HIM Department News

HIMSA Student Officers

Officers for HIMSA, the HIM Student Association for the 2010 academic year. From left to right are: Cameron Renfroe, Secretary; Cindy Lopez, Vice President; Amanda Gonzales, President; and Melissa Mendoza, Treasurer.

Students completing professional practice experience

The senior students are completing their professional practice experience assignments in a variety of facilities around the state to include large medical centers to small hospitals, from specialty facilities such as rehab, military, college student health centers, to consulting companies and functional areas outside of the traditional HIM Departments. One new affiliation utilized this spring was with Wyle Labs working on the Shuttle Archive Project at NASA. HIM student Meghan Campbell (pictured right) was actively engaged in this project identifying searchable data elements for the archival project to facilitate ongoing and future use of the data that is currently stored in many forms to include audio print based data stored in many formats from paper, cassettes, disks and various means of digital storage.

TxHIMA Outstanding HIA Student

Jennifer Dawson, BSHIM, May 2010, received the TxHIMA Outstanding HIA Student award at the annual TxHIMA meeting in June. Jennifer is currently working as a HIM Analyst at North Cypress Medical Center in Cypress. Responsibilities in this position include quality assurance and serving as a contact for physicians when they have IT problems or any other issues with their medical records. Jennifer shared that "It was an honor and privilege to accept this award and I'm glad to make Texas State proud!"

Congratulations and best wishes, Jennifer!

GRADUATION May 2010

Carolyn Holesovsky, Health Information Management Department Administrative Assistant III graduated with a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (MSIS), Occupational Education specialization at the May 2010 graduation ceremony. Carolyn served as the Administrative Assistant for the HIM Department since the fall of 2001. She has held this position while completing her undergraduate and graduate studies at Texas State and during a time when the HIM Department has experienced significant growth; expansion of the degree program, course  offerings and increased numbers of HIM students and faculty.

Counting the twenty students who received their diplomas at the May 15 ceremony, over 700 students have now graduated with a BSHIM/BSMRA degree from the Texas State program (712 by our count) since the first four students graduated in May 1978. An additional eight students are due to graduate at the August ceremony. CONGRATULATIONS HIM GRADS!

The HIM faculty present at the May graduation ceremony were Jackie Moczygemba who served as a marshal to lead the students in, Danette Myers, Sue Biedermann, Susan Fenton and Tiankai Wang.

2010 American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Convention

 The Texas State University HIM Department was well represented at the annual meeting of the American Health Information Management Association, AHIMA, in Orlando, Sept. 2010, with ten current students, five full-time and two part-time faculty attending. The HIM students attended a Student Academy plus many educational sessions and visited the exhibit hall. Shown in the picture are senior students Christy Mack and Chinelo Ofoma flanking Dr. Susan Fenton, HIM Assistant Professor.

HIM on the move!

The HIM Department and faculty offices are now in HPB (Health Professions Building) Suite 302. The HIM Lab will remain in HPB 215. The HIM Office phone number 512-245-8242, fax number 512-245-8258, and faculty phone numbers will remain the same. The move to the new area provides additional space to accommodate department growth and new activities which will result in hiring of staff, faculty and graduate students.

HIM Faculty Give Presentation in Canada

Desla Mancilla and Jackie Moczygemba recently traveled to Halifax, Nova Scotia to present their research findings on Medical Identity Theft during the annual meeting of the Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA). CHIMA is a membership-based organization comprised of HIM professionals who manage the security, privacy and accuracy of health records across the provinces of Canada. In addition to their presentation, Mancilla and Moczygemba attended the welcome reception and were greeted warmly by CHIMA members. They had the opportunity to visit with many HIM professionals from various healthcare organizations throughout Canada.

The faculty also took some time to visit local points of interest and enjoy the people and landscapes of Nova Scotia.

HIM ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Sue Biedermann Awarded AHIMA Fellowship. The Fellowship Review Committee has awarded AHIMA Fellowship to Sue Biedermann, MSHP, RHIA, FAHIMA, Chair, Health Information Management Department. Based upon the review of the fellowship application, the committee found that her professional experience and background clearly demonstrates sustained and significant contributions to the HIM profession.

TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY TO LEAD HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TRAINING CONSORTIUM

The Texas State University Department of Health Information Management has been awarded $5.4 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to advance the widespread adoption and meaningful use of health information technology (HIT) by educating professionals to work in this rapidly growing field. To read more about this go to: PURE-HIT

Now an Academic Department - Health Information Management

Effective spring 2010, a new academic department has been established in the College of Health Professions. The status of the former Health Information Management Program has been changed to departmental status. The Department of Health Information Management offers an undergraduate degree in Health Information Management (BSHIM) for students interested in working with health care data and management of health care information resources. A minor in HIM is also offered to give a broad overview of health information management. The BSHIM program is fully accredited by CAHIIM, Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education and nationally recognized as a leader in developing health information management practitioners.

TxHIMA Scholarship and Award from June 2009 meeting in Dallas:
Anindita Bagchi,TxHIMA Scholarship

Kimberly Jordan,TxHIMA Outstanding HIA graduate

HIM Faculty News
Sue Biedermann was the recipient of the AHIMA Foundation Triumph Award during the October 2009 National Convention in Grapevine.

Linda Lamb and Melissa Edenburn  have returned as Lecturers in the HIM Program, Fall 09.

Susan Fenton and Tiankai Wang are new Assistant Professors in the HIM Program.
 

Wecome New HIM Faculty - Fall 2009
 

Dr. Fenton was hired as an Assistant Professor and will teach Healthcare Data Analysis and graduate Electronic Health Record (EHR) classes. Her specialty is in Health Services Research.

HIM Alumni Reception

In Grapevine, October 2009, at the National AHIMA Annual Convention.

The Commitment to Service

The HIM faculty, staff, and students recognize the importance of service and are actively involved in service activities at the local, state, and national professional associations as well as on campus and in the communities in which they reside. Providing educational programs on the importance of maintaining a personal health record is topic that faculty and students are currently involved in. 

The HIM Department Personal Health Record booth at the Texas State Wellness fair with Linda Thomas, faculty, and Meghan Campbell.