Effective Date: Purpose To provide a guide to writing and maintaining effective and uniform policies and procedures for an HIM Services Department. Policy To write effective and uniform procedures that will support the objectives of the services provided by the HIM Services Department. Procedure The following are specific tips for writing and maintaining effective procedures: 1. Begin each sentence with an action verb. 2. Number each step in the procedure paying careful attention to the sequence. 3. Keep all steps brief and concise. 4. Reference all related documents and/or policies necessary to complete tasks. 5. Write policy in a way that new team members will be able to be cross-trained with minimal assistance