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CCHIT Certified EMR Software
The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT®) is an organization that certifies electronic health record (EHR) or electronic medical record (EMR) software programs. As one of the top certification bodies for EMR software, by selecting a CCHIT certified program you’re guaranteed to get a system with a high degree of functionality that meets all security requirements.
In light of the HITECH Act of 2009 (discussed in more detail below), finding a CCHIT certified program has become a priority for most medical practices currently buying an EMR. But with approximately 100 certified programs and 250 total certifications, this search can be confusing. This buyer’s guide is designed to clarify the process and make the search a little bit easier.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
Overview of CCHIT Certification for EMRs
What Type of EMR Buyer Are You?
The CCHIT-Certified EMR Vendor Landscape
Market Trends You Should Understand
Benefits & Potential Issues
Overview of CCHIT Certification for EMRs
CCHIT certification is based on over 400 criteria spanning EMR functionality, interoperability and security. Specific criteria categories include:
| Patient record | Create unique records with unique identifiers, demographic information, and provider information, and have those records be compatible with those of other systems. |
| Diagnosis Data | Accurately and discretely capture, manage, and access patient complaint information. |
| Medications | Accurately and discretely track medication usage and history and suggest, prescribe, and administer medications, taking into account patient complaints, allergies, and drug interactions for potential adverse reactions. |
| Document Management | Make and modify notes, capture vital signs, manage authorizations and advance directives, and integrate images and documents from external sources as necessary. |
| Patient Education | Generate and record patient instructions based on condition, severity, and/or patient history, and modify that information or customize it to the patient. |
| Testing | Integration with diagnostic tests and lab results, including ordering, receiving, tracking, graphical ability, and compatibility with external sources. |
| Disease Management | Tracking the patient condition for preventive care, providing automatic alerts based on standard and customizable warning criteria. |
| Administration | Includes clinical task assignment, inter-provider communication, scheduling, report generation. |
| Concurrent Use | Allows multiple providers to simultaneously use the same or different settings. |
| Security | Provides HIPAA compliance, including authentication and selective access control within the office environment. |
What Type of EMR Buyer Are You?
CCHIT certification criteria vary depending on the facility: there are separate certification criteria for EMRs targeted to different types of buyers. Here is a brief description of the different certifications and how they vary:
- Ambulatory EMR. An EMR holding this certification meets all the criteria for outpatient facilities. In addition to the standard certification, ambulatory EMRs may have add-on certification for the following specialties: behavioral, cardiovascular, pediatric, dermatology, clinical research, oncology, and obstetrics.
- Inpatient EMR. Certification for inpatient EMRs focuses heavily on medication orders and order sets, including the ability to administer medications safely and effectively. Since CCHIT encourages inpatient EMR applicants to test against all ONC-ATCB 2011/2012 criteria for eligible hospitals at no additional charge, it’s highly likely that inpatient programs will also meet ONC-ACTB criteria.
- Emergency department EMR. Interoperability requirements for an emergency department EMR focus on laboratory messaging. These EMRs also need to meet criteria for bed management, discharge instructions, and transfers to other departments.
- Behavioral health EMR. Behavioral health center EMRs may have qualified under the ambulatory EMR with the behavioral add-on, or under this stand-alone behavioral health EMR certification. The biggest piece of this kind of EMR is the ability to manage clinical documents, notes, assessments, and treatment plans that may change over time.
There are also separate certifications for long term and post acute care centers and for ePrescribing EMRs.
The CCHIT-Certified EMR Vendor Landscape
Below are some of the major players among CCHIT-certified EMRs.
| This type of buyer... | Should evaluate these systems |
| Ambulatory care providers | eClinicalWorks, Allscripts, Greenway, Aprima |
| Inpatient facilities | Epic, NextGen |
| Emergency departments | Allscripts, Epic |
| Behavioral health specialists | Netsmart, NextGen |
Market Trends You Should Understand
CCHIT has become especially relevant in light of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, which includes $19 billion in stimulus money to incentivize medical offices to adopt electronic health records. In order to receive the money, the EHR must be certified Office of the National Coordinator – Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ONC-ATCB). CCHIT is one of these ONC-ATCB certifying bodies, although not the only one. Consult our ONC-ATCB Certified EMRs page for an up-to-date list of these systems.
Benefits & Potential Issues
The obvious benefits for purchasing a CCHIT certified EMR are access to HITECH Act stimulus patients and the assurance that you’ll be getting a high quality EMR system that meets all functionality, interoperability, and security needs. It’s important to understand, however, that a single CCHIT certified EMR may not make a provider eligible for HITECH Act incentive payments. A product may be certified by CCHIT for ePrescribing, but not for inpatient care, in which case it would not qualify the facility for stimulus funds. Therefore, it’s important to ensure, even if they are CCHIT certified, that the purchase will qualify you for stimulus payments.
Have an opinion on this guide? Email the authors. We appreciate the feedback.
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MediTouch EHR Electronic Health Record Software
MediTouch is a broad, web-based EHR that is able to serve the needs of most specialties. The 2011 CCHIT certified system is differentiated by its native iPad support, affordability, and intuitive user interface.
NueMD Complete
NueMD is an affordable, web-based EMR, billing, and scheduling system designed for small practices across most specialties. NueMD offers its own CCHIT certified EMR and also integrates seamlessly with a number of third-party EHRs.
Allscripts EHR
Allscripts has received several CCHIT certifications including 2007, 2008 and 2011 (for their Sunrise products). They have also received ONC-ATCB certification from the CCHIT (one of six government-approved organizations).
eClinicalWorks
eClinicalWorks has received numerous CCHIT certifications over the year, including certification in 2006, 2008, and in 2011. They have also received 2011/2012 ONC-ATCB certification carried out by the CCHIT.
ADP AdvancedMD EHR Software
AdvancedMD's web-based practice management system offers seamless integration with over 100 CCHIT certified EHR partners, including DigiChart, PrognoCIS, ChartLogic, gMed, and eClinicalWorks.
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CareCloud Charts EHR
Simple user interface aims to accelerate the clinical workflow. CareCloud provides practices with a good ONC-ATCB certified option. Has charting, ePrescribing, and clinical encounter documentation options, plus templates too.
Greenway PrimeSUITE 2011
Greenway has earned CCHIT certification since the commission first began certifying EHRs in 2006. Greenway claims that some of its clients were among the first to receive meaningful use Medicare incentive payments in 2011.
Aprima EHR (formerly iMedica)
Aprima is a feature-rich EMR and practice management system that has earned CCHIT certification each year since 2006, and is ONC-ATCB certified for 2012. The Microsoft .Net-based system competes directly with EHR market leaders.
MedLedger
MedLedger is a 2011 CCHIT certified system that is suitable to primary care and many specialties, including psychiatry, orthopedics, cardiology, and gastroenterology. The web-based system is typically used by small practices.
PrognoCIS by Bizmatics
PrognoCIS from Bizmatics is a web-based electronic health record (EHR), billing and scheduling system. It has received both ONC-ATCB certification and 2011 CCHIT certification, the most rigorous CCHIT certification to date.
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