Learning Outcomes

• Understand the future for health information management and emerging opportunities and challenges.
• Explore the different approaches health information management professional associations are adopting to educate and support the careers of health information management professionals.
• Understand the imperative of policy, advocacy, and global collaboration.

Introduction

“Gazing into the crystal ball is fraught with risk: prediction requires acknowledgement of evidence from the past melded with an understanding of current practices and trends” (Robinson & Lee, 2021).

The future presents both opportunities and challenges for the profession of health information management (HIM). Health information management professionals will continue to be a critical resource within healthcare organisations and supporting agencies. Their expertise is needed to continue to drive, manage, advocate for, and lead best practice information management practices through people, processes and systems in healthcare. The achievement of the global Sustainable Development Goal to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages depends on the effective collection, management, use and analysis of health data. Effective decision making for patient health and wellbeing, healthcare investment, service delivery, system efficiency, outcomes and research priorities depend on the availability and accessibility of appropriate and accurate data.

Societal and healthcare system changes are continuous.  Issues of inequity, accessibility, and demand combined with increased cost, changes in population demographics, and workforce challenges will continue to put pressure on the healthcare system. Healthcare organisations need to find increased efficiency and effectiveness in their service delivery while governments need to demonstrate value for money while meeting the population’s healthcare needs.  The need to further integrate and embed technological solutions to improve patient care, support consumers to engage and take control of their health, enable workforce efficiency, and improve access and equity to health services is inevitable.  Healthcare is on the verge of being significantly transformed by the use of AI-enabled technologies.

New models of care for delivering health and embedding digital health technologies offer promise and can improve access and equity to health services, but privacy and security of data must continue to be addressed together with the fundamental principles of health information management. Building on other chapters in this text, we describe the opportunities and challenges that will impact upon health information management practice.

Opportunities and Challenges

Patient Safety

Errors in healthcare records are caused by missing information, incomplete communication, errors or failure to document changes (Lloyd, 2025). Difficulty finding important information in a timely manner or delays in reporting can contribute to errors, misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. Healthcare teams also report that the use of mixed record systems (paper and electronic) and electronic records cause problems (Lloyd, 2025; Lloyd et al., 2024). ‘Note bloat’ due to copy and paste has been determined to perpetuate wrong information and is a well-known hazard leading to errors (Lloyd, 2025; Lloyd et al., 2024), burnout and wasted time (Steinkamp et al., 2022). Abbreviations used in healthcare records, in particular medication charts, can be misunderstood or misinterpreted leading to errors (Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare, 2021 [opens in new tab]). A Swedish study [opens in new tab], that involved patients reviewing the notations in their own records found one-third identified an error (35.98%) or omission (26.37%), and (17.56%) were offended by the content of the notes, with even higher percentages noted by mental health patients (Bärkås et al., 2023). Health information management professionals can contribute to improved documentation and the reduction of errors in health care records.

However, whilst HIM professionals play a vital role in ensuring safe patient care through the management of health information, the empirical evidence directly linking their impact on patient safety remains surprisingly limited (Kemp et al., 2025; Kemp et al., 2021).The HIM profession was established to support healthcare delivery through the provision of high-quality information management (Kemp et al., 2025; Kemp et al., 2021). Health records serve as a key communication tool for patient safety (Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare, 2021; Lloyd, 2025). HIM professionals fulfil essential functions that directly influence patient safety outcomes (Kemp et al., 2025; Kemp et al., 2021). These functions encompass information governance, corporate governance, data quality management, and comprehensive health information management, with particular emphasis on accurate data capture throughout the patient care journey (Kemp et al., 2025; Kemp et al., 2021).

Professional values, especially integrity, are integral to HIM practice and influence interactions with clinical and other colleagues (Kemp et al., 2025; Kemp et al., 2021). These values underpin health information management professional practice and influence interactions with both colleagues and patient information management. As healthcare continues to evolve and become increasingly data-driven, the role of HIM professionals in ensuring patient safety through accurate, accessible, and well-managed health information becomes ever more critical (Kemp et al., 2025). For the future it is important that patient safety and the nexus between documentation accuracy, timeliness and coding and patient safety is included in HIM curricula (Kemp et al., 2025; Kemp et al., 2021).

