(CO 2) Members of the AHIMA House of Delegates are:__
a) appointed by the AHIMA Board of Directors.
b) elected by the AHIMA Board of Directors.
c) elected by members in state component organizations.
d) elected by the AHIMA Nominating Committee.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is c) elected by members in state component organizations.
Explanation:
The AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association) House of Delegates plays a key role in the governance and strategic direction of the organization. The delegates serve as the voice of AHIMA members and work to ensure the association’s policies and activities reflect the needs of the health information management profession.
Structure of the House of Delegates:
The House of Delegates consists of a group of delegates who are elected by the members in their respective state component organizations. These state component organizations are regional bodies that represent AHIMA members at the local level. The state organizations hold elections to select representatives (delegates) who will then represent their interests and contribute to the broader strategic discussions at the national level. These delegates may serve for a set term, and their election is meant to ensure that a wide range of perspectives from various states and regions are included in the decision-making process of AHIMA.
Why Option C is Correct:
The reason option c is correct is that the delegates are not appointed by the AHIMA Board of Directors, nor are they directly elected by the Board or Nominating Committee. Instead, the election process occurs within the state-level component organizations, ensuring that the delegates are chosen by their peers—those who are members of the local component organizations, which fosters a more representative and democratic process.
Why Other Options are Incorrect:
- a) appointed by the AHIMA Board of Directors: This is incorrect because AHIMA delegates are not appointed by the Board but elected through a democratic process at the state level.
- b) elected by the AHIMA Board of Directors: This is incorrect because the Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the organization, not for electing delegates to the House of Delegates.
- d) elected by the AHIMA Nominating Committee: This is incorrect as the Nominating Committee’s role is to nominate candidates for Board positions, not for delegates.
Thus, the election of delegates by members in state component organizations reflects the decentralized and member-driven structure of AHIMA.