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Linda Kloss became CEO of AHIMA in 1995, just a few years after the organization had changed its name from the American Medical Records Association, and started to change its image from paper-pushing to cutting-edge information technology. She presides over a profession that although always vital to health care has been in the general public spotlight lately for perhaps the first time in its history. The group's issues range from creating and protecting the legal paper or electronic medical record to the growing need for quality measurement that has created an appetite for the information locked inside patients' records. AHIMA's membership, currently 55,000 strong, includes more computer science majors with every passing year. As Kloss steps down from her post on March 31 and heads toward private consulting, she bursts with optimism. "It's such a bright time in the history of this field," she says. "I just see great things ahead."

On the transition to electronic data

The daily difference is profound and yet the job is distinctly familiar, if that makes any sense. Instead of processing records as an after-the-fact archival function, more document and data management is being done during care delivery. But you still need to protect the quality of the data, and make sure what's being captured will result in a complete and accurate record.

On the hybrid world

The field has been in transition for several decades, and will continue to be. I am thrilled to see how many new students are blending very strong computer science and technology training with information management training, and more student interns are doing dual degrees. But we also need folks who can manage in the paper world and help lead the transition. We've been in this hybrid world for too long.

On the lure of the HIM profession

I think in some ways students need to find health care first. That might change. Very few students go to college wanting to do information management. I think they'll find health care first and then say, "I didn't know you could do that in health care," when they discover information management.

On personal health records

We sponsor myPHR.com to educate consumers on what the different types are. But we need to balance the needs of providers with the need for patients to have access. The reality is that the information can't be completely patient-owned. The idea that we can put all this data on the Internet and patients can give permission to access it, and the providers don't have to trouble themselves with maintaining records? That only works until the first attorney appears at the provider's door with a subpoena.

On the future of HIM

In the 1970s, we completed a record, signed it off and filed it away, and maybe did a little indexing. We're now changing to be very highly skilled knowledge workers, with a range of information management specialties. There will be those who do data analytics--testing validity and reliability-- and those who specialize in electronic document and record management, or in privacy and security. We're already seeing that having an electronic health record doesn't automatically mean you have better documentation. We have a lot of work to do to optimize what's collected and figure out what's important--not necessarily to collect more data.

Linda Kloss

Chief Executive Officer, American Health Information Management Association

* B.S. in Medical Record Management, College

* M.A. in Organizational Development, DePaul University, Chicago

* Founding officer of MediQual Systems, developer of computer-based clinical performance improvement technology