What is the difference between health informatics and HIM?

What is the difference between health informatics and HIM?

HIM = Health Information Management
AHIMA = American Health Information Management Association

Learn more by participating in this upcoming webinar on September 28

If you are unable to attend the AHIMA 2010 convention, please dial in to join us for a presentation hosted by UIC's HIM Program Director, Karen Patena. Karen will provide attendees with an over-view of health informatics and HIM, and the differences between the two disciplines. She will also speak about the UIC graduate level programs in this area of study.

Karen Patena has worked in hospital medical record management, as well as systems planning and implementation, for nearly 20 years. Recently, she served as a vital member of the team to implement a Cerner patient-care information system at the University of Illinois Medical Center. She is a frequent contributor to the Journal of AHIMA* and a regular presenter at the meetings of local, state and national health information management professional associations.

Title: What is the difference between health informatics and HIM?
Date: Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Time: 2:30PM - 3:30PM EST

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Click here to register. 

IBM will be hiring physicians and other clinicians

IBM recently announced a "$100 million health care initiative" that includes the hiring of physicians, nurses, and other clinicians. Here's a snippet from their July 15 press release:

ARMONK, N.Y., - 15 Jul 2010: IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced plans to enlist some of the company’s leading scientists and technologists to help medical practitioners and insurance companies provide high-quality, evidence-based care to patients. As part of this initiative, IBM is collaborating with clinicians in medical institutions and hiring medical doctors to work alongside its researchers to develop new technologies, scientific advancements, and business processes for healthcare and insurance providers.

Later, IBM goes on to say this:

As part of this initiative, IBM expects to hire several physicians, clinicians, nurses, engineers, economists and social scientists.

I'm not entirely sure what they mean by "several," but let's hope that it's more than just a handful. After all, there are many physicians out there who are eager to get involved in health IT initiatives in both the public and the private sectors.  It's no surprise that major technology companies like IBM will be hiring physicians. After all, the government is spending billions of dollars on health IT and we will see many other health IT opportunities open up for physicians and other health care professionals.

You can read the IBM press release here.

Career Strategies on How to Enter the Health Care IT Industry

If you're interested in finding career opportunities within the health IT industry, you'll want to sign up for this complimentary webinar:

Career Strategies on How to Enter the Health Care IT Industry

Join us for a Webinar on July 28
Time: 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
(Please note time is Eastern)

Space is limited.  Reserve your Webinar seat now at:  https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/227684072

Please join UIC for the webinar entitled 'Career Strategies on How to Enter the Health Care IT Industry,’ presented by experienced health IT recruiter, Bonnie Siegel.

Have you asked the question, “How can I transition to, or further develop my career in health IT?” If so, you do not want to miss this upcoming webinar! Bonnie Siegel, a long time recruiter in the world of health IT will share her experiences, insight and tips on how to become a successful candidate for employment in this industry.

Bonnie is an Associate Partner at Sanford Rose Associates - Charleston and leads the Healthcare CIO and Senior IT Leadership practice. She is a retained health care IT executive recruiter with a successful track record in executive search and consulting and industry research. She specializes in the recruitment of CIOs, VPs, Deputy CIOs and clinical informatics and clinical IT leadership professionals for major health systems, hospitals and medical groups throughout the country. She is a Fellow at HIMSS and frequently presents at national health care associations conferences. She has published several health care IT articles and has been quoted in industry publications.

Please sign up soon, as space is limited.   https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/227684072

#HIMSS10 HIT Employment and Career Guide

As I was walking through HIMSS10 today, I saw the "HIMSS10 HIT Employment and Career Guide" being handed out like a daily newspaper.  As soon as I opened it, I saw an article titled, "Career development takes center stage at HIMSS10." Under that, you'll see: "HIMSS10 JobMine advances your career." Then, there's "Monster exec offers talent search tips."

Turn the page and you'll see "HHS to offer $1B in healthcare job grants."

Seems like if you want to find a job, you should be looking into health IT. I've been having some great conversations with several health IT consulting companies and I'm eager to share these insights when I get back.

