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Roles and Functions of the HI Professionals Discussion Board
Tonya Wright
School of Business, Liberty University
Author Note
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to
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Roles and Functions of the HI Professionals Discussion Board
The landscape of healthcare delivery is transitioning from sporadic, paper-based record-keeping
to a proactive and preventive approach, characterized by digital (electronic) records (Liberty
University, 2021). With the ever-emerging digital world, health information professionals (HIPs)
have to adjust their roles and adapt to the new digital world. Informatics delves into the
examination of how information is portrayed, processed, and communicated in both natural and
artificial systems (Almehmadi, 2023). The role of HIPs evolved from being supportive technical
participants in a framework centered around the physician-patient interaction to becoming
operational facilitators and intermediaries connecting healthcare institutions, physicians, and
patients (Kluge, 2017). HIPs roles have changed and advanced quickly, and HIPs must evolve
just as quickly.
Certification
“Although data analysis has traditionally been a function of health information professionals,
EHRs and a shift toward patient-centric care have only increased the importance of data analytics
in healthcare” (Liberty University, 2021). The amount of data that is being collected in this
digital age can be overwhelming, and there needs to be professionals who can interpret and
analyze it. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) has realized
the importance of HIPs and has created a certification, the Certified Health Data Analyst
(CHDA), which is normally attained after a bachelor’s or master’s degree (Liberty, 2021).
Allowing for these professionals to obtain a certificate helps employers know these HIPs have
done what is needed to be proficient in their field.
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Education
Professionals in health information and informatics possess educational backgrounds pertinent to
the techniques employed in collecting, analyzing, storing, and safeguarding health information
(Liberty University, 2021). “Rapid advancements in information technology have laid the basis
for the move to information management job positions and health informatics education
(Almehmadi, 2023). The healthcare sector is anticipated to undergo substantial expansion in the
coming decade, driven in part by the requirements of the aging baby boomer demographic. A
segment of this increased demand will necessitate professionals capable of efficiently organizing,
overseeing, and analyzing the surge in healthcare data and information (Almehamadi, 2023). The
growing number of patients will mean more HIPs will be needed, or their work will need to be
even more streamlined as even more records will be added to EHRs. “The establishment of HI
programs in universities and colleges all over the world is meant to address the demand for
trained personnel to manage health information. They should incorporate a range of knowledge
areas and skills, such as data management and statistics, familiarity with medical terminology,
coding expertise, information technology, information management, and leadership”
(Almehmadi, 2023).
Ethics
Relatively scant consideration has been given to the notion that these healthcare delivery
methods place HIPs in an ethical context significantly distinct from traditional healthcare. This
distinction arises from the assignment of a fiduciary role to HIPs, a responsibility they did not
previously possess despite their prior technical involvement (Kluge, 2017). “The 2002 IMIA
Code of Ethics should be revised and updated to provide guidance for HIPs who are engaged in
eHealth and related methods of health care delivery, and to provide a model for a corresponding
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up-to-date revision of the ethical guidelines that are promulgated by IMIA’s member
organizations” (Kluge, 2017). In 2013, the World Health Assembly (WHA), the governing body
of the World Health Organization, recommended the necessity for comprehensive
standardization of eHealth systems. They emphasized the importance of establishing an
integrated and ethically sound eHealth infrastructure, underscoring the need for proper ethical
governance. This encompassed aspects such as the operation of global top-level internet domain
names, including those specifically related to health (Kluge, 2017). The ethical implications of
employing multiple systems for the transfer and analysis of data must be carefully weighed to
guarantee the privacy and protection of patient information.
Christian Role
As followers of Christianity, our desire should be to assist all of God's people. Deuteronomy
32:38 emphasizes, "... Let them rise up and help you; let them be your protection" (The Holy
Bible, English Standard Version, 2001). HIPs carry the responsibility to safeguard the
information of the individuals they are assisting. HIPs need to ensure they are following HIPAA
laws and keep patient information protected.
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References
Almehmadi, F. M. (2023). Health information science and technology education: An analysis of
health informatics undergraduate and postgraduate programs in arab
countries. Heliyon, 9(9), e19279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19279
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. (2001). https://esv.literalword.com
Kluge, E. W. (2017). Health Information Professionals in a Global eHealth World: Ethical and
legal arguments for the international certification and accreditation of health information
professionals. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 97, 261-
265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2016.10.020
Liberty University. (2021). Health informatics: BUSI/INFO 505. McGraw-Hill Education.
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