Information Governance

“…. health information governance should be regarded as a necessity in the health systems of various countries to improve and achieve their goals, particularly in developing and underdeveloped countries” (Ghaffari Heshajin et al., 2024).

Effective information governance is underpinned by valuing information as a strategic asset (Hanson, 2011). Information governance is a core component of corporate strategy and must be integrated into the broader governance frameworks of the organisation (Smallwood, 2018). Success relies on securing leadership and commitment from senior management and fostering a collaborative approach across teams. Information governance must support legal, reporting and privacy compliance, align with organisational objectives, and uphold information security, privacy, quality, and integrity (Kwan et al., 2022). It encourages a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration, adopts a risk-based approach, and ensures authorised stakeholders have access to reliable and accessible information throughout its lifecycle. Information governance provides an effective and increasingly recognised framework within which to articulate and operationalise health information management practices. Health information management professionals continue to lead in information governance, and our expertise and knowledge are critical to effective governance over the information assets of health and social care systems (Kwan et al., 2022). The profession fosters cross-sector collaboration, with information technology staff, clinicians and other stakeholders, to ensure health information assets and digital health solutions are fit for purpose and managed well across the information lifecycle.

Health information management professionals and others working in governance are required to work with established and emerging governance frameworks such as COBIT, ITIL and TOGAF (The Open Group Architecture Framework) to name a few (Smallwood, 2018). In the chapter on Cyber Risk Management we introduced critical cyber risk and other relevant frameworks that are integral to comprehensive governance.

The adoption of relevant standards to promote consistency and best practice is an important component of information governance. Health information management professionals are encouraged to be involved in the development, advocacy, adoption and assurance of international and national standards.  Relevant standards will include both health centric and non-health centric standards such as ISO 4143:2022(en) [opens in new tab], a standard that relates to Information Governance (Information and documentation), and ISO/IEC 38500 [opens in new tab], a standard for Governance of IT for the Organisation. There are important standards in health information management related to terminology (SNOMED CT), ICD and many others (Owen et al., 2023) described more fully in Healthcare Classification and Terminologies.  The Australian Digital Health Agency publishes the Digital Health Standards Catalogue [opens in new tab] to provide access to the digital health standards that support the ongoing digital transformation of Australian healthcare and ensure interoperability of systems and data. Health information management professionals need to keep abreast of industry standards development and adoption.  Standards such as FHIR and HL7 will be routinely adopted by vendors and expected by the purchasers of health information systems.

Health Information Use and Reuse for Research

Health  information management professionals, through their oversight of disease and operation indices, actively support health service management and clinical research (Henderson et al., 2025; Riley et al., 2024). Reusing health information and research data is crucial for advancing knowledge, improving patient care, and maximising the value of research investments; however, the data must be trusted by researchers if they are to utilise it (Riley et al., 2025; Riley et al., 2023). When researchers and healthcare professionals can access and analyse previously collected data, they can identify patterns, trends, and correlations that might not be apparent in smaller, isolated studies. This practice also helps validate previous findings, test new hypotheses, and conduct meta-analyses that provide more robust evidence for clinical decisions. Data reuse reduces redundant data collection efforts, saving time and resources while minimising the burden on research participants and healthcare systems. The reuse of health information and research data can promote transparency, reproducibility, and collaboration within the scientific community (Henderson et al., 2025; Riley et al., 2023). Sharing and reusing data allows researchers to build upon existing knowledge, potentially leading to new discoveries and innovations in healthcare.

