Management Association
Events
Decertification - Update
The CHIMA Board of Directors, as previously communicated over the past two years, will officially institute the right to decertify non- complaint individuals in the 2007-08 fiscal and membership year. To this end, this communiqu� will be the final communication to the membership at large, prior to commencing with the decertification process.
At this time, the Board of Directors and Staff of CHIMA wishes to acknowledge the Health Information Management (HIM) professionals that are currently in compliance with the certification requirements set forth. Many of which, have been members since obtaining their certification certificate from CHIMA-CCHIM (formerly CHRA-CCHRA), and our new members and the members that have recently reinstated their membership. The CHIMA Board and Staff certainly recognizes your commitment and support in belonging to your national professional association and look forward to many years of working with you and on your behalf to keep the HIM profession a valued contributor and stakeholder in health care and health information management industry.
The decertification policy and related procedure/process effective this fiscal year will be directed at individuals that are Eligible for ACTIVE membership (excludes: Affiliate and Student members) with CHIMA that are not an active member as of February 01, 2008 (the end of 2007-08 Fiscal membership year). Please click on the following CHIMA website link to obtain and review the Decertification Bulletin dated December 14, 2007.
http://www.echima.ca/media/Dec142007/FINAL_Decert_Communique.pdf
If you are a recognized certified member, what can you do to spread the word about decertification?
As a certified member, CHIMA seeks your assistance in widely disseminating the linked communiqu�. Thank you for your assistance regarding this very important and time sensitive matter.
Decertification
Follow Up - September 28, 2007
Following the Decertification email blast of September 27th, we have received numerous emails with questions/requests of clarification. This subsequent email blast is an attempt to provide clarity to the broader membership.
The email blast was directly intended for current ACTIVE/INACTIVE members in good standing to communicate the decertification plans to any non-members that they are aware of. If you are currently an ACTIVE/INACTIVE member in good standing with CHIMA then "decertification" does not apply to you! Furthermore, if you hold a certificate (Associate(A), Certificant(C), Practitioner) from CHIMA (formerly CHRA) and pay your annual Active/Inactive dues (note: inactive category will be eliminated effective 2008-09 year onward) you will not be decertified as you meet the criteria.
Note: Your recognized school (i.e. - CHA, George Brown, UWO, Red River College etc.) where you completed the program and obtained your diploma / degree from is not the certificate being referred to here. It is the actual certificate received from CHIMA (formerly CHRA/CAMRL) only.
CHIMA-CCHIM does have the right to decertify. The Bylaws can be found on the CHIMA website www.echima.ca. CCHIM is a "Federally Chartered" certified college and has the right to recognize or withhold recognition of HIM programs in Canada, just as the College has the right to certify or decertify HIM professionals.
CHIMA-CCHIM has the right to decertify anyone that does not maintain all certification requirements. Membership in CHIMA/CCHIM is not a right, it is a privilege. Non-members currently receive the same benefits from CHIMA work as paying members. CHIMA has been lobbied by active members over the years to enforce the CHIMA Bylaws. Based on this lobbying, the Board of Directors has made a decision that there must be consequences of non-membership and will be instituting the long-standing bylaw/policy.
Please note, if you have never successfully completed the CHIMA national certification examination, you will not be decertified as you were never and still are not certified.
The professional title of "certified HIM professional" and the CHIM credential [replaced the CCHRA(A) and CCHRA(C)designation /credential and any other previous CHIMA credentials] are only allowed to be used by individuals who meet all CHIMA requirements as stated within our Bylaws. There are no other recognized HIM professional designations or credentials other than those bestowed by CHIMA. (Note: HIM, HRA, HRT. HIP, CHIMP, HIMP etc. are not CHIMA credentials).For more information:
http://www.echima.ca/media/pdfs_july_2007/NewCredential.pdf
Once again, in order to be eligible for certification within CHIMA, the individual must meet the three requirements: 1) graduate from a CHIMA recognized program (includes all current/past recognized programs), 2) successful completion of the CHIMA-CCHIM national certification examination (possession of a CHIMA (formally CHRA) certificate), and 3) maintain payment of annual dues. In order to be certified, HIM professionals must maintain their active membership status. Maintenance of certification is synonymous with membership maintenance. Note that the decertification/recertification process will undergo an official communication campaign shortly, followed by its implementation prior to the end of the 2007-08 fiscal year. The CHIMA Board has completed its due diligence with this policy and CHIMA is well within its rights to enforce the existing bylaws.
To obtain membership (reinstatement, new, or renewal) information/ forms, please contact cathy.brooks@echima.ca or Tamara.Stefanits@echima.ca.
If your inquiry is about education/professional practice in nature (CPE/Exam/Certification criteria, why be a member/what does decertification mean/ etc.) please contact Kelly.abrams@echima.ca.Decertification - September 27, 2007
CHIMA needs your assistance in communicating information regarding "decertification" to your fellow HIM professionals that are currently not members!!!
As previously announced decertification will commence during the 2007/ 08 fiscal year. The process is still being finalized, and prior to implementation, a comprehensive communication strategy will be undertaken.
In order to be recognized as a certified HIM professional and to use the new HIM credential of CHIM you must meet the following three (3) criteria:
- Successful completion from a CHIMA-recognized HIM program
- Successfully challenged the CHIMA National Certification (hold a valid CHIMA (formerly CHRA) certificate)
- Maintain a CHIMA membership (payment of annual dues)
Please encourage and communicate to non-members that they must re- instate to avoid decertification utilizing the current CHIMA policy. If non-members fail to re-instate prior to decertification, those individuals will be subject to the new process for recertification, which will be significantly different from the current reinstatement practice. This process is currently under development, and will be finalized and communicated soon.
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