Hello Readers! I have observed that many of you are not clear with CCHIT and its objectives. Therefore, in this article, I’d try to deliver the learning and enable the readers to gain some insights & knowledge about this certification body. CCHIT is a respectable body which has its well defined objectives, mission and goal statements. It is a non-profit organization which operates & functions independently. The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) is a reformatory foundation for the widespread electronic health record technology and certification.

CCHIT was founded in the year 2004 for establishing the comprehensive standards and practically-proven system capabilities for assuring complete, safe and secure transactions of electronic medical records. The Federal government recognized CCHIT or Certification Commission as a certifying body with an aim to accelerate the adoption of health-care IT. In fact, the government, in Feb 2009, has itself acknowledged the value of Certification Commission through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

CCHIT is well geared up to take up all the new challenges for the future and therefore, happily launched the three flexible plans to broaden access to certification. These three plans have the capability to address the needs & readiness of all kinds of providers and hospitals at different stages of the adoption of technology. The providers are bound to get huge reimbursements of the claims and an additional incentive payment if they follow the law of ‘Meaningful Use’ in the defined manner. The estimated payment projected for the adoption of electronic health record technology would range in billions of US dollars.

CCHIT grants certification to products that exceeds the minimum requirements of federal standards and completely fit for usability. A practical experience or a successful demonstration of the application at multiple sites would also be considered as an added advantage. This approach delivers the maximum assurance of the capabilities and compliance to the end users, i.e. providers. Besides CCHIT certification, there are two other kinds of programs for seeking EHR certification. These programs are specially designed to equip the end users (Providers) with multiple options and selecting their preferred option on the basis of the size of the facility and its requirements.

Till July 2009, more than two century of the EHR products have been successfully certified. The Provider organizations expressed huge interests and readily started adopting the EHR technology in a fast paced manner. Such kind of unexpected movements forced the Payers to begin offering incentives to all qualifying Providers for the meaningful adoption of the EHR technology. These key goals of CCHIT would bring reformations in Healthcare and foster improvements in the quality, safety, efficiency and secure accessibility to all medical records.

A recent survey conducted by KLAS on Jan 01, 2010 also revealed that 85% of Providers believe that their electronic health record (EHR) will certainly help them to qualify for federal ‘Meaningful Use’ standards. A total of 1,400 Providers participated in the survey and openly shared their experiences with their preferred EHR products. Therefore, interoperability will soon have its full fledged existence in this digitized technological environment.

I wish, with this article, the health-care associates/practitioners/providers/payers would have better understanding of the duties, guidelines and roles & responsibilities of the CCHIT in defining the scope and contribution of a certified HIT system for human well-being.