CCHIT sees 33% surge in EHR certification applications from last year
A rush of applications to meet a March 31 deadline for applying for the 2008 cycle of testing brought the number of ambulatory EHR products seeking to become certified by the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) to 64.
"We are already experiencing a stimulus effect from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act," said Mark Leavitt, MD, PhD, commission chair, during a CCHIT Town Hall at the HIMSS09 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago this week. "We received 44 applications in March, an all-time monthly record for us."
The total applications represent a 33 percent growth over the 2007 cycle. Additionally, nearly 40 percent of the applications were for first-time rather than returning EHR products, and more than 60 percent of the applicants reported revenues of $10 million or less, which qualifies them as small businesses. Leavitt said that the prevalence of smaller vendors and new entrants continues to refute speculation that certification could be a barrier to new or small companies.
The organization noted good uptake of optional certifications for child health, with 26 applications, and cardiovascular medicine with 11 submittals. CCHIT also received seven applications for emergency department (ED) EHRs and three for inpatient EHRs. To date, 25 ambulatory EHR products have been 2008 certified, along with three products for the ED and one inpatient EHR. The remaining products will undergo testing and certification through June 30.
Leavitt said that the commission is examining approaches to supplement product testing with information on the results of EHR implementations, potentially offering ratings on measures such as usability, training and support.
"We are already experiencing a stimulus effect from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act," said Mark Leavitt, MD, PhD, commission chair, during a CCHIT Town Hall at the HIMSS09 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago this week. "We received 44 applications in March, an all-time monthly record for us."
The total applications represent a 33 percent growth over the 2007 cycle. Additionally, nearly 40 percent of the applications were for first-time rather than returning EHR products, and more than 60 percent of the applicants reported revenues of $10 million or less, which qualifies them as small businesses. Leavitt said that the prevalence of smaller vendors and new entrants continues to refute speculation that certification could be a barrier to new or small companies.
The organization noted good uptake of optional certifications for child health, with 26 applications, and cardiovascular medicine with 11 submittals. CCHIT also received seven applications for emergency department (ED) EHRs and three for inpatient EHRs. To date, 25 ambulatory EHR products have been 2008 certified, along with three products for the ED and one inpatient EHR. The remaining products will undergo testing and certification through June 30.
Leavitt said that the commission is examining approaches to supplement product testing with information on the results of EHR implementations, potentially offering ratings on measures such as usability, training and support.