Health Information Professionals Week Shows Commitment to Health Data


The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) will honor and celebrate health information professionals during the 30th annual Health Information Professionals (HIP) Week March 24-30, 2019. This year’s theme is “Driven by Health Data.”

“While the healthcare ecosystem is constantly changing, health information professionals make it their priority to ensure high-quality data to enable better care for patients,” AHIMA CEO Wylecia Wiggs Harris, PhD, CAE said in a release. “Health information professionals drive success every day by using coded data and data collected within the electronic health record to improve clinical and business performance. It’s an exciting time to be in the HIM profession and be part of the healthcare movement to data-driven health.”

HIP Week 2019 will coincide with AHIMA’s Advocacy Summit and Hill Day events, where AHIMA members receive education specific to advocacy and visit Capitol Hill to advocate with lawmakers on issues related to ensuring patients’ right of access to information (via modernizing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act [HIPAA]) and ensuring patient safety through policies supporting improved patient matching. AHIMA will continue to provide guidance to the healthcare industry and government leaders seeking expertise and counsel.

During HIP Week, health information professionals engage in focused activities in their organizations and the community to raise awareness of the important work they perform. For Trocaire’s part, Director of Health Information Management Deborah Shelvay, RHIA, MS is hosting an information table for the Health Information Technology program in the Main Campus back foyer from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, March 28.

“I use this opportunity to provide information to student community about the HIT profession and to recruit potential students to the HIT program from general studies or from those looking to transfer from another Trocaire program,” Shelvay explained. She is also holding a celebratory dinner for Trocaire HIT students and faculty.

Follow the social media hashtag #HIPWEEK19 to see how organizations celebrate across the US.