CCHIT offers new HIT guide services
The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) has launched a new service that provides direct counsel to health IT developers on how to best satisfy health IT regulations published by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC).
Available now are The Guide--CCHIT’s online, subscription-based ONC testing and certification preparation service--and a menu of six individually tailored programs covering basic orientation, clinical quality measures, interoperability and preparing for successful testing of all criteria including those for Base or Complete EHRs, according to a release.
“Health IT developers are finding ONC 2014 Edition testing difficult due to a higher criteria bar and the complexity of testing. This has resulted in fewer certified EHRs available to providers for purchase or upgrade. In addition, ONC has released preliminary 2015 Edition criteria with a plan to offer an optional, voluntary certification program in early 2015,” said Alisa Ray, CCHIT executive director, in the release. “Now, we can provide a greater level of support and counsel to developers facing these requirements, something we could not undertake as a government authorized certification body. Exiting the ONC HIT Certification Program in January of this year allowed us to use our qualified staff and technology platforms to develop these new services.”
CCHIT’s team developed an upgrade to its previous online testing preparation program, The Source, that health IT developers used to navigate the ONC 2011 Edition criteria and test methods. The upgraded support will include one-on-one guidance, orientation to testing tools, simulated testing and a report on capabilities developers can take to their selected Accredited Testing Laboratory. CCHIT will also publish regular commentary on ONC rule changes and testing tool updates.
Editor
Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.