Anna Glenn

Health Information Systems Technology

HCMT1005C (001)
8/31/14
Chapter 1 Research Assignment

American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is the premier

association of health information management professionals. AHIMA currently serves 52
affiliated component state associations and over 71,000 members. AHIMA is known as the
leading source for HIM knowledge and provides its members with ongoing education and
training.
AHIMA was founded in 1928 by the American College of Surgeons. The Association of
Record Librarians of North America (ARLNA) was established as a way to elevate the standards
of clinical records. AHIMA has undergone multiple name changes since its formation as a way
to reflect the ongoing changes within the profession. In 1938 the Association was known as the
American Association of Medical Record Librarians (AAMRL). The AAMRL created the
standards and regulations the established its members as medical record experts. Moving forward
the Association became known as the American Medical Record Association in 1970, and its
members were increasing their involvement in multifaceted health care settings. In 1991 the
Association changed its name to AHIMA, which describes the focus on clinical data beyond the
single hospital medical record.

The mission of AHIMA is leading the health informatics and information management
community to advance professional practice and standards. AHIMA works on promoting this
mission through informatics, leadership, information governance, innovation, and public good.
The code of ethics is intended to serve as a professional ethics guide for AHIMA
members and credentialed professionals who are nonmembers. The ethical obligations of
AHIMA members and credentialed nonmembers are provided by the code. The code also
provides 11 ethical principles that are the foundation of AHIMAs code of ethics. Some of the
major guidelines and principles include; Advocate, uphold and defend the individuals right to
privacy and the doctrine of confidentiality in the use and disclosure of information, Advance
health information management knowledge and practice through continuing education, research,
publications, and presentations, and Represent the profession to the public in a positive manner.
By highlighting some of the ethically principles and guidelines we can see that HIT professionals
are expect to uphold high standards of practices and continued education.
The history, mission, and code of ethics are factors that impact me as a new HIT
professional. While considering the history of AHIMA, the HIT professionals role can be seen
and defined as an ever changing and innovative one. With the changing of the name to the most
recent AHIMA, we can see that the role and the involvement of the HIM profession has not only
increased, but also changed with the rapid change of technology. It is important that with all of
these changes we as professionals seek ongoing education and training. When considering the
mission of AHIMA, we see what the expectation of a HIT professional is. As a new HIT
professional I will be expected to advance my own personal professional practice and standards.
In doing this I will meet not only the expectations and desires of the association, but I will be
able to keep myself professionally desirable in a field that is ever changing. With the focus on

informatics and innovation it is important that I utilize the ongoing training and education
available to stay relevant in the field. Ethically it is important that as an HIT professional I
remain focused on patient care. It is important the above all things I maintain a confidentiality
and a patient-first mentality at all times to uphold my professional responsibilities. As a new HIT
professional it will be important for me to remember that I am becoming part of a field that has a
distinct history, ever changing responsibilities, and an honorable professional history that I will
be expected to uphold.

Work Cited
American Health Information Management Association. (2014, January). AHIMA & Our Work.
AHIMA.org. Web. 31 August 2014.

American Health Information Management Association. (2011, October 2). AHIMA Code of
Ethics. Library of AHIMA. Web. 31 August 2014.