HIM News Archives

Congratulations to Texas State HIM students who participated in a recent AHIMA poster contest.

The students were awarded

2013 Texas State Alumni Reception

The Texas State Alumni Reception was well attended by many past grads, preceptors and other friends of the HIM program. Much thanks to BACTES for sponsoring a portion of this event.

To All Alumni: Please send us your current e-mail address to be on our distribution list for future alumni and continuing ed events hosted by the HIM Department. Send these to him-dept@txstate.edu.

Texas State Alumni Reception

2011 TxHIMA Convention

One of the highlights at the TxHIMA Annual Meeting in June was the Student Academy, an afternoon of presentations directed to current students and recent graduates of health information programs. One of the presentations was "Transitioning From College to Career" and included tips for making this transition and for making the transition from student to leader plus comments from a recent grad who is currently making that transition. Shown in the picture are the speakers for this well received presentation: Jackie Moczygemba, Texas State faculty; Christy Mack Texas State Alum May 2011 and current employee of Texas Health Resources Harris Methodist Fort Worth; Vong Miphouvieng, President of the DFW HIMA and employee THRFW; and Danette Myers, Texas State Faculty.

The Texas State University HIM Department and the PURE-HIT grant program had a booth in the TxHIMA Annual Meeting Exhibit Hall which provided the opportunity to talk with many past graduates, clinical site preceptors, potential students and meet with many new friends. Shown in the booth with Sue Biedermann, HIM Department Chair are 1995 alums Melanie Allen Orsag and Barbara Schulz.

HIM Graduation

Approximately 30 HIM students are completing the HIM degree this year. The students shown here were among those who participated in the May 14th ceremony. Congratulations!

HIMSA Student Officers

HIMSA, the HIM student organization, recently elected officers for the 2011 academic year. Leading HIMSA for 2011-12 are:

Reba Mathew, Treasurer; Nancy Gifford, President; Kristen Boyd, Vice-President

Senior HIM Student Recognized for Research

Mallory Samek, senior in Health Information Management, recently won 2nd place for her poster titled “Texas Health Information Technology Regional Extension Centers: Goals and Challenges” in the Student Research division at the College of Health Professions Research Forum. Ms. Samek’s original research queried the Texas RECs on a variety of issues to determine similarities and differences. Mallory just completed a professional practice experience assignment at in the Health Information Management Department at University Hospital in San Antonio and will graduate with the BS in Health Information Management in May.

Students Completing Professional Practice Experience

Students completing professional practice experience. The senior students are completing their professional practice experience assignments in facilities around the state and country (including NY and WY.) They have experienced a variety of sites, from large academic medical centers to small hospitals, from specialty facilities such as mental health, veterans affairs, college student health centers, to consulting companies, public health agencies and functional areas outside of the traditional HIM Departments.

Pictured here is student Christy Mack, who completed her internship with former TxHIMA President and current AHIMA Board Member Diann Brown, MS, RHIA, CHP at the Harris Methodist Ft. Worth Hospital, one of many Texas Health Resources facilities in the Dallas Ft. Worth area. Several senior students, including Christy have already accepted positions with the organizations that hosted their internships.

HIMSA Student Officers

Officers for HIMSA, the HIM Student Association for the 2010 academic year. From left to right are: Cameron Renfroe, Secretary; Cindy Lopez, Vice President; Amanda Gonzales, President; and Melissa Mendoza, Treasurer.

Graduation May 2010

Carolyn Holesovsky, Health Information Management Department Administrative Assistant III graduated with a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (MSIS), Occupational Education specialization at the May 2010 graduation ceremony. Carolyn served as the Administrative Assistant for the HIM Department since the fall of 2001. She has held this position while completing her undergraduate and graduate studies at Texas State and during a time when the HIM Department has experienced significant growth; expansion of the degree program, course offerings and increased numbers of HIM students and faculty.

Counting the twenty students who received their diplomas at the May 15 ceremony, over 700 students have now graduated with a BSHIM/BSMRA degree from the Texas State program (712 by our count) since the first four students graduated in May 1978. An additional eight students are due to graduate at the August ceremony. Congratulations, HIM graduates!

The HIM faculty present at the May graduation ceremony were Jackie Moczygemba who served as a marshal to lead the students in, Danette Myers, Sue Biedermann, Susan Fenton and Tiankai Wang.

2010 American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Convention

The Texas State University HIM Department was well represented at the annual meeting of the American Health Information Management Association, AHIMA, in Orlando, Sept. 2010, with ten current students, five full-time and two part-time faculty attending. The HIM students attended a Student Academy plus many educational sessions and visited the exhibit hall. Shown in the picture are senior students Christy Mack and Chinelo Ofoma flanking Dr. Susan Fenton, HIM Assistant Professor.

Desla Mancilla and Jackie Moczygemba recently traveled to Halifax, Nova Scotia to present their research findings on Medical Identity Theft during the annual meeting of the Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA). CHIMA is a membership-based organization comprised of HIM professionals who manage the security, privacy and accuracy of health records across the provinces of Canada. In addition to their presentation, Mancilla and Moczygemba attended the welcome reception and were greeted warmly by CHIMA members. They had the opportunity to visit with many HIM professionals from various healthcare organizations throughout Canada.

The faculty also took some time to visit local points of interest and enjoy the people and landscapes of Nova Scotia.

HIM ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Sue Biedermann Awarded AHIMA Fellowship. The Fellowship Review Committee has awarded AHIMA Fellowship to Sue Biedermann, MSHP, RHIA, FAHIMA, Chair, Health Information Management Department. Based upon the review of the fellowship application, the committee found that her professional experience and background clearly demonstrates sustained and significant contributions to the HIM profession.

TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY TO LEAD HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TRAINING CONSORTIUM

The Texas State University Department of Health Information Management has been awarded $5.4 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to advance the widespread adoption and meaningful use of health information technology (HIT) by educating professionals to work in this rapidly growing field. To read more about this go to: PURE-HIT

HIM Alumni Reception

In Grapevine, October 2009, at the National AHIMA Annual Convention.

The Commitment to Service

The HIM faculty, staff, and students recognize the importance of service and are actively involved in service activities at the local, state, and national professional associations as well as on campus and in the communities in which they reside. Providing educational programs on the importance of maintaining a personal health record is topic that faculty and students are currently involved in.

The HIM Department Personal Health Record booth at the Texas State Wellness fair with Linda Thomas, faculty, and Meghan Campbell.