Certification of Healthcare IT

ONC (Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology) is an entity within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service. ONC issued its Standards and Certification Criteria Final Rule on July 13, 2010. The criteria establish the required standards and capabilities that certified EHR technology must have to achieve meaningful use stage 1. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a companion rule on July 28, 2010, which established the minimum requirements healthcare providers must meet to qualify for payments under the center's EHR Incentive Program.

ONC also established a voluntary Health IT Certification Program that provides for the certification of health IT standards. The agency does not test or issue certifications itself; ONC collaborates with organizations that it has authorized to act on its behalf. One such collaborator is ICSA Labs, which the ONC has authorized to certify Complete and Modular EHR technology for ambulatory and inpatient organizations.

The ONC Health IT Certification Program has become an important part of the health IT ecosystem. The program focuses on standards to facilitate improved health data interoperability for patient access and care. ONC (Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology) promotes a national health information technology (HIT) infrastructure and manages its development. In the wake of a $155 million settlement with eClinicalWorks following allegations of fraudulently receiving ONC certification, providers cannot be too careful when evaluating vendors and their products.

While providers should consider several factors when making an EHR selection decision, one helpful indicator of a high quality system is a stamp of approval from the ONC Health IT Certification Program.

ONC health certification provides product demonstrations, provider feedback, reference calls, and site visits. The certification programs help healthcare organizations to choose the right direction when searching for a reliable EHR system.