AHIMA delegates approve new certification titles
December 1, 1999 2 minutes read
AHIMA delegates approve new certification titles
Change takes effect Jan. 1, 2000
Get ready to change your certification titles. In a move applauded by some and criticized by others, the house of delegates of the Chicago-based American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) voted Oct. 3 to rename registered record administrator (RRA) to registered health information administrator (RHIA), and accredited record technician (ART) to registered health information technician (RHIT).
"Beginning January 1, 2000, we are asking all health care industry employers and personnel to recognize RHIA and RHIT as the certifications for HIM [health information management] professionals," said AHIMA president Claire R. Dixon-Lee in a statement. "We encourage health care industry employers to discuss the HIM role changes — and subsequent certification title changes — with their HIM employees if they want or need more information."
AHIMA says it chose these particular titles to more accurately reflect current HIM practice and how it fits in with the functions of other health care personnel. The titles also take into consideration industry trends, such as the implementation of computer-based patient records and the increased dependence on data for measuring quality and enhancing patient care, the association says. (For a more detailed discussion of the credential debate, see Hospital Payment & Information Management, October 1999, p. 149.)
After the vote, some AHIMA members complained in HIM listserv postings that they felt they had no input in the voting. AHIMA disagrees, adding that before voting on the acceptance of the new titles, the 186 delegates, who are HIM professionals from each state, discussed the topic at summer team talks, in the Vision 2006 issue forums on the association’s Web site, and through state HIM association meetings.
Other members thought emphasis should now be placed on AHIMA’s plans to promote the HIM profession among government entities, health care employers, and other industry groups. "I am anxiously waiting to see the marketing’ that AHIMA has promised with this change to help in promoting our profession," says an unidentified HIM professional on a listserv. The multi-year marketing campaign is expected to begin next year.
[For more information about the new titles, visit the AHIMA Web site at http://www.ahima.org or call AHIMA at (312) 233-1100.]
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