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Master of Health Informatics and Information Management Program at

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Earns CAHIIM Approval

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Memphis, Tenn. (August 13, 2008) – On May 22, the Master of Health Informatics and Information Management program in the College of Allied Health Sciences at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) received designation as an “Approved Program” by the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).  The UTHSC master’s level Health Informatics and Information Management (HIIM) program is currently only the fourth of its kind in the country to earn approval by CAHIIM.

“We are excited about achieving this milestone as these past two years have required a significant effort from the faculty and current students to attain this collective goal,” said Rebecca Reynolds, EdD, RHIA, associate professor, privacy coordinator and program director for the Graduate Program in HIIM at THSC.   

“A successful graduate program in HIIM is vital if the Mid-South is to reap the benefits of modern health care delivery and innovation.  The faculty is to be congratulated on earning this approval from CAHIIM,” said William Frey, PhD, dean of the College of Allied Health Sciences at UT Health Science Center. 

CAHIIM and its sponsoring organization(s) cooperate to establish, maintain, and promote appropriate standards of quality for postsecondary educational programs in health informatics and information management to provide a competent, skilled professional workforce for the health care industry. CAHIIM accredits degree-granting programs in health informatics and information management that have undergone a rigorous process of voluntary peer review and have met or exceeded the minimum accreditation standards as set by the professional association. 

CAHIIM was established as an independent accreditation commission in 2004 by the house of delegates of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).  AHIMA has conducted specialized programmatic accreditation since 1943, operating jointly with the American Medical Association and in subsequent collaboration with the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

As the flagship statewide academic health system, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is focused on a four-tier mission of education, research, clinical care and public service, all in support of a single goal: to improve the health of Tennesseans.  Offering a broad range of postgraduate training opportunities, the main campus is located in Memphis and includes six colleges: Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy.  UTHSC has additional College of Medicine and College of Pharmacy campuses in Knoxville, and a College of Medicine campus in Chattanooga.  For more information, visit www.uthsc.edu.

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