The New Graduate Award (NGA) recognizes graduates from CAHIIM accredited health information management (HIM) associate or baccalaureate degree programs in the State of Ohio by providing reimbursement for the certification examination fee for the: Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) or Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).
Each educational program chair selects one graduate per association year to receive the award. Recipients of the NGA are required to sit for the RHIT/A examination within four (4) months of graduation to be eligible to receive the award.
AMOUNT:
The goal of OHIMA is to award one NGA per academic year to each CAHIIM accredited program in the State of Ohio. The award amount is equivalent to the fees for taking the RHIA or RHIT examination. The OHIMA Board of Directors approves funds for the NGA during its annual budgeting process.
CRITERIA:
Eligibility for the NGA is based on the following criteria:
1. Student must be a member of OHIMA.
2. Student must in their last semester and eligible for graduation from a CAHIIM accredited program the time of selection.
3. Student must be in good academic standing with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
4. Student must demonstrate commitment to the HIM profession by membership in professional organizations, involvement in school activities and/or involvement professional activities.
5. Any other criteria deemed appropriate by the individual academic program.
It is expected that each academic program will establish its own process for selecting the NGA recipient based upon the above criteria and reporting the name of the recipient to OHIMA.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
On or before November 1st, the Executive Director will notify the Ohio CAHIIM-accredited Program Chairs of the availability of the award. Program Chairs should submit their choice for their award recipient by May 1st via the online submission form on OHIMA’s website.
NOTIFICATION:
The OHIMA Executive Director will notify the award recipients of their award in writing. A check for the certification examination fees will be prepared by the OHIMA Treasurer and mailed with the notification letter to the award recipient.
Awards will be processed throughout the year as they are received. The names of the NGA recipients will be posted on the OHIMA website and announced in member e-newsletters after being notified of their award.
REVISION OF THE RULES GOVERNING THIS AWARD:
This NGA policy and procedure may be revised by the executive action of the OHIMA Board of Directors.
DEADLINE:
All submissions must be made by May 1st.
Approved by: OHIMA Executive Board of Directors
Date: December 4, 2009
