HIM Program Faculty & Students Achieve Excellence

Since the College implemented the Health Information Management (HIM) program nearly 20 years ago, its students and faculty have continued to achieve distinction among their peers. Clarkson College community members continue demonstrating their devotion to the profession by earning top awards and distinctions within the field.

Director Named NHIMA Distinguished Member

The Nebraska Health Information Management Association (NHIMA) recently named Health Care Business and HIM Program Director Carla Dirkschneider (’07) a 2018 Distinguished Member. Only 27 individuals have received the award since 1985, and Dirkschneider joins the list of professionals honored for their outstanding contributions to NHIMA and the HIM field.

Organization members nominate award winners based on their credentials, leadership skills and contributions to the profession. “Being named a NHIMA Distinguished Member means a great deal to me,” said Dirkschneider. “When I look at the previous award winners, I can’t help but think that they are a phenomenal group of HIM professionals who remain dedicated to advocating for the profession and moving it forward.”

The award honors individuals who exhibit a strong commitment to the HIM profession and NHIMA by promoting the organization’s goals across the state of Nebraska. Dirkschneider has held numerous roles within the organization since becoming a member in 2003, including a term as President of the Board of Directors in 2015. She actively participates in state and national HIM conferences and remains dedicated to educating future professionals.

“I am honored to be a NHIMA member,” said Dirkschneider. “I will continue striving to uphold the organization’s values and live up to the expectations of being a Distinguished Member.”

Sadiq-Ali Presents at HIMSS Conference

HIM student Nadine Sadiq-Ali presented a poster at the Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) national conference held March 5–9 in Las Vegas, Nev. Sadiq-Ali’s presentation examined health care interoperability, which allows providers to share patient information with one another to improve care and communication.

The subject is becoming increasingly crucial to the future of health care, which is why it was Sadiq- Ali’s topic of choice. “I focused on this topic because despite having modernized medical record systems, sharing patient information isn’t seamless,” she said. “It is important to educate the public about why organizations should support standardized communication systems for health care providers.”

Sadiq-Ali had the opportunity to connect with other HIMSS members, network with information technology organizations, and attend lectures on cutting-edge HIM technologies and topics during the conference. More than 300 education sessions covered varied topics that included privacy and cybersecurity, data analytics, innovation and entrepreneurship, population health, and health information exchange.

HIMSS is a global voice and leader of health transformation through health information and technology. The organization aims to drive innovative thinking pertaining to information technology use in support of better patient care. Their more than 70,000 members lead efforts to improve health engagement and outcomes using information and technology.

Morgenroth Finishes AHIMA Term

Clarkson College HIM student Elizabeth Morgenroth completed her term on the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Student Advisory Committee (SAC) this year. She and her fellow committee members spent their term working to encourage and influence other HIM students in their professional pursuits.

Students must be AHIMA members and enrolled in a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) to apply for and join SAC. Morgenroth and peers planned educational events and webinars, advocated for the profession, and networked with HIM experts during their one-year term. Together, they developed their leadership skills and engaged with students across the country.