The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) is a federally recognized, private, nonprofit certification body inspecting electronic health records (EHRs) and health information exchanges (HIEs).  CCHIT hopes to accelerate the adoption of robust, interoperable health information technology (HIT) through a credible, efficient certification program. A number of organizations have endorsed CCHIT’s efforts, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Physicians, and the American Medical Association.

In addition to certifying EHR products and HIEs, CCHIT offers guidance to office-based practices on how to successfully select and implement EHRs, and explains why EHRs are so critical to improving quality care. The adoption of EHRs impacts many of the National Priorities Partnership’s Priorities and Goals to improve care and achieve greater efficiencies and savings.

“Giving Americans care that is efficient, safe, and of high quality is not something one organization or initiative can accomplish on its own,” said Alisa Ray, CCHIT’s Executive Director. “As we’ve experienced in working with our hundreds of volunteers to develop a consensus-based HIT certification program, it requires collaboration to address the many problems that keep doctors and nurses from performing at their best. The National Priorities Partnership is an unprecedented convergence of groups setting goals for quality improvement and offering a roadmap to achieve those goals.”

CCHIT collaborates with key healthcare stakeholders through their 11 volunteer Work Groups developing the certification criteria and tests. Work Groups for 2009 CCHIT- Certified^® products include ambulatory, child health, cardiovascular medicine, inpatient, and emergency department EHRs, and personal health records and HIEs. Additional groups are working on future certification for behavioral health and long-term care. Supporting work groups focus on interoperability, security, and privacy.

For more information about CCHIT, please visit www.cchit.org, ehrdecisions.com, and phrdecisions.com.