Congratulations Ruth Wingfield, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P!

Each year, WVHIMA recognizes one member who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession through volunteer services to WVHIMA, AHIMA, and other health information management affiliate organizations, outstanding achievement in professional practice, leadership in education, and contributions in research or published materials.

The 2008-2009 recipient of the Distinguished Member award is Ruth Wingfield, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P.  She has been an active member with AHIMA for 15 years in various states including OH, TX, NY, PA and currently in WV for 6 years.  Ruth is currently working for Data Metrix, Inc as a Director for coding services.  She performs DRG coding audits of  Hospital services for third party carriers. She also conducts internal quality reviews of coded data.  In the past, she has worked as a Coding Consultant for Bearing Point, she has also performed Phase II testing for CMS on ICD-10-PCS at Clinical Data Abstraction Center.  She has created a coding training manual for Heritage Health Systems. 

Ruth has been very active with WVHIMA serving on several committees such as Bylaws, Fall Retreat, Annual Convention, and Education.  She has provided speakers for educational programs for the past two years and has often spoken herself.  She is willing and able to help the association in any way.

Ruth lives with her husband Brian and dog, Oreo in Teays Valley. Ruth has truly been a mentor and an asset to WVHIMA and the HIM profession.  Congratulations Ruth!

Award Application

Every year, WVHIMA recognizes one member for outstanding service within the organization.   This award is known as the WVHIMA Distinguished member award.   Nominations are accepted throughout the year until approximately April 1st.  

The nominations are tallied by a points system and the person nominated that receives the most points becomes the WVHIMA Distinguished Member for the year.   A person may only receive the distinguished member award once in their lifetime. View our list of distinguished members.

To be eligible for nomination the candidates must have made an outstanding contribution to the WVHIMA profession in more than one of the following areas.

1. Service to WVHIMA Members

2. Outstanding achievement in professional practice

3. Contributions in research or published materials.

4. Leadership in education

Candidates for WVHIMA distinguished member must have been an active member of WVHIMA for eight years or longer.

Only one nomination per member per year is accepted.