Data reuse can be guided by principles and frameworks such as FAIR [opens in new tab] and the Five Safes Framework [opens in new tab]. The FAIR principles state that research data should be Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable, which means data should be easy to localise, retrieve, work with other datasets, and be well-documented. These principles ensure that both humans and machines can easily discover, understand, and reuse the data, ultimately promoting open science and maximising the value of research data. Organisations such as the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in Australia use Five Safes [opens in new tab] as an approach to thinking about, assessing and managing risks associated with data sharing and release. HIM professionals ensure appropriate governance is in place to enable authorised secondary use of health information while ensuring compliance with privacy, confidentiality and security requirements.

Digital Health

Whilst it is not possible to predict the future, as health systems continue to digitise, future challenges in health information management will increasingly centre around the professional requiring advanced competencies in data and analytics, information governance, privacy, cybersecurity, people and change management. The proliferation of health data—driven by technologies such as wearable biosensors, smart implants, and AI-powered diagnostic tools—will require health information management and other professionals to critically evaluate data quality, interpret predictive analytics, and ensure ethical information and data governance systems are in place.

Decentralised data storage and cloud-based platforms will continue to demand robust cybersecurity protocols and privacy frameworks. Managing these complexities will require adaptability, governance and leadership strategies to support the integration of future innovation and new ways of working. Leadership in digital health strategy and system design will be vital in navigating emerging technologies and patient, consumer and workforce expectations. The health information management professional will need to advocate for, and guide the implementation of interoperable systems that incorporate virtual care platforms, AI-driven clinical decision support, and real-time population health dashboards. Real-time dashboards in healthcare management are crucial for enabling fast, data-driven decisions providing visibility over key performance indicators, patient flow, resource allocation, and clinical outcomes with the aim of improving operational efficiency and patient care quality. High quality, timely, reliable, valid and complex data is needed to underpin decision support systems. Trust in health information and that healthcare organisations will protect sensitive and confidential will remain an imperative (Ruotsalainen & Blobel, 2020).

Many healthcare organisations are already adopting digital health solutions to support clinicians, new models of care and ‘digital front doors’, allowing patients to book their own appointments and access patient portals (Australian Digital Health Agency, 2025). In some general practice and community healthcare settings these solutions are well advanced, and consumers can book appointments, vaccinations and order medications from home and at times suited to their lifestyles.

Health information management professionals are well suited to lead and significantly contribute to digital system procurement, implementation and management based on their knowledge of clinical concepts and workflows, healthcare operations, and information science. Their ability to work effectively across all segments of clinical practice and healthcare operations while maintaining a core focus on the custodianship and governance of health information makes them a core asset and key partner in the digital healthcare environment. To continue to be effective, HIM professionals must continually invest in their learning of emerging digital and Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) tools and software and assess their impact on health information management.

Interoperability and Health Information Exchanges

Health Information System (HIS) interoperability refers to the ability of different healthcare information technology systems and software applications to communicate effectively, exchange data, and utilise shared information across organisational boundaries (Owen et al., 2023). This encompasses technical, semantic, and process interoperability, ensuring that data flows between systems but is also consistently interpreted and meaningfully incorporated into healthcare workflows (Owen et al., 2023). When healthcare systems achieve seamless interoperability, they enable healthcare providers to access complete patient records, make better-informed clinical decisions, and coordinate care more effectively (Owen et al., 2023). This integration can reduce errors, eliminate duplicate testing, and streamline administrative processes, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs. The foundation of this seamless operation relies on standardised protocols like HL7 and FHIR, robust security measures, and effective integration capabilities through APIs and interface engines (Ang, 2025a; Australian Digital Health Agency, 2023).

Successful implementation of seamless interoperability requires consideration of technical requirements, organisational factors, and regulatory compliance (Owen et al., 2023). Healthcare organisations must address challenges such as legacy system integration, data format differences, resource constraints, and privacy concerns. This demands strong governance, comprehensive staff training, and effective change management strategies to ensure successful adoption and utilisation of interoperable systems. Healthcare organisations, when acquiring new solutions, must robustly defend and advocate for the selection of systems that comply with relevant standards to support information sharing.

