As 2011 draws to a close, we all need to take a step back to
remind ourselves of our accomplishments this past year. Some MdHIMA members have
recently graduated from HIT programs or have received graduate degrees, others
have passed certification exams in 2011, while other HIM professionals have
helped guide their organizations to success in various HIT projects and
implementations. Our HIM profession has embraced and supported many new
initiatives and changes this past year. Many healthcare systems and
organizations are embarking on EHR implementations which require the skills and
knowledge of HIM professionals.
As we look ahead to 2012, we need to make sure that we have the passion to keep
pushing the limits and pursuing our goals for Health Information Management. It
is important to continue to be engaged and excited about the future of the HIM
profession. HIM has evolved in the past few years and will likely continue to
change our current roles and responsibilities. Rita Bowen, President of AHIMA,
mentions in her President’s Message for November/December 2011 that, “we need to
be intrinsically motivated and make an effort to get off of dead center and
accomplish something meaningful.” Future success of the HIM field lies with all
of us and the passion and commitment we all have for this great profession.
For HIM professionals prepared to face the future with confidence, the sky is
the limit. However, we all must step up and be leaders for change. I have found
that certain actions make individuals stand out from the pack, and we must take
and use these qualities to improve ourselves and guarantee HIM has a role in the
future of healthcare. Some of the qualities are:
-
Be persistent - Step up and make your voice heard. Many
times HIM Departments aren’t involved in projects initially, and we are
brought in at the very end when the major decisions have already been made.
We must convince others that what we have to say is important.
-
Do more than expected - We need to go the extra mile and not
just do what is asked of us but do more. Sometimes this is hard to achieve,
but enthusiasm and positive thinking yield rewards.
-
Show confidence - HIM Professionals need to think like
champions. If you think you can succeed, you usually will. If you think you
can’t, you often don’t. HIM needs to take charge and flex our emotional
muscles.
-
Keep learning - It is so important to make a commitment to
lifelong learning. Healthcare is going through many changes, and so are the
professional skills needed to excel in HIM. HIM professionals need to
continually read and keep up to date on healthcare legislation and learn new
things. Health IT and e-HIM environments present tremendous opportunities
for our future. We need to keep up with the pace and continue our knowledge
in these important areas of healthcare.
There are no shortcuts to success and being successful in HIM is
hard work. I foresee many challenges ahead for our profession, but with
dedication and drive and using what we have to our best advantage we will be
successful. We can accomplish our goals and as we move into the New Year we need
to make certain that we set SMART goals for ourselves and the organizations in
which we work. If you are not familiar with the SMART terminology it stands for:
S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Attainable
R = Relevant
T = Time-Bound
Setting personal and professional goals is very hard to do, but if they are
SMART goals, they can be more achievable and can produce much success and
positive change. So . . . what are your goals going to be for 2012?
Until next time . . .
Dina Smoker RHIA, CPC
President, MdHIMA
