CCHIT unveils new EMR certification criteria

The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology just posted its proposed expanded criteria for ambulatory care electronic medical records systems for 2007, and proposed initial criteria for inpatient EMRs. Public comments are due by October 27. The goal is to have final proposed certification criteria by year-end for both ambulatory and inpatient EMRs. The criteria would be tested in early 2007 before becoming final. CCHIT in May will start accepting applications for certification under 2007 criteria.

The draft documents published on September 25 also give some clues into the criteria being considered for 2008 and beyond. The documents are available near the bottom of CCHIT's home page under "What's New" at cchit.org.

For more on the new criteria
- read the report from Health Data Management