Code and Interpretation Guidelines

12. Professional Credential and Title
Upon successful completion of the CHIMA national examination, you will be eligible to use the following:
Professional credential – CHIM
Professional title – Certified HIM Professional
If you do not successfully challenge the CHIMA national examination, you are not a certified HIM professional and cannot use the CHIM credential or title of HIM. CHIM is protected as the college credential and HIM™ is trademarked by CHIMA.

13. Certification Exams
Certification exams are more difficult than regular school exams as they are comprehensive and are intended to assess a broad range of competencies.
Individuals who do very well on school exams do not always perform as well as they expect during their first certification examination.
If you are unsuccessful on the first attempt, do not get discouraged – try again.
If you have difficulty with multiple choice exams, there are resources that can help.

14. Important Exam Information
Exam dates are posted on the CHIMA website as well as in the Examination Guide.
Deadline dates for submission of Application and Invigilator Agreement are posted on the CHIMA website as well as in the Examination Guide.
By signing the examination application form you are confirming that the information contained on the form is accurate and that you agree to abide by all examination policies and rules and the CHIMA Code of Ethics during the entire examination process.
Any breach of the rules and regulations constitutes a breach in the Code of Ethics and could result in disqualification from writing, automatic failure of the examination, and/or a professional conduct enquiry.

15. Special Needs Policy
Special need, as defined for CHIMA policy, refers to an applicant or candidate with any documented temporary or permanent physical impairment or any persistent mental, psychological, sensory or learning impairment. See exam guide for further information.
Written documentation of disability is required.

16. Multiple Choice Exams
It is to your advantage to learn the logic required to answer multiple choice questions.
Be sure to read the questions thoroughly and carefully.
Try writing your own multiple choice questions to help you study.
Practice answering real questions – you can find examples in your textbooks, course work, etc.

17. Multiple Choice Exams
Answering multiple choice questions involves making distinctions between correct and nearly-correct statements – there is always one BEST answer.
Read the question carefully before you look at the answers. Look at all answers before you decide on your response.
Attempt to come up with the answer in your head before looking at the possible answers, this way the choices given on the test are less likely to confuse you.

18. Multiple Choice Exams Eliminate answers you know are not right.
Read all the choices before choosing your answer.
As there is no penalty on the CCHIM exam for an incorrect answer (i.e., you do not lose a mark for an incorrect answer), always take an educated guess and select an answer.
Avoid changing your answer; usually your first choice is the right one, unless you misread the question.

19. Multiple Choice Exams a b c d
Some people find it helpful to bring paper and pencil to the exam; once you are in your seat, prepare a listing of a, b, c, d on your paper to help you eliminate potential answers. This strategy enables you to consider only the answers you have not eliminated.
a b c d
Some people find it helpful to bring paper and pencil to the exam; once you are in your seat, prepare a listing of a, b, c, d on your paper to help you eliminate potential answers. This strategy enables you to consider only the answers you have not eliminated.

20. Multiple Choice Exams
For further information on multiple choices exams, try the following websites:

21. Exam Development
There is one national exam for both diploma and bachelor degree graduates.
All questions are based on the Learning Outcomes taught in all CCHIM accredited HIM programs.
All exam questions are based on the diploma level competencies.

22. Exam Development
Exam development is a multi-stage and ongoing process:
All questions are validated prior to becoming real questions on exam;
Every exam includes some validation question; these questions don’t count in your grade but CCHIM can analyze response patterns for relevancy, difficulty, language, etc.; and
Exam questions are systematically reviewed and re-validated for accuracy, relevancy, etc.

23. Learning Outcomes in HIM (LOHIM)
All CCHIM-recognized programs include these learning outcomes within their curriculum.
The outcomes represent the skills and knowledge that an HIM Professional is expected to have upon entry to practice.
It is expected that these learning outcomes will be achieved over a minimum two-year diploma or four-year degree program.

24. Learning Outcomes in HIM (LOHIM)
The learning outcomes indicate increased responsibility in the area of computerization and database management.
There is an emphasis on training for non-acute as well as acute healthcare facilities and a shift toward community care and employment in non-acute settings.
It is expected that the four core domains are incorporated and taught in the HIM programs.
The example of learning outcomes on the next slide is taken from Health Information Science - Section C5 (LOHIM 2006).

25. Health Information Science: Systems Evaluation Learning Outcome & Level Taught
Diploma
Degree
Design criteria-based audits to evaluate the quality of health information systems.
Intermediate
Advanced
Implement processes that comply with established standards.
Identify sources of standards, criteria or benchmarks.
Analyze the effectiveness of systems by objective assessment.
Assess the risks associated with health information systems.
Basic

26. Why does the exam not have more coding questions?
The capability to have exam candidates code is not feasible with a multiple choice style of exam. Coding competency is tested within the school program itself through lab and practical experience. Questions for coding are mainly based on the biomedical sciences, data quality and ethical issues surrounding coding classification.