A Health Information Exchange (HIE) enables the secure and efficient sharing of health-related data among various healthcare organisations, such as hospitals, general practices, pharmacies, and laboratories (Hyppönen et al., 2019; Hyppönen et al., 2014). It allows clinicians to access a patient’s comprehensive record regardless of where the care was provided and systems such as My Health Record in Australia support patient access and control (Australian Digital Health Agency, 2024). The seamless flow of information supports better coordination between providers, reduces duplication of tests and procedures, and enhances the accuracy and timeliness of clinical decisions.

Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) are being developed and implemented across the globe, with various nations taking different approaches to enable the secure sharing of patient health information. The European Union’s eHealth Digital Service Infrastructure (eHDSI), facilitates cross-border exchange of health data through ePrescriptions and patient summaries, and Australia’s My Health Record system (Ang, 2025a; Australian Digital Health Agency, 2024) provides a national digital health record platform. Other significant initiatives include Singapore’s National Electronic Health Record (NEHR) (Ministry of Health Singapore, 2025), Canada Health Infoway, and the UK’s NHS Digital infrastructure (Canada Health, 2025; National Health Service, 2025).

The importance of HIEs lies in their ability to improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and support public health initiatives. By ensuring that critical health information is available when and where it is needed, HIEs can help prevent errors, streamline administrative processes, and empower patients to be more involved in their care. Additionally, they play a vital role in disease surveillance, outbreak management, and meeting regulatory requirements for data sharing and privacy (Ang, 2025a). Increased data sharing through interoperable digital solutions requires governance to be applied to all components of data transfer, storage and use across multiple organisations, increasingly the breadth and complexity of governance required by HIM professionals.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

This topic is covered in depth in another chapter, Navigating the Future however there is no doubt that AI will significantly impact upon the practice of health information management and healthcare delivery. According to Stanfill and Marc (2019), the use of healthcare data in artificial intelligence is influenced by data management practices, legal frameworks, and regulatory requirements that can hinder or facilitate the advancement of AI technologies. Health Information Management (HIM) professionals play a crucial role in preparing for future AI integration by prioritising data accuracy and proactively reviewing existing policies and procedures (Stanfill & Marc, 2019). To enhance the reliability of healthcare data, HIM professionals should adopt systematic approaches to identify, evaluate, and correct data inconsistencies (Stanfill & Marc, 2019).

AI Governance Frameworks will continue to emerge and mature as various AI use cases are researched, piloted and implemented.  In Australia, a National Policy Roadmap for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare [PDF] has helped to set the direction for AI in healthcare considerations, with ongoing changes expected as a result [PDF] of legislation and regulation review, and consideration of the safe and responsible use of AI in healthcare (Australian Government Department of Health, 2025).  With guidance also provided by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare [opens in new tab] and the Australian Alliance for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare [opens in new tab].

Guidance for HIM professionals has started to emerge with an IFHIMA Position Statement on Ensuring Responsible Use of AI in Healthcare Information Collection and Use that promotes the essential role of data governance, ‘human in the loop’ to safeguard AI driven healthcare, and AI risks and the need for strong compliance (International Federation of Health Information Management Associations, 2025b).

The Australian Clinical Coding AI Adoption Guideline produced by HIMAA provides an outline of the benefits of adopting AI for clinical coding while identifying barriers to adoption that need to be overcome for effective autonomous clinical coding to occur (Health Information Management Association of Australia, 2025a).  The Guideline aims to support the responsible, ethical, and effective integration of AI into the clinical coding process, supporting high standards of accuracy, quality, and safety, by adherence to the principles of governance, risk management, privacy and security, ethical and safe use, quality improvement, collaboration and partnership, and human expertise, or ‘human in the loop’ – principles also relevant to other emerging use cases relevant to health information management. HIM professionals need to learn to apply and adapt health information best practice to AI enabled ecosystems to ensure AI benefits realisation occurs without compromising privacy and information governance requirements.

