The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) has certified that SpringCharts EHR meets 100% of the ambulatory electronic health record (EHR) criteria for 2006. Ambulatory EHRs are designed for physician offices and clinics where most Americans get their healthcare. CCHIT is a Recognized Certification Body in the United States for certifying health information technology - an independent, non-profit organization that has set the benchmark for electronic health records for over 4 years.
As a CCHIT CertifiedSM product, SpringCharts has been tested and passed inspection of 100 percent of a comprehensive set of criteria for:
- functionality (ability to create and manage electronic records for all patients, as well as automating workflow in a physician's office),
- interoperability (a first step in the ability to receive and send electronic data to other entities such as laboratories), and
- security (ability to keep patients' information safe).
The CCHIT Certified mark - a "seal of approval" for EHR products - provides a consensus-based, consistent benchmark for ambulatory products. By looking to products with the CCHIT℠ Certified seal, physicians and other providers can be assured they are making a reliable investment and insurers and other payers know the products meet expected industry standards.
The 2006 certification was originally designed to last for three years from the date of certification. Because of the pending ARRA certification criteria, CCHIT has extended SpringCharts certification end date to July 29, 2010 so Spring Medical will have enough time to get SpringCharts EHR certified under the ARRA criteria once they are published.
SpringCharts EHR will be certified under the ARRA criteria and will provide all of the tools necessary for a physician to qualify for the ARRA stimulus monies that will be paid out starting in 2011.
“Spring Medical is proud to display the CCHIT certification seal on SpringCharts EHR,” said Jack Smyth, president and CEO of Spring Medical Systems. “SpringCharts is known as not only a very easy-to-use and affordable EHR solution, but also as a leader in functionality. We believe CCHIT certification provides verification of SpringChart’s quality and reliability, so our customers can be certain they are making a technology investment that will provide significant value to their practices and their patients for years to come.
”The goals of CCHIT product certification are to reduce the risk of HIT investment by physicians and other providers; ensure interoperability of HIT products; enhance the availability of HIT adoption incentives from purchasers and payers; and protect the privacy of personal health information.
CCHIT's certification compliance criteria and its design for a certification inspection process have been thoroughly researched, taking into account the state of the art of EHRs and available standards, and comparing certification processes in other industries and other countries. The inspection process is based on real-life medical scenarios designed to test products rigorously against the clinical needs of providers and the quality and safety needs of healthcare consumers and payers. One script, for example, recreates a scenario of an elderly man with poorly controlled diabetes, hypertension and other chronic conditions in order to test EHR functions such as potential adverse drug reactions, disease management and treatment plans.