Special thanks to HP for sponsoring me to attend and blog here at HIMSS10. 

Webinar series about Health IT (meaningful use of EHRs)

It seems like we're getting bombarded by free webinars focusing on the topic of "meaningful use" of electronic health (or medical) records (also known as EHRs or EMRs). NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, Inc. has a series of webinars on EMR/EHRs and the first webinar is today. It's titled,  "Meaningful Use Definition: An Analysis For Medical Providers." Here's a brief description:

On December 30, 2009, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) finally released for public comment, the rulemaking document that defines Meaningful Use.

Be sure to sign up for this webinar to learn:

• Why and how you can participate in the public comment period
• The rulemaking document’s relationship to the healthcare reform movement
• Why it’s important to make your EHR selection now

Over the next 60 days (January 14 through March 13) the medical community will analyze this document with the intention of helping to shape its direction. Did you know, for example, that the first incentive paid in 2011 will be based on data captured for three months in 2010?

To view the entire list of NextGen webinars, click here.

Health Information Management webinar (complimentary)

Here's a complimentary webinar on health information management coming up in a few days (plus it will be available after the event, but you must register to access the content). This web seminar has been approved by HIMSS for up to 1.2 contact hours of continuing education credit toward renewal of the CPHIMS credential.

The Key to Addressing Regulatory Compliance While Improving your Financial Position through Effective Health Information Management

Date: Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Time: 2 p.m. Eastern / 11 a.m. Pacific
Duration: 1 Hour

Here's a brief description:

Today's healthcare environment presents a constant storm of challenges. Recent regulatory changes and the privacy and security measures enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 have presented a new set of challenges that providers must comply with, which often become a lower priority when it comes to allocating spending in uncertain economic times. These measures are critical in achieving widespread HIT adoption.

As heightened regulations with stiffened penalties go into effect, it is important that providers address privacy and security measures now - to avoid the costs later. These costs not only come in the form of steep financial penalties, but also require resource dedication, which can disrupt processes and cause further negative impact to your bottom line.

Attend this Web seminar on January 20, and you will:

• Understand the scope of the new privacy and security measures enacted with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 and how this is affecting Health Information Management.
• Learn how heightened HIPAA enforcement, also enacted through ARRA, is affecting Health Information Management in provider organizations like yours and what potential financial impact these stiffened penalties can have on your organization.
• Develop a comprehensive knowledge of how process improvement in Health Information Management can advance your economic position to enable success in the current economic environment.
• Discover how technology can bring value to your organization through enabling regulatory compliance and streamlining processes.

Speakers:

Kelly McLendon, RHIA
President
Health Information Xperts

Bill Kloes
Vice President and General Manager
Enterprise Imaging Group
McKesson Corporation

Moderator:

Chip Means
Web Editor
Healthcare IT News
Healthcare Finance News

Can't make the live event? Register now and after the event you will receive an e-mail with the complimentary presentation content.

Click here to register for this webinar

HIMSS10 Physicians' IT Symposium

HIMSS = Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society

The HIMSS10 Physicians' IT Symposium is coming up quickly! The theme is "What it Means to Be a Meaningful User." The Physicians' IT Symposium will be a full day meeting on February 28, 2010. Here's what you can expect to cover that day:

A message from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT regarding:

• ARRA Funding
• Quality
• Safety
• Meaningful Use

Real-world discussion focusing on meaningful use adoption
Issues surrounding malpractice liability in the use of EHRs, PHRs and HIEs
Tough questions you need to ask your IT vendor

The HIMSS10 conference will start March 1 and run through the 4th in Atlanta, Georgia. If you're seriously considering a career in health IT, then you should attend HIMSS (you can receive CME credit while you're there) to learn, network, and explore career opportunities in the health IT industry. The early bird registration fee ends on December 15 (wow, that's only a few days away).

