INCLUSIVE MEMBERSHIP UPDATE:
Provided by AHIMA 10/26/06 to CSA Leaders and Delegates

AHIMA's 2006 Membership Changes

AHIMAs 2006 Membership Changes  

During its October 2006 meeting in Denver, CO, AHIMA's House of Delegates approved changes to the associations membership categories. The changes were the subject of much discussion online in chats, the AHIMA Communities of Practice, and in Team Talks and state meetings. Here's an overview of some important points.

What are the changes approved by the HOD?

The House first approved a motion to modify the bylaws to require that the president-elect, president, and past president of AHIMA be AHIMA-approved credential holders. The motion was approved by two-thirds majority vote.

Next, the House approved an amendment to the AHIMA bylaws which eliminated the associate membership category and defined active members as individuals interested in the AHIMA purpose and willing to abide by the Code of Ethics. The change removed  the requirement that active members hold an AHIMA certification in good standing. The bylaw change also required  the majority of members of the Board of Directors to be AHIMA-approved credential holders. It also eliminated  the associate membership category for component state associations.

How was the vote taken?

The motion was approved by a vote of 143 to 70.  AHIMA's bylaws stipulate that approval of an amendment to the bylaws require two-thirds majority of the votes cast. Votes were cast by what is known as a standing counted vote, in which proponents and opponents are asked to stand in turn.   The voting followed official rules as advised by a registered parliamentarian.

How do delegates decide how to vote on issues like this?

AHIMA asks its delegates to dialogue, deliberate, and act for the betterment of the membership, the profession and the Association.  Delegates are expected to use critical and strategic thinking, basing decisions on knowledge and dialogue. Dialogue with members of their state is  very important, and so is dialogue with members of other states, with fellow delegates, with members of the board  and AHIMA committees and councils, and with respected opinion leaders -- particularly on issues with association-wide impact.  Member input is important, AS is information gleaned from environmental scans, healthcare trends, work force trends, data, etc. 

All of this data collection and critical decision making is consistent with the Houses decision-making tool, Roberts Rule of Order.

What does this outcome mean for members?

The bylaw change grew from the vision of a future in which all active members have a say in the direction, leadership, and future of the association, whether or not they have a credential. Despite the membership category change, AHIMA's members will continue to receive the same benefits of membership that they always have.

All of the processes by which AHIMA is governed remain the same. Each year AHIMA members vote to elect leaders to the AHIMA Board of Directors, the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education, and the Council on Certification. The ballot is determined by the Nominating Committee, the majority of whose members are elected by the House of Delegates. Voting decisions continue to be in the hands of members who exercise their right to vote. 

In addition, as a result of the October vote, the bylaws now require that the president-elect, president, and past president of AHIMA be AHIMA-approved credential holders and that the majority of members of the Board of Directors be AHIMA-approved credential holders. All the above changes will be in effect for AHIMA's 2007 election.

With the change in bylaws, some former associate members who are now active members may wish to volunteer for state or local organizations. This may be to the benefit of many organizations who are seeking volunteer help. State or local associations may wish to reach out to these members and involve them with , for example, meeting planning, CoP facilitation, or committees and task forces.

What's the difference between certification and membership?

Credentials are and will continue to be an important way of demonstrating HIM expertise, especially to employers. AHIMA has targeted employers with marketing the value of our credentials with noted success. Recent employer research indicates that the presence of a credential matters to potential employers.

All individuals (members or not) who hold AHIMA credentials are required to maintain their credential through continuing education (CE).  Credential holders are also required to pay a CE maintenance assessment or fee.  This fee is not the same thing as membership dues. CE maintenance fees cover expenses for certification and tracking of CE units, while membership dues allow access to the many AHIMA benefits, products, and services.

An individual 's CE requirements are a function of which, and how many credentials they hold, not their membership status.  There is no requirement for CE associated with a membership category -- the CE requirements are tied to the credential, as they always have been. 

AHIMA intends that HIM credentials will still represent the highest mark of achievement for HIM professionals. AHIMA continues to promote the value of membership to credentialed non-members and to promote the concept of lifelong learning to all members, whether they have a credential or not.

This next year will be a transition period in which these changes are implemented.  We will be providing state leaders with a variety of information resources to assist in implementing these changes.  Please let us know how we can best assist you.