Health information staff recognized at PCHS

Perkins County Health Services is recognizing Health Information staff during National Health Information Professionals Week, from April 18-22. The celebration calls attention to the important role health information professionals play in the delivery of quality patient care.  
Thirty years ago, it was referred to as medical records; in fact, many people still refer to it by that name. However, in 1991, as paper records were gradually starting to be replaced by the electronic health record (EHR), the name of the profession was changed to health information management.
Health information is the data related to a person’s medical history, including symptoms, diagnoses, procedures, and outcomes. A health record includes information such as: a patient’s history, lab results, X-rays, clinical information, demographic information, and notes.
Health information professionals are trusted by patients and providers with the most sensitive data about a person, while making it available where and when it’s needed.
At Perkins County Health Services, the health information management (HIM) department ensures that patients’ health stories remain accurate, accessible, and protected, serving as a link between healthcare providers and patients.
staff
Pam Rowley has been the HIM Manager at PCHS for 29 years. She is a registered health information technician. Pam is responsible for managing the HIM department, coding, HIPAA privacy, and medical staff credentialing.
Vicki Hatcher is a certified medical transcriptionist; she has worked at PCHS for 21 years.  
Paige Reichert has been with PCHS for 20 years. She is responsible for hospital coding, chart analysis and abstracting. She is currently working on a degree in health information technology through Western Nebraska Community College.
LeAnn Reichenberg has been with PCHS for seven years; she is responsible for Grant Medical Clinic and Specialty Clinic coding. She is a certified outpatient coder, a certified professional medical auditor, rural health coding and billing specialist, and certified documentation expert - outpatient.  
Donalyn Hasenauer is a medical transcriptionist who has been with PCHS for four years. She has over 20 years of experience as a medical transcriptionist.
Abby Ogg has been with the department for four years. She is responsible for release of information, scanning, and birth certificates.
Theresa Barry has been with PCHS for over two years.  She is responsible for clinic coding. She has 20 years of medical coding experience.  
PCHS is grateful to have these HIM professionals on staff, making sure the information in patients’ health records is accurate, accessible, reliable, and secure.