Precepting HIM Students: A Multi-Case Study Exploring the Challenges of HIM Hospital-Based Professional Practice Experience.

Introduction: Experiential learning supervised by a qualified preceptor has been an enduring requirement for accredited allied health academic programs.1 Data show that students benefit from participating in experiential learning activities, such as an internship.2 Further, studies show organizations are eager to hire new graduates who took part in some type of external hands-on experience.3 Health information management (HIM) programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) require students to complete a supervised professional practice experience (PPE) before graduation to show proficiency of the curriculum requirements.4 This study explored the challenges and barriers of professional practice experience for placing local and online baccalaureate students in hospital-based HIM departments from the preceptors' viewpoint. This study focused on the hospital setting for several reasons: gaining site approval is complicated, the centralized HIM department poses unique problems for hosting students, and to narrow the research focus to a setting commonly used among HIM academic programs.

Literature Review: The PPE problems with placing and precepting students have been a long-standing concern in HIM education;5 however, there was limited literature available directly related to this problem of practice. An extensive literature search was conducted that yielded only a few research-based articles that provided limited information about the problem. Therefore, the literature review included related works from other allied health disciplines with similar issues with experiential learning.The overarching findings for allied health academic programs centered on issues at the healthcare organizational level, including legal concerns, cost, time, and productivity.6 Geographic location was yet another issue that prevented student placement. Additional concerns focused on lack of student or preceptor preparation for the experience.7 .

Methods: This was a qualitative multi-case study conducted in 2021. A total of six cases, or participants, took part in this study. Participants completed a pre-interview survey to obtain demographic information before conducting semi-structured interviews online with health information management preceptors. The survey data were compiled and analyzed to inform the interviews.

Results: The study results indicate that HIM preceptors are challenged with placing and precepting students at their hospitals. Lack of support from senior leadership is a contributing factor. Additional issues center on planning and preparation. Keeping students engaged with the learning experience was another key finding. Lastly, this research uncovered an anecdotal finding about the lack of preceptor training provided to HIM professionals.

Conclusion: A variety of issues contribute to the problem of placing and precepting students at the organizational level. Despite these challenges, the participants in this study expressed dedication to serving in the preceptor role. Further, this study identified plausible solutions for improving the PPE by incorporating creative ways to deliver learning activities. Finally, this study was carried out during the pandemic at a time when preceptors had to employ innovative strategies for precepting HIM students.