Maybe I’ll write to you from there: the journey of an undergraduate health information management student // Sadiya Askar

Maybe I’ll write to you from there: the journey of an undergraduate health information management student

Sadiya Askar

For the past three years, I have been studying health information management at La Trobe University in Bundoora, Victoria. In December 2019, I graduated with a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Medical Classification)/ Bachelor of Health Information Management. This double degree course is a four-year undergraduate program which I joined after completing my Associate Degree in Health Sciences at RMIT University. Over those three years, along with many late nights, numerous assignments, and several stressful exams, I have had the opportunity to complete three professional placements, study abroad, be elected President of the Health Information Management Student Association (HIMSA) and last, but not least, made numerous lifelong friends and professional networks.

Professional placements

My first placement was in a hospital with a paper-based medical record, my second in a hospital which used a hybrid medical record and my final placement involved the implementation of a new electronic clinical system, across several hospitals in Sydney, New South Wales, to replace paper medication charts with a fully functional electronic system. I was able to experience the full circle of records management, from paper to electronic, during my time as a student.

My first professional exposure to the health information industry was from my first placement in second year. Here I learnt the basics of medical records management within a hospital where I first used a patient administration system and filed paper medical records (by terminal digit filing). This placement provided me with the foundation of hospital workflows from admission to discharge and solidified my learnings from university. For my second professional placement, I was placed within the Clinical Information Systems Support Team within a large public hospital. I was involved in a project where I migrated test plans from a word document to an electronic testing system, while simultaneously running the test scenarios on the scanned medical record information system itself. This task was initially very daunting as I had no experience in conducting systems testing, leading me to question whether I would be able to complete the task independently. However, I approached the experience with an open-mind and took on the challenge, as any health information management student would, and completed the task to a high level, which surprised my placement supervisor. This placement experience sparked a deeper appreciation of the health information management industry. I had this ‘light bulb’ moment where I was extremely proud and excited about my choice of career.

Final year placement projects are 11 weeks long and take place in second semester of fourth year. I took myself out of my comfort zone and requested to go interstate for three months so I could experience the health information management profession outside of Victoria. The placement project assigned to me involved the implementation of a new hospital clinical system, which was an additional module to the existing electronic medical record within the organisation. My tasks revolved around change management, project management and staff training. Throughout the placement project, my project team and I faced many unforeseeable challenges, as expected with any largescale electronic medical record project. I was able to apply my education, knowledge and skills to real-world situations and overcome the challenges and difficulties that arose, enabling me to be a key member of the project team, even as a student.

This placement made me realise that the La Trobe health information management course had well and truly equipped me with all the necessary tools and skills I needed to excel in assigned tasks during this project. Furthermore, this gave me confidence that my learning will be applied to my future health information management career.

As part of the final placement project, students deliver a 20 minute presentation about the activities and tasks they engaged in during their respective projects, which mimics a real-life professional conference. Out of the 32 students presenting, I was the only one who went interstate and worked on the implementation of an entirely new electronic system. As a bonus, I was a recipient of one of three best speaker awards.

International study

I wanted to seize every possible experience I could during my time at university (before the reality of the real-world hit me!), so why not go abroad? After consulting with my course coordinator, and due to my previous high academic performance, I was able to partake in an international study experience. I attended the Copenhagen Business School in Copenhagen, Denmark, during the semester break between June to August 2018. I studied Change Management and The Values-Driven Organisation, which I believe is vital within the health information industry as change is ever-occurring. The course covered the frameworks and principles surrounding value-based leadership, organisational change and resistance to change, and provided students with skills and strategies to become change agents within a business environment. I was among 44 undergraduate and postgraduate students from various parts of the world and differing academic disciplines. Interestingly, I found myself being the only one from a health information management background, allowing me to bring a different and unique perspective to class discussions and group-work.

Living and studying in Copenhagen for eight weeks was an amazing experience which I will never forget. Denmark is such a beautiful and serene country – well deserving of its title; ‘Happiest Country in the World’. The lessons and skills I learnt on my exchange assisted me during my final year placement in Sydney, where the organisation was undergoing massive change. I know I will continue to re-visit these lessons throughout my future career as the health information management industry continues to change.

I have always had a passion for leadership and mentorship. My strong communication skills and the ability to build rapport easily, has drawn me to various leadership and mentorship roles. I was a Global Peer Advisor for La Trobe International, mentoring international students to settle into university life in Australia, along with providing advice and support for local students looking to study abroad.

In 2019, I had the honour to be elected as President of HIMSA. My vision was for health information management students to be better connected and provide opportunities for students to engage in more than just their academic studies while at university. The HIMSA Executive Team and I (all very talented and passionate) aimed to build a stronger health information management community within La Trobe University, enabling students to connect with each other across all year levels, form long lasting friendships and make industry connections. In 2019, HIMSA organised multiple study sessions, an industry professional guest speaker and a health information management awareness event. We represented La Trobe health information management students at the 2019 Health Information Management Association of Australia (HIMAA) and National Centre for Classification in Health (NCCH) National Conference and established a link with HIMAA (which helped the student association grow). We also organised social events such as a pizza night and an end of exams event for both academic staff and students to enjoy after the stresses of exams.

Leading and organising a student association was a great experience and has improved my connection with all current La Trobe health information management students. It also provided me with many opportunities to network with industry professionals and meet previous HIMSA executive members. Through my Presidency, I have been involved with the health information management industry and recognised as a leader among my peers. My involvement with HIMSA has provided me with amazing opportunities; I was a guest speaker at industry events, attended the HIMAA NCCH National Conference and I am now actively part of industry committees and special interest groups.

Over the past three years, I have developed a deep appreciation and passion for our industry. I have had the best university experience while completing the health information management course at La Trobe University. I have grown so much, learnt so much, experienced so much and to think it is only the beginning of my journey as a health information manager. The support, encouragement and guidance from the La Trobe health information management academic staff have shaped me into the person I am today. They have truly inspired me and made me fall in love with this profession.

I will continue developing my leadership and mentoring skills after my graduation as I value these aspects of my character most. I will actively seek opportunities throughout my future career which allow me to engage with the health information management community as a leader in order to continue spreading awareness of our underappreciated profession. I hope to spark this passion in the next generation of students. I want to work in dynamic and challenging projects and roles like that of my final placement and be at the forefront of our industry. I will continue to seize opportunities to work interstate or internationally; possibly even one day work in Copenhagen, where I studied. The World Health Organization headquarters for the European region is in Denmark… maybe I’ll write to you from there.

“I want to work in dynamic and challenging projects and roles like that of my final placement and be at the forefront of our industry.

”

Sadiya Askar Fourth Year Health Information Management student La Trobe University (graduating 2019) Email: sadiya.askar12@hotmail.com

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