by
Astrid Fiano, DOTmed News Writer | May 20, 2009
Some long-awaited guidance
on electronic records
The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) has just announced its final approval of 2009-2010 criteria for certification in Ambulatory, Inpatient and Emergency Department electronic health records (EHR), as well as a stand-alone Electronic Prescribing certification. The CCHIT is a private nonprofit organization recognized by the federal government as an official certification body for electronic health records. In addition, according to a press release on the CCHIT's website, the CCHIT has also updated criteria for add-on options in Child Health and Cardiovascular Medicine.
The materials, including a companion guide of the criteria as to a qualified EHR (described in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) will be published on May 29 at www.cchit.org.
"Over 200 volunteers have demonstrated their commitment to improving health and care by delivering this extensive body of work, on time as promised," said Mark Leavitt, M.D., Ph.D., Commission chair. "We will be offering these certification criteria promptly to the Federal HIT Policy and Standards Committees, along with data from our four years of experience certifying health IT, as the Committees race to meet their tight deadlines."
Dr. Leavitt further noted that the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology's (ONC) Draft Rule (including standards and certification criteria) must be submitted to the Department of Health and Human Services by late August 2009. Therefore, as to the opening date for vendor applications to obtain 2009-2010 certification, Dr. Leavitt says "We will defer launch of our 2009-2010 inspection programs until we have reviewed that material, in order to ensure conformance of this program to ARRA incentive requirements."
The Commission says it will release an updated Certification Handbook with revisions on the expanded applicability of HER certification under the ARRA. The revisions include extensive verification of commercial product implementation and use, and a pilot program on inspection and certification of HER technologies in use. The Handbook and further details regarding application for 2009-2010 certifications during June or July.
Source: CCHIT.
