CE R TIFIE D
I10-Ready
To build up competencies in the new code set,
AHIMA-credentialed professionals must add ICD-
10-CM/PCS continuing education to their credential
maintenance through 2013.
By Chris Dimick
THE IMPENDING CODING classification system change from
ICD- 9 to ICD- 10 is the talk of health information management,
and with due fanfare. ICD-10-CM/PCS will bring big changes
to HIM operations and processes. In order to keep AHIMA-credentialed professionals at the forefront of the industry, certification requirements will need to change, too.
AHIMA certification represents a high level of achievement
and demonstrates proficiency and a broad base of knowledge.
AHIMA-certified professionals have passed a rigorous exam
and commit to ongoing professional development through the
Commission on Certification for Health Informatics and Information Management (CCHIIM) recertification process. The
CCHIIM recertification (maintenance of certification) program
ensures that CCHIIM-certified professionals demonstrate ongoing competence in the domain areas in which they are certified through either maintenance or enhancement activities.
In order to validate that an AHIMA-certified professional
has gained knowledge of the ICD-10-CM/PCS coding system,
CCHIIM has determined that continuing education hours with
ICD-10-CM/PCS content will be required through 2013, as ap-
plicable and relevant to the specific AHIMA credential held by
the individual.
All Credentials Need ICD- 10 Education
“It is important for certified professionals to get the ICD-10-spe-
cific CEUs because ICD- 10 is such a major change from ICD-
9,” says Julie Swim, RHIT, CCS, FCS, coding manager at Central
Baptist Hospital, based in Lexington, KY, and CCHIIM chair.
“Even the HIM professionals who are not coders need to have
a basic awareness of ICD- 10, since the coded data touches so
many different aspects of our profession and the healthcare industry,” she says.
Because ICD- 10 will impact all areas of HIM, all AHIMA-credentialed professionals should have knowledge on the code set
in order to show the healthcare industry they are at the forefront
of the profession, says Erika Hardy, RHIA, CCS, assistant direc-
