At the start of year the staff at North Ryde and I initiated a clean-up and mini makeover of our work environment. I love a good spring-clean, throwing or donating what we don’t need. We cleared two storage rooms, turning one into my office and the other to an informal collaborative space with two hot desks for visitors. Our meeting room is recarpeted with a splash of wall paint and decked out with AV to hold a meeting. I’d like to thank the HIMAA staff who led and pitched in to help.
Best of all, I’m happy to share this space with our members. If you’re away from the office and need a few hours of workspace or would like to hold a meeting with your fellow HIMAA members and guests, please feel free to contact us at himaa@himaa.org.au to check if the space is available. We would love to welcome you! We will be hosting a morning tea on 11 May 2021 at 10.30am for the HIMAA Awareness Week in our office. I hope to see you there if you can make it (see What’s On under Awareness Week to register).
To lessen the volume of emails into your inbox, we have combined the monthly eNews and HIMAA Matters. Launched with this issue the HIMAA Matters Online features regular items as well as new sections. Member News is a section where we invite our members to share their news about what’s happening at your workplace, your work change/movements and to announce other relevant member/industry updates. We want to share your news with your colleagues and celebrate you! Please send these updates to membership@himaa.org.au and ensure you include appropriate acknowledgement. Please confirm you have obtained copyright permission for photographs and third-party materials if used.
In Editorial you will hear from our editors on what’s coming up in the issues and other related news. Read on to learn about the launch of the new HIM-I website. Under Latest News, you will find information on 2021 HIMAA Research Grant Scheme which closes on 30 June 2021. I would like to thank our Research Advisory Committee who are committed to fostering health information management research as a priority for all members of HIMAA. Acknowledging HIMAA committee member positions are voluntary, I am indebted to our members for investing their time and input in furthering the profession.
I’d like to draw your attention to IFMRO to IFHRO to IFHIMA – An Historical Overview 1949 – 2019. This is a piece of historical treasure you may consider having as a part of your collection. Reviewed in Workplace Review – People, practice, cases and trends in workplace relations 10(2): Summer, Craig Ryan wrote: “In her history of the International Federation1 of medical record professionals, Professor Phyllis Watson sheds light on the profoundly important part played by medical records, and the people who maintain them, in our health systems. It is an invaluable contribution to redressing any lack of awareness.”
Also, I thank Jane Larkan and Meleah Herbert for their article in this newsletter. Make privacy a priority, for the Privacy Awareness Week (PAW) 3-9 May 2021. This is an integral issue for our members and a matter HIMAA is passionate about.
HIM Awareness Week is on from 10-16 May 2021. More details are in What’s On. I encourage you to participate. It is not too late to order a promotional pack from our National Office by emailing events@himaa.org.au. We’ll send you posters for display, flyers and brochures and new merchandise, such as highlighters and branded face masks. We need all members to spread the word about our wonderful profession and the pivotal work that HIM professionals do.
Excitingly, the Call for Submissions for the HIMAA National Conference is out. Guidelines are published on the HIMAA website. We are keen to learn about your projects, issues, and anything you wish to share with the HIM industry. Please submit a paper or an abstract by the deadline, 10 May 2021.
Please keep your eye on the HIMAA Events page for webinars and branch events happening every month. Thank you to those who attended our introductory webinar and provided feedback on your needs and preferences. The following sessions will be tailored according to your input.
Finally, I’d like to welcome Tammy Ware, our new Education Officer for clinical coding. Who commenced with us on 15 March 2021. Tammy has extensive experience in health information management, managing clinical coding teams and more recently the Regional HIM at the Mater Hospital in Townsville. She will be working with us on a part-time basis supporting our entry level students. Tammy is passionate about clinical coding and educating new coders. We are excited to welcome Tammy to our team.
I remain keen to work with you in leading HIMAA to serve the health information profession. Please feel free to reach out to me to chat.
Jae Redden, CEO
