CCHIT changes program criteria to meet stimulus requirements
The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) has approved the final 2009-2010 criteria for certification of ambulatory, inpatient and emergency department EHRs, and for its newly developed stand-alone e-prescribing certification. The commission also approved updated criteria for the ambulatory add-on options in child health and cardiovascular medicine.
Besides the detailed criteria and test scripts, the commission will publish a companion guide mapping the criteria to the characteristics of a qualified EHR as described in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The materials will be published on May 29 at www.cchit.org.
Mark Leavitt, MD, PhD, CCHIT chair, said they will be offering the certification criteria to the federal HIT Policy and Standards Committees.
The Certification Handbook, containing the policies of its certification programs, is undergoing a significant revision to take into account the expanded applicability of EHR certification under ARRA.
Changes will include a more extensive verification of successful implementation and use of commercial products, as well as piloting of a new program to inspect and certify EHR technologies-in-use that will accommodate a wider variety of development and deployment models. The Commission has also formed a sub-committee to research usability measurement.
Regarding the opening date for vendor applications to achieve 2009-2010 certification, Leavitt noted that the commission will defer launch of its 2009-2010 inspection programs until it has reviewed the Program Implementation Plan for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), "to ensure conformance of this program to ARRA incentive requirements." The plan must be submitted to submitted to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by August 26.
The commission plans to release the updated Certification Handbook and announce further details regarding application for 2009-2010 certification in June or July.
Besides the detailed criteria and test scripts, the commission will publish a companion guide mapping the criteria to the characteristics of a qualified EHR as described in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The materials will be published on May 29 at www.cchit.org.
Mark Leavitt, MD, PhD, CCHIT chair, said they will be offering the certification criteria to the federal HIT Policy and Standards Committees.
The Certification Handbook, containing the policies of its certification programs, is undergoing a significant revision to take into account the expanded applicability of EHR certification under ARRA.
Changes will include a more extensive verification of successful implementation and use of commercial products, as well as piloting of a new program to inspect and certify EHR technologies-in-use that will accommodate a wider variety of development and deployment models. The Commission has also formed a sub-committee to research usability measurement.
Regarding the opening date for vendor applications to achieve 2009-2010 certification, Leavitt noted that the commission will defer launch of its 2009-2010 inspection programs until it has reviewed the Program Implementation Plan for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), "to ensure conformance of this program to ARRA incentive requirements." The plan must be submitted to submitted to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by August 26.
The commission plans to release the updated Certification Handbook and announce further details regarding application for 2009-2010 certification in June or July.