The Self-Assessment Process and Impacts on the Health Information Management Program Performance: A Case Study

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Educational Program Assessment
• Quality Management Models

Background:

• Accreditation for Health Information Management (HIM) programs requires a robust self-assessment process.
• The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Model (MBNQAM) offers a framework for organizational assessment.
• Existing instruments can be adapted for evaluating HIM educational programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the applicability of the MBNQAM educational criteria for HIM program self-assessment.
• To determine if the MBNQAM can fulfill the self-assessment requirements for Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) accreditation.
• To provide a foundation for strengthening HIM program self-assessment and strategic planning.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an existing organizational assessment instrument, the Quantum Performance Group's Organizational Assessment Survey.
• Applied the MBNQAM educational criteria to self-assess HIM educational programs.
• Analyzed the instrument's effectiveness in evaluating HIM program quality.

Main Results:

• The MBNQAM framework was successfully applied to self-assess HIM programs.
• The study demonstrated the model's utility in meeting CAHIIM accreditation self-assessment requirements.
• The research provides actionable insights for deans, administrators, and educators.

Conclusions:

• The MBNQAM is a viable tool for HIM program self-assessment, enhancing strategic planning and accreditation compliance.
• Implementing the MBNQAM can mature HIM programs and facilitate benchmarking opportunities.
• This research contributes valuable data to the literature on quality improvement in health information management education.