1. Finding Your Voice as an HIM Student Alexandra Richards
Unleash Your Passion
Finding Your Voice as an HIM Student
Alexandra Richards

2. Congratulations! If you are here, chances are you like HIM!
You made the right choice
Congratulations!
If you are here, chances are you like HIM!
Today, I’m going to talk about how to use your passion for Health Information Management to your advantage.
You made the right choice
As you already know, Health Information Management is one of the fastest growing careers.
Health Information Professionals are in demand due to technological change and the aging of America, another reason why Health Information Management is a great career.

3. Reasons to love HIM Variety Job Outlook Job Security
Health Information
Job Settings
Job Outlook
Amazing Growth
Job Security
We are guaranteed jobs
Reasons to love HIM
Variety
HIM is a blend of healthcare, information technology, law, business operations and much, much more.
Different fields are available to go into
Inpatient, Outpatient, Consulting, Work from home, Pharmaceuticals, Education, Veterinarian’s office… anywhere there is healthcare!
Job Outlook
According to the bureau of labor statistics, growth is at a “faster than average” rate for professionals in the medical record field
20% growth rate in the next
Job prospects are very good
This means plentiful jobs in a lackluster economy
Job Security
Aging of America
Unfortunately our core population is aging which means they will need more healthcare for years to come
Always a need for healthcare
Healthcare is a necessity in everyone’s life and health information is vital to the patient’s care.

4. Why is that Important? Sharing the benefits of HIM earns respect
We are “more than just medical records!”
Why am I telling you all of this? This information is key to the popularity and understanding of the Health Information Career
Sharing the benefits and rewards of HIM will not only help you now as a student, but will have long term effects of respect for the field and how it can benefit healthcare
“We are not just medical records!” – This is something that an alumni of Temple University said about her HIM department at a prominent Pennsylvania hospital when trying to get publicity out within the hospital about her department. Unfortunately, many healthcare professionals think that we are just medical records, but you know we are not, tell them who we are!

5. Current Events and Their Impact on Health Information
ARRA & HITECH
We are the experts
ICD-10
Share why this change is vital to patient care
Current events and their impact on Health Information
ARRA and HITECH
Healthcare reform and Health IT Stimulus are changing how the nation views Health Information
Health Information now has a dollar sign attached to it, use this development as a vehicle to get the word out about WHY this reform is necessary in our nation
Use your voice as a student to let others know that WE are the future, this is our expertise!
You are around a diverse group of healthcare professionals everyday (nursing, medical school students, dental school students, etc.), let them know that we are the experts on this reform
Healthcare needs us to step up and become leaders of this change
Professionals from all realms of healthcare are now looking to HIM for guidance
ICD-10
This change will have a tremendous impact on healthcare as well
Be ready as a student, you have all the tools to use this major change to your advantage
Recent education on ICD-9 which means an easier learning curve for ICD-10, educators within reach
Share the reasons as to why this change is needed
Now on the same worldwide level as many other countries
Will improve healthcare through the documentation responsibilities that are now being put on providers
More information on the illnesses that are affecting our society means a better understanding and path to prevention and cures, which is ultimately our goal as Health Information Professionals

6. Focusing Your Passion How? Who do we reach out to?
What do HI Professionals do for healthcare?
Who do we reach out to?
The healthcare consumer
Focusing your passion
How?
Ask yourself, what do Health Information professionals contribute to healthcare, what is our mission?
AHIMA’s Awareness and Positioning Program came up with this: “To produce better healthcare results”
Who do we reach out to?
The healthcare consumer
The healthcare consumer is essentially, everyone
The people who we want this message to come across to are employers, educators, federal government- they’re all healthcare consumers
The priority of our audience (employers, government) is also the healthcare consumer. By educating the consumer we in turn educate the provider

7. Focusing Your Passion How do you reach out?
Show we are trustworthy sources of information
Get involved with the myPHR initiative
Explore benefits of involvement with AHIMA Organizations
How do you reach out?
Show that we are trustworthy sources of information by sharing your education with those close to you
Help them understand their medical bills (Coding classes), what the doctor has told them (Medical Terminology, Clinical classes)
Get involved with the myPHR initiative that AHIMA has
Share the importance of having a Personal Health Record
Help the consumer find the best PHR for them
Explore the benefits of involvement with AHIMA organizations
Many organizations have their own initiatives and ways to reach out to consumers
Fellow Councilmembers will expand on involvement on AHIMA Orgs

8. Knowledge is Power Share what HIM can do for healthcare
Let people know that we can help in this time of change
We’re not just Medical Records!
Knowledge is power
Sharing with others what this profession can do for healthcare creates respect for our field and the individual
We have the knowledge that healthcare needs in this time of change, let the healthcare field know we can help
Let everyone know that we are the key to long-lasting healthcare success
As HIM students, we are the future of healthcare!