Objective: The overarching objective of this study was to collect, compile, analyze, and interpret data on health information management (HIM) to help the profession to plan for the future.

Program Dates: November 2001 - April 2004

Staff: Paul Wing (Program Manager), Margaret Langelier, David Armstrong, Gaetano Forte, Mark Beaulieu*, Tracey Continelli, Charles McCormick*

Components: This study involved several major components, including:
A survey of 220 RHIA and RHIT education program directors across the U.S.

An “exit survey” of 1,964 students about to graduate from HIM education programs

A survey of a random sample of 10,010 AHIMA members

A series of nine case studies of bellwether employers of HIM professionals

Reports/Presentations: This study produced several reports, articles, and products, including:

Wing P and Salsberg ES. “How Trends Shape the Workforce Today and Tomorrow”. Journal of AHIMA 73(4): 38-45. April 2002.

Wing P, Langelier MH, Continelli TA, and Armstrong DP. “Who We Are, Findings from the 2002 Member Survey”. Journal of AHIMA. 74(5): 22-30. May 2003.

Wing P and Langelier MH. “The Future of HIM: Employer Insights into the Coming Decade of Rapid Change”. Journal of AHIMA. 75(6): 28-32. June 2004.

Wing P, Langelier MH, and McCormick C. Report on Responses to the 2002 AHIMA Program Director Survey. May 2003.

Wing P, Langelier MH, and McCormick C. The 2002 HIM Student Exit Survey, Summary of Responses. May 2003.

Wing P, Langelier MH, and Armstrong DP. Salaries of HIM Professionals. December 2003.

Wing P, Langelier MH, and Armstrong DP. The Penetration of HIM Professionals in the Fifty States, An Examination of Geographic Patterns of AHIMA Members. February 2004.

Wing P, Langelier MH, and Continelli TA. Professionalism in Health Information Management, An Examination of Attitudes of AHIMA Members. February 2004.

Wing P and Langelier MH. Employment of HIM Professionals in the U.S., Current Patterns and Future Prospects. April 2004.

The study also produced a fully merged, labeled, and documented data base containing the 5,500 responses to the 2002 AHIMA Member Survey for other researchers to use in examining other HIM workforce-related issues.

Sponsor: American Health Information Management Association, Chicago, IL.

* Not currently on CHWS staff