Education and Workforce Development

“The management of health data and information requires a highly competent, resilient and sustainable workforce with the capacity and size to meet the needs and demands of the healthcare sector, in all care settings, and in epidemiological and health policy, research, funding and planning environments” (Wissmann et al., 2024). 

Education and workforce development is an ongoing priority for the health information management professional. Globally there are different approaches to workforce development including education through Universities, vocational training organisations, professional associations and many other providers.  Short courses, certification and other education innovations have emerged in response to a need for more flexible study options and to meet the learning needs of professionals across their careers.  In this section we describe the education and workforce development priorities for the future.

Health Information Management and Health Informatics

“Data is the new infrastructure in health” Professor Andrew Morris (Director, HDR UK at Health Data Research UK (HDR UK))

Health Information Management (HIM) and health informatics have emerged as growth areas, driving the development of new professional roles such as EHR analysts, data quality specialists, and digital health project managers. Software tools that can assist with visualising complex health data to assist decision makers and the rise of clinical decision support systems, driven by the availability of electronic health record data are now enabling timely data driven decision making.

Vast quantities of data are being generated from clinical research, healthcare facilities, public health centres, pharmaceutical developments, community-based health systems, mobile health tools, and wearable technologies (Sherifi et al., 2021). The continued rise of bioinformatics, personalised medicine, and the exponential increase in health data presents both opportunities and challenges for HIM professionals (Sherifi et al., 2021).

To meet these demands, many HIM practitioners are pursuing postgraduate qualifications or engaging in ongoing professional development in areas such as data analytics, population health, and cybersecurity. HIM education programmes are continually adapting to balance core knowledge with emerging technologies and deeper specialisation. Similarly, health informatics programmes face the challenge of offering flexible curricula that cover foundational concepts while allowing for focused study in areas such as artificial intelligence, public health, and risk management (Sherifi et al., 2021).

Higher education institutions are responding by launching new programmes and refining existing ones, aiming to equip students with the necessary skill sets and a lifelong commitment to learning and adaptability (Sherifi et al., 2021).

Future Skills and Competencies

“Technology won’t replace HIM professionals – but it will shape what we do.  Let’s adapt, not react” (International Federation of Health Information Management Associations, 2025a [opens in new tab]) 

Future skills and competencies in health information management reflect the increasing complexity of digital health environments. Professionals are expected to uphold privacy standards, contribute to data and information governance, participate in the implementation of health information systems and technologies and manage cybersecurity risks, while also navigating organisational change. Leadership in digital health strategy and system design is becoming essential, as HIM professionals contribute to the planning and implementation of technologies that support safe, efficient, and equitable care. Lifelong learning is no longer optional—it is a core professional responsibility. Continuous education ensures that HIM professionals remain current with evolving regulations, technologies, and best practices, enabling them to lead and adapt in a rapidly changing health system.

Education Challenges

The future of health information management education in Australia and internationally faces significant challenges that require innovative solutions to ensure a robust workforce pipeline of trained professionals. In Australia, there is a concerning trend of declining enrolments in HIM programs and a reduced number of universities offering traditional HIM courses.  This threatens to exacerbate workforce shortages at a time when the healthcare system’s data management needs are rapidly expanding. This decline can be attributed to various factors, including the limited awareness of HIM career opportunities, competition from other healthcare disciplines, and the evolving nature of healthcare technology that may make traditional curricula seem less relevant to prospective students.  In other countries, HIM related courses do not exist, and professional associations are emerging but will take time to gain maturity.

To address these challenges, educational institutions are exploring flexible and accessible pathways, particularly at the postgraduate level, to attract practicing clinicians, seeking career alternatives and other healthcare professionals into HIM roles. The development of online and hybrid learning models has become increasingly important in meeting the needs of diverse learners, including working professionals seeking career transitions and those working in remote areas. These adaptive education delivery methods accommodate various learning styles, family and work commitments and aligns with the uptake of digital health solutions that is occurring within healthcare. Additionally, institutions are forming stronger partnerships with healthcare organisations to ensure curriculum relevance and provide practical experience opportunities, helping to create a more appealing educational pathway for future HIM professionals.  Professional associations in Australia and internationally are also responding to these challenges.

