The Chicago-based Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) has issued a call for public comment on a roadmap for expansion of its health information technology (HIT) certification programs.
The roadmap, posted on the CCHIT website Jan. 15, was drafted in response to requests by stakeholders from a variety of healthcare domains. This year, the Commission is adding more flexibility, opening up the option of certifying advanced levels of technology for products that go ‘beyond the basics’ in any domain.
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.
The finalized Roadmap will be published in late February.
