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The Certification Commission will be holding a Town Call web conference on Sept. 3, at 12 p.m. Central, to gather input from the vendor and developer community on the details and timing of its planned new paths to certification of electronic health record (EHR) technologies, with the goal of supporting more rapid, widespread adoption and meaningful use under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
Information about the free Town Call is available here.
"We are concerned that providers could not achieve meaningful EHR use in 2011 if they wait until spring 2010 -- the expected date of HHS final approval of requirements -- to begin adopting this technology," said Mark Leavitt, MD, PhD, Commission chair. "CCHIT has analyzed the recommendations of the Federal HIT Advisory Committees and is preparing to offer new paths to certification this October. We invite vendors and developers to join us on a Town Call as we finalize the details of this process."
Besides updating and enhancing its current certification program for comprehensive EHRs in ambulatory, inpatient and emergency department settings, the Commission plans to launch a more limited, modular inspection program for EHR technology, focusing only on compliance with ARRA-required standards.
During the event, concepts and some details of these two programs will be discussed. Participants will be invited to submit questions and comments online, and respond to polling regarding their interest and readiness for participation in the process.
The Certification Commission is also tentatively planning training sessions to be held in Chicago on Sept. 29 and Oct. 1, to orient vendors and developers to its new programs including updated application processes, applicable certification criteria and test scripts, and other added policies. More information will be available about these training sessions following the Town Call.
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