Lifelong learning is a professional imperative—enabling practitioners to remain current with technological advancements, governance requirements and global health priorities, and to lead confidently in shaping the future of healthcare delivery. Professional associations and education providers are adapting to learner needs with certification, short courses, degrees and post-graduate qualifications available to support health information professionals acquire and update skills across their careers.

International Federation of Health Information Management Associations (IFHIMA)

The mission of IFHIMA is to represent and advance the global Health Information Management (HIM) profession. Its vision is a healthy world empowered by high-quality health information. IFHIMA has developed a series of learning modules to foster global education and communication among professionals in health records and information management. These modules [opens in new tab] are designed to be accessible and flexible, allowing individuals to review them at their own pace and share them with colleagues who may benefit.  IFHIMA provides guidance on HIM education curricula for the future and the drivers that will impact the sector.  The education sector should be poised to evolve and change curricula as AI, interoperability, governance and ethics are of increasing importance (International Federation of Health Information Management Associations, 2025a).  There is an increased reliance on education providers to work with industry and technology companies to co-design education to meet the demands of a technology driven healthcare context (International Federation of Health Information Management Associations, 2025a)

American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)

The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) represents health information management professionals in the United States.  AHIMA has responded to evolving industry demands by modernising its professional development and certification frameworks (American Health Information Management Association, 2024, 2025b). A cornerstone of this response has been the introduction of microcredentials and updated certifications, including the Certified Professional in Health Informatics (CPHI), which reflect the need for increasing knowledge about health technologies and data analytics. These credentials have been designed to be targeted and flexible, allowing professionals to demonstrate specific competencies in emerging areas while maintaining the standards that the healthcare industry demands. The modular nature of microcredentials particularly appeals to working professionals who need to upskill incrementally while maintaining their current positions (American Health Information Management Association, 2025b).

AHIMA’s approach emphasises the development of practical skills that directly translate to workplace requirements. AHIMA also provides mentorship programs, networking opportunities, and interdisciplinary educational initiatives that reflect the increasingly collaborative nature of modern healthcare. This recognises that success in health information management requires not only technical expertise but also the ability to work effectively across various healthcare disciplines and departments (American Health Information Management Association, 2025a).

Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA)

Over the past few years, the Canadian Health Information Management Association has implemented several initiatives to enhance the development of the health information management workforce (Canadian College of Health Information Management, 2025a).  A Career Matrix helps students and professionals map their career paths across seven core HIM competency areas, outlining roles from entry-level to executive, coupled with a Pathway Navigator Tool to guide individuals toward certification and career options across over 300 roles within health information practice (Canadian College of Health Information Management, 2025b).  The Canadian College of Health Information Management offers guidance for professionals changing careers into health information management recognising accredited diploma and degree programs to help individuals leverage transferable skills to enter the HIM profession (Canadian College of Health Information Management, 2025b).

Pathways to becoming a Health Information Manager are changing in Canada through academic collaborations, such as Brock University’s partnership with the Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA). Brock’s Master of Public Health (MPH) programme offers an online specialisation in Health Information Management (HIM), designed to equip graduates with the skills to work in health information management. This specialisation is accredited by the Canadian College of Health Information Management (CCHIM), making it the first graduate programme of its kind in Canada (Brock University, 2024). Options are provided to begin with a Graduate Micro-Programme (GMP) in HIM, which includes targeted courses in health data governance, information systems, and analytics and a pathway to further study. Completion of the GMP enhances career readiness but provides a pathway into the full MPH degree (Brock University, 2024). Graduates are eligible to sit the national certification exam and become certified HIM professionals, prepared to lead change in public health at local, national, and global levels (Brock University, 2024).