27. What is the CHIMA Exam Primer?
The CHIMA National Certification Exam (NCE) Primer is a valuable tool to assist any individual preparing to challenge the NCE.  Based on the Learning Outcomes for Health Information Management programs, it identifies each Learning Outcome with a few examples of the knowledge content, and the level to which this will be tested.  Some practice questions are  provided, as well as helpful tips in preparing for the exam.
Available for sale ($40 plus GST/HST) on CHIMA’s website –
NOTE:
If you are applying to write the national examination, the Primer is included in
the exam price but will not be available until you apply online to challenge
the examination. If you choose to purchase the Primer separately, you will not be refunded.

28. Marking of the Exam
There are three (3) sections containing seven (7) core competencies (details on the next slides).
Exam candidates must get 50% in each section with an overall 60% to pass the exam.

29. Sectional Breakdown
Section 1 - Part A of exam Includes Biomedical Sciences/Health Information Science/Ethics and Practice (including coding theory). Section 2 - Part A of exam Includes Health Information Analysis & Presentation/Technology and Health Information/Ethics and Practice. Section 3 – Part B of exam Includes Access and Security/Ethics and Practice/Health Care System in Canada.

30. Seven Competencies Included in Exam
Biomedical Sciences includes medical terminology; anatomy and physiology; and pathophysiology.
Health Information Science includes system standards; system design; data collection and grouping (including coding classification, terminologies and nomenclatures); system maintenance; and system evaluation.
Health Information Analysis & Presentation includes epidemiology; research design and methodology; statistics; data retrieval, analysis and presentation techniques; and health information provision and dissemination.

31. Seven Competencies Included in Exam
Technology and Health Information includes computer technology, concepts and information applications; assessment, evaluation and selection of new technologies; system and database management; system effectiveness; information assessment of linkage, integration and interfacing.
Access, Privacy and Security Safeguards of Health Information includes access and disclosure of health information according to legal requirements; administrative, technical and physical safeguards for health information; storage, back-up, retention and destruction of health information.
Ethics and Practice includes the role of an HIM professional - past, present and future; CHIMA professional practice guidelines and standards; professional Code of Ethics; patient advocacy; educational requirements and credentialing process for HIM professional in Canada; health information management organizations including CHIMA, provincial associations, and the International Federation of Health Information Management Association (IFHIMA).

32. Seven Competencies Included in Exam
7. Health Care System in Canada includes health care delivery and funding systems in Canada; current healthcare trends and changes; HIM credentialing and certification process; the role of the HIM professional; health indicators; accreditation processes; government relations, including international, national, provincial, municipal, and advocacy for the healthcare system; knowledge of health professions and organizations including certification, code of ethics, and discipline.

33. Exam Layout This is an online exam only. The exam has two parts:
Part A is 2.0 hours (4 pages, 4 competencies)
Part B is 1.5 hours (3 pages, 3 competencies)
TOTAL is 3.5 hours (7 pages, 7 competencies)
Each core competency is one page.
Each page has 22 questions for a total of 154 questions on the exam.
You may choose to budget approximately 30 minutes per page (competency) but remember - some questions may take more or less time than others.

34. Exam Layout
You may review any question within the page PRIOR TO submitting the page.
Once a page is submitted, you cannot go back or change the answers.
Why can’t you go back to a previous page once submitted? The exam is set up with each page as a “mini-exam”.
If something happens to the computer, the most you would lose is 22 questions. These have to be re-written. If each page is not submitted, you could potentially lose up to 2 hours worth of questions, e.g., all of Part A.

35. READ THE ENTIRE GUIDE THOROUGHLY
Application Process
Download Exam Guide, Invigilator Guide, and Invigilator Agreement form from
The exam application is to be completed online and can be accessed through the CHIMA Members Only section of the website. All documentation must reach CHIMA by the stated deadline date on the website.
Only original, certified, final transcripts will be accepted.
READ THE ENTIRE GUIDE THOROUGHLY

36. Application Process
Some schools send transcripts en masse, some schools do not – determine if you need to request an individual transcript from the Registrar after convocation to ensure it is your final official transcript stating that you have graduated and been awarded your degree or diploma.
If you are a re-write candidate (since 2005) or an active associate level CHIMA member, you do not need to submit another transcript.
Transcripts become the property of CHIMA and will not be returned.

37. Application Process
Once our online application has been approved, payment will be processed.
Ensure all addresses are legible and accurate as this is the primary form of communication.
Incorrect or illegible addresses will delay receipt of vital information.
CHIMA will not verify receipt of individual applications or invigilator documentation prior to approval dates noted within exam guide.
CHIMA is not responsible for applications that are not submitted properly.

38. Invigilators and Exam Sites
Where possible, non-distance education schools will have invigilators assigned and an exam writing centre assigned.
Exam candidates will need to confirm with their Program Coordinators as to whether or not they are setting up an exam writing centre for the graduating class.
All distance education students (e.g., HealthcareCAN/CHA Learning) are required to locate an exam site and invigilator on their own.

39. Remember to read the Examination Guide thoroughly!
Questions?
Please questions to Jennifer Crook, Coordinator of Certification at
Remember to read the Examination Guide thoroughly!