ANIA is pleased to announce that it is now an approved provider of education credits for the Certified Professional in Health Information Management Systems (CPHIMS) certification. CPHIMS is a professional certification program for health care information and management systems professionals offered by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). It allows informatics professionals to distinguish themselves in the marketplace; expand their career opportunities; validate their knowledge, competency, and credibility; gain skills and tools to help make a difference in their organization and community; and demonstrate their commitment to continuing professional development. According to HIMSS, "Certification provides employers with evidence that the certificate holder has demonstrated a certain level of job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities. It provides a documented level of assurance that employees are competent in work practices."

Approximately 6% of ANIA members report holding CPHIMS certification. As an original member of the Alliance for Nursing Informatics (ANI), ANIA has a long-standing partnership and strategic alliance with HIMSS. Both organizations have actively promoted and supported the practice and advancement of nursing informatics. For years, HIMSS has cross-posted their continuing education offerings to the ANIA and nursing informatics community to provide both CEU and CPHIMS credits. Now, ANIA will be able to offer its membership the same benefits. "The high quality of educational programming offered by ANIA is an obvious fit for continuing education hours toward renewal of the CPHIMS credential. HIMSS is pleased to partner with ANIA in offering this great benefit to members of both organizations," said Joyce Sensmeier, MS, RN, BC, CPHIMS, FHIMSS, FAAN, Vice President of Informatics at HIMSS.

ANIA members who hold CPHIMS certification should look for their continuing education certificate on all future webinars and continuing education offerings.