Journal of AHIMA - November/December 2011

A Year of Progress
Outstanding Advancements on 2011 Strategic Initiatives

By Bonnie S. Cassidy, MPA, RHIA, FAHIMA, FHIMSS

More Online
www.ahima.org
Read more about AHIMA’s progress
on its 2011 strategic priorities in an
expanded verson of this column,
available online in the AHIMA Body
of Knowledge.

ON BEHALF OF the AHIMA Board of Directors, I am pleased and proud you chose HIM as your profession. You, the member, are AHIMA’s number-one priority, and you, in turn, have a very important role every day as an HIM leader.

I would like to thank the 2011 AHIMA Board of Directors, AHIMA staff, volunteer leaders, and members for your faith in me as president. Working together with mutual respect for each other and for the HIM profession was the magic we needed this year.

Progress on 2011 Priorities

The AHIMA Board established challenging strategic priorities in 2011, which focused on governance, education, research, recognition marketing and branding, and agility. We have made outstanding advancements in each area.

For the governance initiative, we revised the AHIMA Bylaws, designing a governance model that includes an evolutionary process that differentiates AHIMA as a world-class, agile association. The model allows for the addition of necessary ex officio members that will strengthen our leadership. We also clarified board roles and responsibilities as part of the bylaws revision process and established a board continuing education and development program.

For the education initiative, we focused on creating an executive position where the best of the best HIM professionals can be seen as equals at the executive table and integral to the ultimate success of an organization’s mission.

The Education Strategy Committee has
transformed into the Council for Excel-
lence in Education, which will be respon-
sible for the associate, baccalaureate,
and master’s curriculum. It will develop a
strategic marketing plan to act on market
opportunities and promote HIM educa-
tion, best practices, standards, policy,
and research.

2012 Initiatives

As we position ourselves for the next few years, we have refined our key strategic initiatives and added the following initiatives: encourage growth within our profession by enhancing educational programming for the membership and first- and second-career individuals; remain fiscally viable to support our mission and vision; and maintain an environment that encourages team building, cross-functional communication, and employee satisfaction.

At AHIMA, we’re building a world-class association that supports HIM’s ability to prosper through anything, together, one member at a time. With a new CEO and governance model, we believe that our time is now. We know that we all can stand together with the power to be powerful, believing we can make things better.