The expanding role of the HIM professional: where research and HIM roles intersect.

This article examines the evolving role of HIM professionals in research. In terms of both growth and credibility, it is important that HIM as a profession become more integrally involved in the research process. Specifically, this article examines the expanding role of the HIM professional in research-related activities and data management activities. For illustrative purposes, examples from research in the areas of medication error detection, utilization of web technologies in QI processes, and creation of an HIT infrastructure to connect healthcare providers in which HIM faculty members are actively involved in collaborative research projects with pharmacy, nursing, and medicine faculty in an academic medical center setting are provided.