Challenges and the Decline of Professional Practice Experience in a Health Information Management Program

Abstract

Internship programs are an integral part of the academic curriculum in the development of students in a variety of professions. In the healthcare education programs, the term internship is synonymous with clinical training, practicum and professional practice experience (PPE). Professional Practice Experience is the term used by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) to provide students opportunity to expand their knowledge in a work environment. The advances of new technology, additional student enrollment and a more learner-centered approach have created challenges and a decline of professional practice experience in the Health Information Management (HIM) programs. To overcome these challenges, the research literature proposes exploring non-traditional sites, creating new projects and promoting the programs in the HIM profession. The members of the AHIMA organization have a major role to provide continuous constructive learning and mentoring to support the future of the HIM organization and their leaders.