Health Information Management Association of Australia (HIMAA)

The challenges facing the health information management profession in Australia include declining options in higher education, changing education preferences, lack of understanding from Executives, emerging diversity in career pathways for professionals, evolving government policies, and national and regional skills shortages.  Meanwhile, drivers of change for the profession are sustainability, ensuring the profession is fit for purpose, digital disruption, future of work trends, and education innovation.

In response, HIMAA has taken a profession-centric approach to support, advocate for, and enable a relevant and sustainable profession.  Starting with professional identity, the Health Information Management Profession Identity Statement outlines the identity of the profession in Australia including roles, skills and specialisation areas (Health Information Management Association of Australia, 2025c). This Statement articulates the key executive value of HIM professionals in relation to strategic decision-making, data governance and compliance, operational efficiency, and leadership in digital transformation. By positioning HIMs as integral members of the leadership team, organisation’s signal their commitment to data-driven, patient-focused strategies (Health Information Management Association of Australia, 2025c). Investing in credentials and continuing education for these professionals not only attracts top talent but also builds trust with stakeholders, patients, and regulators (Health Information Management Association of Australia, 2025c).

Returning to the profession-centric approach, HIMAA is progressing a program of work to continue to enhance and evolve professional competencies, education pathways, practice standards, accreditation, credentialing, life-long learning activities, and engagement of the HIM professional community while improving the measurement of  impact and value in meeting the needs of the health sector.

In relation to the health information management workforce, HIMAA has identified that the enablers of change are funding support, education pathways and career-transitions, industry co-design, integrated learning, supervisor support, and increased utilisation of vocational education and training. HIMAA is aiming through its leadership as the professional association for HIMs, to meet future workforce demand, expand capacity to support students, ensure job-ready graduates, and support the strategic direction of the profession while understanding and embedding change associated with the future of work. (Health Information Management Association of Australia, 2025b)

Policy, Advocacy, and Global Collaboration

Policy, advocacy, and global collaboration are central to the HIM profession.  High quality health information is foundational to good policy and understanding the performance of a healthcare system (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2024; Lloyd & Cooper, 2006). HIM professionals continue to have a strategic role in influencing policy in activity-based funding and classification (Chisholm, 2004; Chisholm et al., 2003; Reid et al., 2000a, 2000b).  Opportunities exist for increased influence in national policies and initiatives related to data, information and digital in health, disability and aged care. In Australia, HIMAA advocates for the recognition of HIM professionals and works to influence national health policy. In the United States, the AHIMA leads efforts to shape data policy and promote the use of health information to address social determinants of health (SDOH). IFHIMA works to promote health information and collaboration across the globe. These initiatives highlight the value of international collaboration, where shared knowledge and coordinated approaches can improve data standards, workforce development, and health system performance across borders.

The Future of Health Information Management

The future of health information management (HIM) is constantly shaped by social, political, technological and healthcare system change requiring ongoing knowledge of change and adaptation of practice (Robinson & Lee, 2021; Wissmann et al., 2024).  HIM professionals have expanded opportunities to contribute their expertise to the achievement and advancement of local, national and international health and wellbeing outcomes. As custodians of health data, HIM professionals are increasingly stepping into leadership roles in ethical data use and digital governance, ensuring that privacy, transparency, and equity are upheld in technologically advanced healthcare environments.

Interdisciplinary collaboration, global connections with peers, colleagues and professional associations, and continuous innovation are requirements for a healthy future for the profession. As healthcare systems become increasingly data-driven and integrated, HIM professionals must adapt by embracing new technologies and approaches while maintaining the security and confidentiality of data, shaping the policy for data use and information governance. The profession calls for active engagement in driving digital health, ongoing upskilling to meet emerging demands, and leadership to deliver the benefits of a digitally enabled healthcare system. HIM practitioners are not only stewards of health information—they are agents of change, responsible for guiding the sector toward more efficient, equitable, and informed care.

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