Peirce College Professor Appointed to Health Information Management Council for Excellence in Education

New leadership group to address the rapid growth of healthcare and employers’ demand for work-ready staff in the United States

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Peirce College, Philadelphia’s leading private, non-profit, four-year accredited institution for working adult learners, announced Stephanie Donovan, Assistant Professor & Program Manager of Health Information Management at Peirce, has been appointed a member of the recently established Council for Excellence in Education (CEE), an executive council of AHIMA, the American Health Information Management Association.

“The CEE realizes that HIM professionals have a rich and diverse skill set and are very much needed and qualified to be in higher positions within healthcare”

Health information professionals—sometimes referred to as those who work in “behind the scenes healthcare”—serve as the link between care providers, payers and patients. They play a critical role in managing patient health information and medical records, administering computer information systems, collecting and analyzing patient data, and using classification systems that healthcare providers rely on to deliver quality care.

According to CEE Chairman Mona Calhoun, the council is comprised of a diverse group of 13 persons that represent all levels of health information and informatics education and HIM practitioners from around the U.S.

“The council has a very critical role in that it sets the standards in HIM education curriculum and ensures that future education continues to be the cornerstone of the HIM profession. We are very excited to have Stephanie Donovan of Peirce College join our council this year. She was selected from among many applicants that desired to fill the vacant seats on the council. Her years of experience, knowledge and expertise in the associate degree curriculum and the HIM arena in general will be a true asset to our group,” Calhoun said.

In addition to advising AHIMA’s 64,000 members throughout 52 affiliated component state associations, the CEE is a resource to health information management professionals throughout the United States.

“It is an honor to participate in shaping health information management education. My involvement as Peirce faculty and program manager on the national level in this professional association is very much in alignment with Peirce’s leadership model,” Donovan said. “HIM is growing fast and we want to help ensure the education curriculum is not only keeping pace but staying one step ahead within this constantly evolving and changing discipline and that our graduates are prepared to secure jobs in the healthcare market.”

“The CEE realizes that HIM professionals have a rich and diverse skill set and are very much needed and qualified to be in higher positions within healthcare,” Donovan added.

Peirce College’s Healthcare programs include two technology degree programs. The two-year Health Information Technology degree prepares students with the technical skills needed to manage electronic healthcare data, apply diagnostic and procedural codes, and protect the integrity of patients' records. The College’s bachelor's degree in Health Information Administration prepares students to advance as a health information administrator in a number of professional settings.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, healthcare is one of the fastest growing professions in the United States and HIM one of the fastest growing subsectors. Employment of medical records and health information technicians is expected to increase by 20 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations, through 2018. Employment growth will result from the increase in the number of medical tests, treatments and procedures that will be performed. As the population continues to age, the occurrence of health-related problems will increase.

About Peirce College

Peirce College offers bachelor’s and associate degree programs in the areas of Business, Healthcare, Information Technology and Legal Studies. Located in the heart of Philadelphia, Peirce is a non-profit institution that specializes in serving the unique needs of working adults, many of whom work full time and are raising families. In response to the changing demands of the economy and the prospect for future jobs in the Philadelphia market, Peirce recently introduced additional degree programs in Healthcare, Human Resource Management, Accounting, and Criminal Justice. Peirce College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104 (phone: [phone]). The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs accredits the College's Business Administration program and the Paralegal Studies program is approved by the American Bar Association.

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