CCHIT to expand certification programs
The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) is seeking public comment on a roadmap for expansion of its healthcare IT certification programs.
Mark Leavitt, MD, PhD, chair, said that the roadmap includes development of several new certification programs for launch in 2010. Two areas already named in previous years, behavioral health and long-term care, will be developed as planned.
In addition, four new program areas are proposed, all of which are optional add-on certifications for Ambulatory EHRs: clinical research, dermatology, advanced interoperability and advanced quality.
The commission plans to open a call for volunteers for new work groups on clinical research and dermatology in the spring. Taking a slightly different approach for advanced interoperability and advanced quality, the organization plans to draw upon existing volunteer resources serving on special panels.
The roadmap, which was posted on the CCHIT website on Jan. 15, was drafted in response to requests by stakeholders from a wide variety of healthcare domains. It also identifies additional areas for future consideration, even though programs for them may not be ready for launch in 2010, including: eye care, oncology, obstetrics/gynecology, advanced security, and advanced clinical decision support, CCHIT said.
All the material submitted to CCHIT for review will be posted along with the Draft Expansion Roadmap, and comments will be accepted from Jan. 15 through Feb. 5. The finalized roadmap will be published in late February, according to the commission.
Mark Leavitt, MD, PhD, chair, said that the roadmap includes development of several new certification programs for launch in 2010. Two areas already named in previous years, behavioral health and long-term care, will be developed as planned.
In addition, four new program areas are proposed, all of which are optional add-on certifications for Ambulatory EHRs: clinical research, dermatology, advanced interoperability and advanced quality.
The commission plans to open a call for volunteers for new work groups on clinical research and dermatology in the spring. Taking a slightly different approach for advanced interoperability and advanced quality, the organization plans to draw upon existing volunteer resources serving on special panels.
The roadmap, which was posted on the CCHIT website on Jan. 15, was drafted in response to requests by stakeholders from a wide variety of healthcare domains. It also identifies additional areas for future consideration, even though programs for them may not be ready for launch in 2010, including: eye care, oncology, obstetrics/gynecology, advanced security, and advanced clinical decision support, CCHIT said.
All the material submitted to CCHIT for review will be posted along with the Draft Expansion Roadmap, and comments will be accepted from Jan. 15 through Feb. 5. The finalized roadmap will be published in late February, according to the commission.