AHIMA CSA Core Service Achievement Award – 1st Place Winner

OHIMA New Graduate Award

 

Nomination Category:  Recruitment and retention activities for students

 

 

 

Overview

 

The New Graduate Award (NGA) recognizes graduates from CAHIIM accredited health information management (HIM) associate or baccalaureate degree programs in the State of Ohio by providing reimbursement for the certification examination fee for the:  Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) or Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). 

 

Each educational program chair selects one graduate per academic year to receive the award.  Recipients of the NGA are required to sit for the RHIT/A examination within six (6) months of graduation to be eligible to receive the award. 

 

 

Goals

 

  1. To increase participation by students in the academic scholarship program of OHIMA.
  2. To recognize educational achievements by HIM students in the state of Ohio. 
  3. To ensure each CAHIIM accredited HIM program in the state of Ohio has the opportunity to participate in the award program.
  4. To encourage new graduates of HIM programs to sit for AHIMA certification exams. 

 

 

Implementation Process

 

During the 2004-2005 OHIMA year, the Scholarship Committee was charged with evaluating alternatives for the OHIMA Academic Scholarship Award.  In recent years, student applications for the academic scholarship were declining, and the OHIMA Board wanted to evaluate the potential for increasing interest in the award program and/or looking at alternatives to the traditional award program.  Under the direction of the Committee Chairperson, and with the assistance of an HIM program student volunteer, the Committee evaluated various alternatives to the traditional award program.  On-line surveys were conducted of HIM program chairs and students.  Telephone surveys were conducted with college financial aid counselors.  Alternatives were developed, and feedback was obtained from the OHIMA Board, HIM program chairs and HIM program students.  Following Board approval, the New Graduate Award was implemented in the 2005-2006 academic year. 

 

 

Results

 

The program was implemented for the 2005-2006 academic year.  Each CAHIIM accredited HIM program in the state of Ohio was eligible to select one graduating student to receive the OHIMA new graduate award, which resulted in ten awards being awarded this year alone.  This effort will support these ten students in taking the AHIMA certification exam within six (6) months of their graduation.