WVHIMA Membership Update — Fall 2024
Happy Fall y’all! I wanted to drop by and give you some membership updates. As the new WVHIMA board settles into our roles, we’ve been hard at work discussing this year’s strategic goals. One of my top priorities as President is to grow our association by increasing membership, volunteerism, and educational opportunities.
This year, I had the privilege of attending the CA Leadership Symposium, where I learned that many state associations face similar challenges with volunteerism. However, I firmly believe that through transparency, communication, and teamwork, we can overcome these obstacles and achieve our goals together.
With the holidays approaching, I think of how this time of year brings people together. To celebrate and foster that sense of connection, the WVHIMA Board is excited to invite you to a special event:
Mark your calendars for our FREE Winter Webinar Event!
Date: Wednesday, December 18th
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM EST
Details: WVHIMA Winter Learning Retreat
AHIMA CEUs: 2
This exclusive event is open to all WVHIMA members, and we hope to see you there! A big shout-out to our WVHIMA Education Chair, Victoria Lincoln, RHIA, whose hard work and dedication made this event a reality. Thank you, Victoria!
2024 AHIMA House of Delegates
(Delegates Pictured left to right: Vice President Kalee Vincent, President Ashley Simmons, Immediate Past President Nelson Liston II, and President-Elect/2nd Year Director Brenda Glaspell.)
The WVHIMA Delegates recently attended the annual House of Delegates meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. This important event gathers leaders from component associations (CAs) nationwide to influence and shape the future of AHIMA and its governance. WVHIMA is allocated 1 delegate for every 100 members, and as of November 2024, we have 403 members. While this is growth, it’s important to note that two years ago, WVHIMA had over 500 members and was permitted 5 delegates. This means we’ve lost roughly 100 members since 2022, and as a result, we lost a valuable seat to represent WVHIMA at this critical leadership level.
Membership and community are at the core of my strategic goals for this year, and I want to emphasize why it’s so important to continue building and supporting our association. Let’s work together to regain that seat and strengthen our presence in the leadership of our profession!
As your representatives, the WVHIMA Delegates worked diligently to review and vote on proposed AHIMA Bylaw amendments. These amendments are essential for ensuring that our association’s governance remains effective, transparent, and aligned with the needs of our members.
We also worked closely with fellow CA leaders to share insights and advocate for the interests of the association, contributing to discussions that impact the broader HIM profession.
Thank you for entrusting us with this responsibility. Together, we can amplify the voice of our association and continue to drive positive change!
Academic & Professional Development Committee Update
The Academic and Professional Development Committee has been working very hard this fall to bring you some opportunities to further advance your career and professional development.
The committee is being chaired by Christine Metheny with Katie Knapp, Carol Talkington, and Stacey Teets. The first order of business was to review the Committee Policies and the Application process on WVHIMA.org. We are excited to start soliciting applications to be awarded this spring at the WVHIMA Annual Conference.
The purpose of the Professional Development Award is to financially assist qualified WVHIMA members who have a desire and are deemed eligible to sit for any of the examinations offered by the American Health Information Management Association. We are including the AHIMA Micro-credentials in this opportunity. These examinations are found at the website: www.ahima.org/certification. Other credentialing examinations can be considered if funding is available, and the exam supports the mission and vision of AHIMA and WVHIMA.
Submit your application today at this link, and feel free to share with other colleagues that could benefit.
For our academic students in CAHIIM Approved programs, WVHIMA annually grants awards to financially assist qualified students who have completed courses in an accredited West Virginia college/university program and are eligible to write the examination for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) or the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) as administered by the American Health Information Management Association. The application process can be completed at this link: Academic Achievement Awards | West Virginia Health Information Management Association.
Please encourage those in current programs to consider applying!
Call for Nominations:
The call for WVHIMA Board Nominations will open soon for the 2025-2026 WVHIMA Board Election! Elected positions on the upcoming ballot will include President-elect, director, secretary, treasurer, and nominating committee member. Position descriptions can be found here on the WVHIMA website.
(Delegates Pictured left to right: Vice President Kalee Vincent, President Ashley Simmons, Immediate Past President Nelson Liston II, and President-Elect/2nd Year Director Brenda Glaspell.)
Final Thoughts
Thank you for your continued support and membership! I’m excited about the months ahead and the opportunity for us to connect in person. As the holidays approach, keep an eye out for the announcement of the 2024 WVHIMA Annual Convention—I plan to share this exciting news with you by January. Stay tuned!
Lastly, if you would like to volunteer with WVHIMA please reach out to me directly via email. Please email my personal email at Simmonsa1107@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you!
Take care and Happy Holidays!
Ashley Simmons, MBA, RHIA, CCS, CDIP
WVHIMA President