Here's a list of some of the featured speakers:

Opening Keynote Address:
Quality, Safety and Meaningful Use in Healthcare Technology: A Message from ONC
David R. Hunt, MD, FACS
Chief Medical Officer and Acting Director Office of Health Information Technology Adoption Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

What You Need to Know About Your EMR Vendor: The Right Questions to Ask
Adam Gale
President
KLAS Enterprises, LLC
Mark Wagner
Director of Ambulatory Research
KLAS Enterprises, LLC

Dealing with Malpractice Liability in the use of EHRs, PHRs and HIEs
Howard Burde, JD, FHIMSS
Howard Burde Health Law LLC

Clinical Decision Support and Meaningful Use: Requirements, Enablers and What you Should Do Now
Jonathan Teich MD, PhD, FHIMSS
Chief Medical Informatics Officer Elsevier

How to "Meaningfully" Protect Privacy Without Harming Patients
Eric M. Liederman, MD, MPH
Director of Medical Informatics
Kaiser Permanente

Clinical Information Exchange
Robert E. White, MD, MPH
Medical Director of Clinical Informatics Lovelace Clinic Foundation
ABQ Health Partners

Meaningful Use: Protecting the Public's Health
Raymond D. Aller, MD, FCAP, FHIMSS
Director, Automated Disease Surveillance
County Department of Public Health

Facilitated Open Discussion
William F. Bria, MD
CMIO
Shriners Hospitals for Children

You can learn more about the upcoming HIMSS conference by visiting: http://www.himssconference.org

Learn more about Health IT through HIMSS Clinical Informatics Insights

HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) Clinical Informatics Insights is a great source for articles that reflect effective integration of informatics across the continuum of care.

Published the second Monday of every month, this complimentary e-newsletter highlights improvements in clinical quality achieved through the development and support of health IT practices, policies and end-user tools. HIMSS Clinical Informatics Insights features guest editorials that address hot industry topics, and offer direction and best practices; informaticist profiles that describe a clinician’s role in IT planning, implementation, on-going management, evaluation and outcomes; practical tools and resources; and relevant news from HIMSS.

Here's what's really great about this particular newsletter:

Each issue is also themed to ensure all areas of informatics practice are addressed throughout the year.

The theme for September is on Medication Management. You can view the first issue (September 2009) by clicking here.

To subscribe to this free newsletter (HIMSS Clinical Informatics Insights), click here. If you have an interest in learning more about the world of health IT, I would encourage you to read up on all the current events surrounding health information technology.

Learn about health systems

How well do you understand health systems? We are in the midst of significant changes in the economy, government, and in the healthcare system. Well, if you're interested in learning more about health systems, you may want to listen to these free podcasts produced in partnership with IBM, Healthcare IT News, and Healthcare Finance News. It's called the "Smarter Healthcare Series" and you can listen to these podcasts directly from your computer. Or, if you prefer, you can download the MP3 file and listen to it on your iPod or other MP3 player.

These series will cover the following topics:

• Growing expectations for value from increasingly costly health systems.
• Broad global awareness of quality and patient safety challenges.
• Increasing need for citizens to make better health and wellness choices.
• Emerging approaches to promoting health and delivering care such as e-health and medical tourism.
• Expanding resource challenges.
• Increasing cost sharing among public and private health insurers and individuals.
• Worldwide healthcare reform acceleration fueled by economic stimulus dollars.

Want to learn more? Then visit this link to listen to Episode 1. Episodes 2 and 3 are coming later. If you're interested in pursuing a career in health IT, then these types of educational podcasts can be very helpful. I also suggest that you keep up with all the recent news that's surrounding the changing world of health IT.

Listen to a debate on health IT

If you're interested in health information technology (health IT), I urge you to take a look at this: Live Webinar Tomorrow: The Great HIT Debate

Career coaching in health IT (information technology)

Would you be interested in receiving some "career coaching" advice from experts in the health IT field? Perhaps you're interested in switching careers but you don't know where to start. Maybe you've been involved in your hospital IT committee and you'd like to take your career to the "next level." Have you been thinking about a medical informatics fellowship? How about a master degree in medical informatics or in health information technology and information management?

