Drummond Group, a provider of interoperability and security testing, certification, assessment, and advisory services, is launching a FHIR Client Certification program designed to provide validation of FHIR client applications’ adherence to HL7 FHIR standards,
The program responds to the increasing FHIR-related mandates from ONC, CMS, and other governing bodies. It also supports the sub-regulatory use case adoption that has become increasingly prevalent. It certifies that third-party apps used by EHRs, providers, payers, and other organizations adhere to all applicable HL7 FHIR standards.
The certification program is set to begin its pilot phase in October 2023.
In a tweet, Ken Mandl, M.D., M.P.H., a professor at Harvard Medical School and director at Boston Children’s Hospital Computational Health Informatics Program, said of the announcement: “Perhaps a good step for ensuring meaningful and not just minimal compliance with the 21st Century Cures Act Rule. Another contribution to the SmartHealthIT on FHIR apps economy.” Mandl leads the SMART Platforms initiative to design the “app store for health."
Portsmouth, N.H.-based Drummond Group said the program goes beyond simple technology scans. It involves a meticulous human-led inspection of how client apps add, use, map, and display patient data—ensuring it's used ethically. “Drawing from our extensive experience in patient and clinical information reconciliation work through our ONC Certification program, Drummond Group is well-equipped to execute this high level of inspection,” the company said. The program also introduces a mechanism for near-real-world testing via multiple reference servers provided by Darena Solutions and InteropX. This approach ensures that certified apps are not only compliant but also truly interoperable, a crucial factor in advancing health IT's digital transformation.
“We're thrilled to join forces on this innovative program with Drummond,” said Pawan Jindal, M.D., founder and CEO of Darena Solutions, in a statement. “By harnessing the power of SMART on FHIR, we're entering a transformative era of secure, all-encompassing health data sharing that improves care and reduces costs. We're confident our MeldRx platform will contribute greatly to the success of Drummond's FHIR Client Certification program, which in turn will accelerate the adoption and promotion of patient-centered care.”
"Interoperability is the foundation of healthcare information technology advancements," said Ryan Patano, Drummond Group CEO, in a statement. "With Drummond's extensive history of supporting the standards that drive digital transformation, we firmly believe the FHIR Client Certification program will aid the entire industry's shared goal of effective interoperability," he added.
