Steve Robey of Martin, Health Information Technology grant administrator for Dyersburg State Community College, received the Tennessee Health Information Management Association (THIMA) 2012 Visionary Award. Robey was recognized for his work in promoting the implementation of electronic health records (EHR) and for training students in the use of this new technology.
Each year, the Visionary Award is given to honor association members whose groundbreaking work leads the health information management (HIM) field. Examples of visionary work include:
• furthering the implementation of the electronic patient record
• positioning the HIM profession as a leadership force in the healthcare industry
• paving the way to new HIM roles in all health care settings
• employing HIM practice in careers not limited to the healthcare profession
As one of DSCC’s non-traditional students, Robey studied HIT and graduated from the college in May 2005.
After this, he began work at Volunteer Community Hospital in Martin. He joined the DSCC staff as an adjunct instructor in the health information technology (HIT) program in 2007.
Since 2010, Robey has worked as director of the short-term electronic health records (EHR) program offered by DSCC. This program was made possible through a HI-TECH Workforce Development program funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Because of this funding, the college offered the program free of charge.
By 2015, federal regulations will require everyone to have electronic health records (EHR).
The work required to reach this goal is expected to create a high demand in several types of health information technology (HIT) professions. To meet this demand, DSCC is one of 81 community colleges nationwide and one of three in Tennessee offering this intensive non-degree education program to prepare people for these jobs.
Robey received the award at the annual meeting of the association held in Gatlinburg March 12.
THIMA is the membership organization of health information management professionals.
It fosters the professional development of its members through education, representation and lifelong learning.
These commitments promote quality health information for the benefit of the public, healthcare consumers, providers and other users of clinical data.
For more information about the EHR program at DSCC contact Robey at srobey@dscc.edu or 731/286-3213. Published in The WCP 5.31.12