Considering how much money will be directed towards health IT because of the HITECH provisions within ARRA, the world of health IT is a goldmine for tech-savvy physicians who are interested in pursuing non-clinical careers in this field. Perhaps you wish to learn more about: electronic health records (EHRs); decision support tools; personal health records (PHRs); tailored online messaging; disease management programs; quality improvement indicators; computerized physician order entry (CPOE); public health surveillance; natural language processing; algorithm generation; evidence-based decision support; e-prescribing; telemedicine; predictive modeling; decision support architecture and sharing; knowledge management; user-generated health information; mobile technology; data privacy and security; and much more!

If you'd like to have the opportunity to directly correspond with some health IT experts, contact me via e-mail because I may be able to help you. The other day, I had a nice phone conversation with a physician who had completed a Harvard-MIT Division of HST Biomedical Informatics Postdoctoral Fellowship. I know several other people who have trained in medical informatics and are currently working in both the private and academic sectors. I'm expanding my network and I'd like to help you get the advice you need if you're thinking about opportunities within the health IT space.

10 tips for physicians interested in a health IT career

If you're a physician and you're thinking about starting a career in health information technology (health IT, HIT or HITECH), do you know where to start? If you've been actively involved in your hospital IT department, then you may have many years of experience in this space. However, if you lack experience and you consider yourself to be an inexperienced novice, consider these 10 tips:

1. If you lack formal training in medical informatics, consider getting a master's degree in either medical informatics, biomedical informatics, or health informatics. A master's degree isn't essential, but if you lack work experience in this space, then it may be a worthwhile investment that may eventually springboard you into a promising position. Many of these programs utilize distance learning and can be done part-time. For example, Northwestern University offers a Master of Science in Medical Informatics.
2. Start following all the news related to health IT. One good source is Healthcare IT News. Stay current with all the legislative updates. Can you define "meaningful use?"
   
3. Join HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) and AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association).Eventually, you may want to look into the Association of Medical Directors of Information Systems (AMDIS).
   
4. Build your social network. Reach out to people working in the health IT space and get to know them. I suggest using Twitter and LinkedIn.
   
5. Attend conferences that focus on health IT. HIMSS is a major conference that occurs annually and I would highly recommend attending.
   
6. Learn all the acronyms spoken in the world of health IT. It's like another language. ASP, NAHIT, HITOP, ARRA, HIT, OHITA, HIT, HIS, HIMSS, CHITA, CCHIT, HSA, EHR, EMR, PHR, HITECH, HIPAA, ONC, VistA (no, not the operating system), and more.
   
7. Get very familiar with the CCHIT : Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology.
8. Strengthen your computer skills. If you're a health IT executive, you'll be expected to be very familiar with basic computing skills at a minimum. Get a smartphone, start using mobile computing technology, and become an expert with Microsoft Office. Learn about cloud computing.
   
9. Pursue health IT certification. HIMSS offers CPHIMS, but you need to demonstrate some work experience to qualify for CPHIMS. There are other types of certifications such as CPEHR, CPHIT, and CPHIE. The nice thing is that work experience is not required to achieve these 3. Research whether they are worth pursuing.
10. Follow my blogs. I blog about health IT related topics on all 4 of my blogs:

Health IT Certification

If you're considering a career in the field of health information technology (health IT, HIT, or HITECH), then you should also look into Health IT Certification. There are currently three different types of certifications offered:

• CPEHR: The designation of Certified Professional in Electronic Health Records (CPEHR) indicates that the holder has mastered the common body of knowledge covering planning, implementation, operation of EHR for knowledge management, quality improvement, patient safety, and care coordination. The CPEHR curriculum adjusts the strategies to make the most of an EHR investment, enhancing capabilities, using new technologies, and building value.

• CPHIT: The designation of Certified Professional in Health Information Technology (CPHIT) indicates that the holder has mastered the common body of knowledge covering planning, selecting, implementing, using, and managing health information technology (HIT) and electronic health record (EHR) applications. The CPHIT curriculum introduces the use of health information technology in any setting within the continuum of care.

