NIU Health Services is celebrating the 24th annual Health Information Professionals Week from Sunday, March 17, through Saturday, March 23, along with the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
This year’s theme is “Accurate Data, Excellent Care.”
In accordance with this theme, Health Services will have a bulletin board display in their lobby highlighting important aspects of how health information is handled.
“Health information management (HIM) professionals are a critical linchpin in our health care system, and the American Health Information Management Association is proud to recognize the contributions of these individuals,” said AHIMA CEO Lynne Thomas Gordon.
“Our hope is Health Information Professionals Week will increase awareness of the vital role HIM professionals play in the success and efficiency of our health care system landscape.”
HIP Week 2013 will coincide with AHIMA’s Hill Day, an event where AHIMA members visit Capitol Hill and share the importance of advancing HIM. Data governance, privacy and security, and fraud and abuse concerns continue to be key issues for HIM professionals, and AHIMA is ready to provide guidance to HIM workers, consumers, and government leaders seeking counsel.
“As new technology and policies evolve, HIM professionals’ jobs have drastically changed over time, and they must adapt their skill set to ensure the best patient care and safety,” Thomas Gordon said. “‛Accurate Data, Excellent Care’ is not only a theme we recognize during this specific week, but one that is at the forefront of our daily work.”
Keeping data accurate and secure, while using it as an analytic tool, is one of the biggest challenges healthcare organizations face. While HIP Week acknowledges the past accomplishments of HIM professionals, future endeavors to properly use this data, as it exponentially grows over time, is equally recognized as it will shape future improvements in the health care system.
For more information, contact Natasha McPartlin at (815) 753-9742 or nmcpartlin1@niu.edu.