CPHIMS-CA Certification: A Personal Journey
Hélène Clément, RN, BScN, MHA, CPHIMS-CA
Do you know that e-Health 2014 offers an excellent opportunity to write the CPHIMS-CA Exams to earn the only professional credential in Canadian health informatics (HI)? I encourage all HI professionals to check out the exam sitting at the Conference on June 1. Your CPHIMS-CA will open doors and build patient, employer and client confidence in your skill set. This independent assessment to respected international and Canadian criteria clearly demonstrates your ability to perform safely and effectively in a broad range of practice settings. This is so important in e-Health and helping employers identify the capable, qualified HI professionals required in Canadian healthcare.
For me, the CPHIMS-CA was of interest as it is a credential that recognizes my HI experiences acquired over the years. The importance of real-life experience in HI is why you need five years’ experience (three years’ with a graduate degree) to write the exams. Also of great value on my personal journey would be the educational knowledge acquired in preparing to write the exams, further enhancing my knowledge in HI. While studying, I was impressed by the depth of coverage and breadth of topics in the exam study guides – finance, procurement, clinical practice, workflow, data standards, databases and more. The educational offerings from COACH also provided additional insights in preparing to write the exam. This program will continue to evolve and be enhanced as we move forward.
Since obtaining and renewing my CPHIMS-CA certification, I had the opportunity to assist colleagues both within my organization and from other organizations in preparing to write the exam. Developing and presenting educational materials at different venues not only provided me with the opportunity to share experiences and knowledge, but also furthered my personal education.
This is not just a one-time certification, but rather a journey towards excellence and ongoing knowledge acquisition and sharing with HI colleagues. This ongoing process is important not just initially when obtaining your certification, but also as you plan for the renewal and maintenance of your certification every three years. Volunteering on a number of HI and COACH initiatives not only provides one with CEU but, more importantly, with the ability to share and learn from colleagues across the country. At e-Health 2014, CPHIMS-CAs can earn 20+ CE hours for renewal.
I highly recommend CPHIMS-CA to anyone who is committed to professionalism and continuous learning in the fast-paced world of e-Health. Sign up for the e-Health 2014 sitting by May 11. Good luck!
Hélène Clément is currently an Executive Lead in the Clinical Data Management Services division at eHealth Ontario and a COACH Board Member. She has contributed to the CPHIMS-CA program as a COACH volunteer on the exam working group and is currently a CPHIMS-CA Exam Committee member. In addition, she co-chairs the CCF: COACH Clinical Forum and was Chair of the HIP@work Task Force, responsible for the HIP® Career Matrix, supporting documentation and related career tools.
Plan to attend Hélène’s e-Health 2014 poster presentation Preparing for the CPHIMS-CA Certification through Education from 11:40 – 12:30 pm June 2. ACH Clinical Forum and was Chair of the HIP@work Task Force, responsible for the HIP® Career Matrix, supporting documentation and related career tools.