• CPHIE: The designation of Certified Professional in Health Information Exchange (CPHIE) indicates that the holder has mastered the Common Body of Knowledge covering planning, governance, information architecture and stewardship, personal health records, telehealth and home monitoring and other exchanges of electronic information among organizations. The CPHIE curriculum incorporates the strategies to make the most of the HIE investment, enhancing capabilities, using new technologies to integrate and exchange data interoperably among organizations, addressing patient information via personal health records, home monitoring, and telehealth.

Want to learn more? Visit: http://www.healthitcertification.com

Opportunities in Health IT

If you're considering a career in health information technology (health IT, HIT, or HITECH), then I'd encourage you to sign up for the HIMSS Virtual Conference & Expo. Day one was today and day #2 is tomorrow. That's it. It's a relatively short virtual conference. Participate in the educational sessions, interact with the exhibitors, and network in the "virtual lounge." Want to learn more? http://www.himssvirtual.org/

2009 HIMSS Virtual Conference & Expo

If you have any interest in pursuing a career in healthcare information technology (also called health IT, HIT, or HITECH), then make sure to check out the HIMSS Virtual Conference & Expo 2009. I was there last year and I hope to see you there in several days. Make sure to say hello.

JobMine at HIMSS

Looking for a non-clinical job in health IT (information technology)? Look to HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society). The HIMSS JobMine is one good place to get started. Here are the different job categories in health IT:

• Analyst
• Healthcare Informatics
• Quality Assurance
• Clinical Information Management
• IT/Technology Management
• Sales/Marketing/Business Development
• Compliance/Patient Safety
• IT/Technology Management - Senior Level
• Systems Analyst
• Consultant
• Managed Care
• Systems/Network Engineer, Programmer
• Data Management/Analysis
• Medical Records
• General Management
• Project Management

Speaking of HIMSS, the HIMSS Virtual Conference & Expo is coming up next month. I attended last year (remember, it's a virtual experience) and I thought it was fun, interesting, and educational. I plan to attend again this year and I hope to see you there.

Is HITECH the new Health IT or HIT?

You can blame President Obama for the phrase HITECH. Since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) calls it HITECH, is that going to be the new buzzword for health information technology? The problem with HIT is that it's not a unique acronym. It looks like a word - Bobby hit the ball. Health IT will probably continue to be used since we refer to general information technology as IT and that's not going to change. Perhaps the real question is: will the phrase HITECH actually catch on and become a mainstream phrase? These are the things I often wonder about as I sit at home and drink a glass of wine.

Intel Webinar on Mobile Health Technology

If you're interested in learning more about mobile health technology, then take a look at this free Intel Webinar.

Managing Change: How to Overcome Obstacles and Encourage Mobile Technology Adoption

Can you make the case for healthcare IT to your staff and clinicians?

This complimentary, one-hour webinar shows you how to create a change-management process, one that succinctly outlines the benefits of adopting mobile point-of-care solutions including:

• More safeguards to prevent life-threatening errors
• Faster decisions in caring for patients based on the latest changes in their condition
• More time for nurses to spend at a patient’s bedside and less pushing paper
• More efficient care, which means less waste and less cost

Mobile point-of-care technologies contribute to efficiency and patient safety, but moving staff and clinicians into this new world can be a battle. At this event you'll hear Ohio Health, SunStone Consulting, and St. John’s Hospital tell their own adoption stories. You'll also get a chance to submit questions and join the conversation.

A recent national survey reveals that adoption of new technologies by clinicians is the biggest challenge when launching mobile point-of-care solutions (63 percent).

Improved Clinical Outcomes through Informatics

The current issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine has some really interesting articles for those of you interested in health informatics. The main study is a multi-hospital study that evaluates the use of health IT resources and actual patient outcomes. Here's the bottom line: "Hospitals with automated notes and records, order entry, and clinical decision support had fewer complications, lower mortality rates, and lower costs."

David Bates, MD, MSc, also writes a nice editorial on the effects of health information technology on inpatient care.

Does your hospital use an electronic health record (EHR) system? HIT is expensive, but it's worth the investment when you see the type of impact it makes on patient care and clinical outcomes.