Is it Time to Reinvent Yourself?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for July was
9. 2 percent (unchanged from June). However, healthcare employment continued to
trend up in June (+ 14,000 new jobs), with
the largest gain in ambulatory healthcare
services. Over the last 12 months, healthcare has added an average of 24,000 jobs
each month. A number of new jobs are being created to meet the needs of healthcare
employers in order to manage sweeping
regulation reforms such as 5010, ICD- 10,
and EHR implementations in acute care
and physician practice groups.
Should you hold tight and do more of what
you know or venture out and gain new
and desirable skill sets? As career coach
and founder of The Reinvention Institute,
Pamela Mitchell has said, “your ability to
change directions is your new job security.
Even if you haven’t felt the recession’s
impact yet, the more proactive you are,
the better protected you’ll be if the other
shoe drops.”
Workforce Development
Being agile gives you the ability to move
into new positions that weren’t even
invented a year ago. But in most cases,
that agility requires additional training;
either through professional continuing
education opportunities, or by returning to
school and enrolling in a formal academic
program. Start with an assessment of what
you really enjoy doing (or think you would
enjoy) and identify the new skill sets
you’ll need to compete for this kind of job.
AHIMA offers a variety of e-assessments
to help you measure where your skill base-
line is today. Next, look through profes
sional journals and online career sites such
as AHIMA’s Career Assist to see what jobs
are advertised and the descriptions used in
their want ads. Use those ads to help you
focus on a fresh rewrite of your resume—
incorporating those new skill sets.
2. Add another specialty to your RHIT
credential. The Cancer Registry
Management program is available as
an e-learning program at AHIMA
Distance Education. Six courses help
students become eligible to sit for the
NCRA’s Certified Tumor Registrar
certification exam.
3. Add to your CCS and CCS-P credentials by attending an AHIMA Academy
for ICD- 10 meeting and become a
trainer for other coders.
4. Jump into new health IT roles by taking online courses through a community college that is part of the HITECH
college consortium. These six-month
training programs offer training in six
health IT roles so that you can select the
role that is the best fit for your skills and
background.
Additional
AHIMA Career Resources
• E-assessments
• AHIMA Career Assist
• CAHIIM Accredited Program Directory
• HI Careers Toolbox
• Cancer Registry Management
• ONC Health IT Training Programs v
PPE Mentors Wanted
Every year, thousands of HIM students begin the search for a field-based professional
practice experience (PPE). Finding a site is critical for the student to make the leap
from classroom theory to professional practice. Making that connection is crucial to
their future success.
Practitioners soon discover the value of students that deliver the latest knowledge and
skills. Eager to give their best, students immerse themselves with the work assigned by
bringing passion, talent, and ability to serve. Each staffer with an AHIMA credential
that mentors a student will receive five continuing education units per year. This is
a great way to add to your annual CEU requirement while fulfilling a fundamental
obligation of the profession.
In today’s environment, change is coming at a fast pace and this generation will soon
become an extraordinary asset in advancing the HIM profession. This is your time to
help mold the future leaders in HIM. To become a PPE site mentor; click here to sign
up today. v
