Professional Development Sub-Committee (PDSC)
The PDSC continues to meet its objectives. These include the identification of the profession’s potential future Continuing Professional Development (CPD) needs – aligned to the HIM Intermediate- and Advanced-level HIM Professional Competency Standards and, in future, other Standards under development, e.g. the CC Performance Standards. The PDSC’s objectives also include the identification and recommendation of useful CPD resources for HIMAA members.
All members of the PDSC are authors of a paper to be presented by one of its members, Kara Pollard, at the 2022 National Conference. The paper will focus on the potential future areas of need for professional development for HIMs, CCs and other workforce categories in the HIMAA membership. Continuing Professional Development is essential for all members to remain abreast of current knowledge and also to support their HIMAA CHIM or CHIP credentialing. This committee is keen to learn of all members’ CPD interests and needs; therefore, the conference presentation will encourage interactive input from the attendees.
The PDSC would be delighted – at any time – to hear suggestions from HIMAA members concerning their current and future needs for CPD resources or activities, or to hear from members who are interested in joining this committee. Please email: educationcommittee@himaa.org.au
Clinical Coder (Performance Standards) Working Group (CCWG)
The CCWG meets monthly, the most recent meeting being 16 September. Patsy Catterson (Vic) recently joined this WG. The CCWG’s large membership is now at capacity; it has strong representation from every state and territory, and from government, and the public and private healthcare/hospital sectors.
Jennie Shepheard, Convenor-CCWG, will be presenting an informative paper on behalf of all members of the CCWG – as co-authors – at the 2022 National Conference. The CCWG’s very large project to develop workplace-based Performance (Competency) Standards for CCs and HIM-Coders will be explained and attendees will be strongly encouraged to provide interactive input.
Health Informatics (Competency Standards) Working Group (HIWG)
The Education Committee intends to establish a new HIWG to review and update the profession Entry-, Intermediate- and Advanced-level HIM Competency Standards that fall within the ‘Health Informatics and Digital Health’ knowledge domain. An EoI will be distributed to the HIMAA membership during the final quarter of 2022.
HIMAA members who have deep interest and experience in any aspects of health or clinical informatics, health ICT, and digital health data and information, are strongly encouraged to think about submitting an EoI when the time comes.
HIMAA Matters – new future focus on HIM students
The Education Committee recently approved the introduction of a new, regular feature alongside our usual report in HIMAA Matters. This will be a short article each month, showcasing a health information management student. We hope, through collaboration with the academics teaching in the accredited health information management courses and consent from participating students, to commence this new feature in the November issue of HIMAA Matters.
Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) Competency Standards Working Group (CDIWG)
The initial membership of this new Working Group has now been established and work will commence following the 2022 National Conference. The Education Committee is keen to include a couple more members in the CDIWG. The CDIWG’s initial work will focus on Competency Standards for HIMs at Profession Entry-, Intermediate, and Advanced-levels. This will be followed by development of Competency Standards for other categories of the health information workforce that fall within the HIMAA membership.
Eligible individuals with appropriate qualifications and substantial CDI experience are welcome to contact the Chair of the Education Committee on educationcommittee@himaa.org.au
Collaboration
The Education Committee included, in its updated (2022) Terms of Reference, provision for at least one joint meeting annually with the Accreditation Council in order to address items of significant mutual interest. The first combined meeting is scheduled for 2 November 2022.
We welcome your involvement!
The Education Committee welcomes contact from individuals, in all categories of the HIMAA membership, who may be interested in contributing to the work of the Education Committee, the PDSC or the various Working Groups. Interested members are always welcome to contact the Chair at: educationcommittee@himaa.org.au
Cassandra Jordan, Member Dr Kerin Robinson, Chair
HIMAA Education Committee. On behalf of the HIMAA Education Committee members.