Comparative Study of Structure and Activity of Health Information Management Association in Selected Countries, 2008*

In much of the past century and also in the present century the health care industry as whole and the health information management in particular has experienced a variety of changes and developments. Formation of professional associations is one point of inflection in the health care industry and its related professions. Health Information Management Association in developed countries which originally initiated its activities in the profession of medical records as Medical Records Librarians Association and later changed to Medical Record Association has evolved to become the Health Information Management Association of today. This association and its members have had a great role in the development of the healthcare qualities. The objective of this study is to do a comparative study of structural, functional and activities of Health Information Management Association in selected countries and Medical Record Association of Iran. This research is a descriptive comparative study, which uses a cross-sectional method. The research sample included, Health Information Management Association in countries of Australia (HIMAA), United States of America (AHIMA) and Canada (CHIMA) as pioneer countries in initiation of Health Information Management Association and also Medical Record Association of Iran (IMRA). Related data about Structural & functional entities was collected through the library investigation, use of internet and communication with research sample associations in Australia, United States and Canada via email according to collection forms. Data were analyzed by comparative table and descriptive comparison. The structural and functional elements and entities of the Health Information Management Associations in the selected countries are mostly similar, although they had some differences. Canadian Health Information Management Association Board of Director’s is communal with Canadian College of Health Information Management. Type of association memberships in Australia is different with other associations. Vision and Values of HIMAA and IMRA have not been identified and written. In comparison with the other associations, AHIMA has various and multiple activities in provide services to its members. Continuing education and certification in various scope is one of major the activities of AHIMA. commensurate with done Changes in the Health Information Management Profession, the Association of this Profession in countries of Australia, United States and Canada has experienced a lot of change in the structure and activities of their associations accordingly. Position of inspector only existed in Iran's Medical Record Association. In comparison with other association, Iran Medical Record Association with its fifteen years of history had not had a lot of systematic and integrated activities. Review of Structural and functional entities and Activities of this Association, seems necessary.