Stronger Together: How Membership Moves Us Forward

2023 is shaping up to be an exciting year. Why? Because we have so much to look forward to as health information (HI) professionals and as an association.

AHIMA has been on the front line of health data management for more than 95 years. Although the tools and systems have changed tremendously, our role in the healthcare ecosystem remains the same.

AHIMA’s mission to empower people to impact health is what drives all of us to ensure health information is accurate, complete, and available to patients and clinicians when and how they need it. We are responsible for orchestrating the intersection of healthcare, technology, and business results.  Our roles are diverse, but our dedication to the ethical and responsible use of health data is absolute. 

We’ve all heard the saying, “What got you here won’t get you there.” To achieve our goals, we must continue to drive change and enhance the value of our skill sets to keep pace with our changing industry. We must continue to evolve as HI professionals and as leaders within our own organizations. Thankfully, AHIMA has a bold vision to help us do that, including a comprehensive strategic plan to transform our contributions to healthcare. Achieving that goal will take all of us leading together into this future.

Whether you work in a traditional health information management department in your community, are part of a large national healthcare system, or even in a nontraditional setting, I’ve been there, and I understand your challenges. I believe that we, as HI professionals, have the ability … no, actually the responsibility, to leverage data and impact health.  That’s been my unwavering mission for almost 30 years as a health information professional.

Change is inevitable, especially in healthcare. That’s why it is up to us to stay on top of our education and at a higher level, on what is happening in the broader healthcare ecosystem. That is what I have done throughout my career, and AHIMA has been the most important resource I’ve used to stay relevant in our profession.

Our opportunity for growth as an association has always been rooted in how our members can add greater value to the data we manage; in leading teams to expand their contributions in a meaningful way; and now, in helping advance AHIMA’s mission to empower people to impact health.

Please, connect with me on Access and LinkedIn and let me know what’s important to you.  We are so much stronger when we work together.  Let’s collaborate to grow AHIMA and elevate the visibility and value we provide to the healthcare industry.

Jennifer Mueller is the president / chair of AHIMA. She is the vice president and privacy officer at the Wisconsin Hospital Association Information Center (WHAIC).