Published on March 14, 2018 by Sarah Waller  
Health Information Management Class

Samford University’s School of Public Health will celebrate Health Information Professionals Week, March 18-24, with activities hosted by its Department of Health Informatics and Information Management. 

The week, in coordination with the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), is a national initiative to honor and celebrate health information professionals.

Samford began its Bachelor of Science in health information management program in 2018, receiving SACSCOC accreditation at the end of last year. The degree equips its graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively combine the fundamentals of health care, information management and data analytics in order to improve patient outcomes.

Through special events, the department looks to inform current Samford students about this new degree option and the dynamic career opportunities available with health information management.

“If you are looking for a dynamic career in health care that does not involve direct patient care, you should consider health information management,” said Lakesha Kinnerson, assistant professor in the School of Public Health. “Health care is moving digital, and with this degree, we discuss important topics related to health information like quality assurance, privacy and data acquisition.”

You can join the celebration with “Chill with HIM” events taking place throughout the week.

  • Monday, March 18, 12 to 2 p.m. in the College of Health Sciences Lobby
  • Tuesday, March 20, 12 to 2 p.m. in Ben Brown Plaza (Weather permitting)
  • Thursday, March 22, 5 to 6 p.m. at Gadsden Regional Medical Center

“It’s a transformational time for health care, and health information is at the heart of this transformation,” said Lou Ann Wiedemann, interim senior vice president, member services for AHIMA. “In the midst of all this change, positive opportunities are being created. Health information management professionals understand clinical and financial data as well as information governance and data management—all tools that can help reward value, lower cost, and make the health care experience better for patients."

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.