Beginning next month, a comments form will be available on CCHIT's Web site. Users can provide information on the benefits of expanding certification into a new area, the readiness for certification in that area and how much effort would be required to develop certification in that area.

From Dec. 1 through 31, interested parties can download a form on CCHIT’s web site, cchit.org/expansion, to provide information on the benefits of expanding certification into a new area, the readiness of that area for certification, and an estimate of the effort required to develop certification in the area. A Town Call to instruct interested organizations on how to submit these environmental scan forms will be conducted at 4 p.m. Eastern time on Dec. 1. To participate, call 1 (866) 612-6319, password code 611877. A presentation for the Town Call, and the ability to submit written questions before and during the call, will be available at ehrdecisions.com on that date.

Currently, CCHIT certifies:

1)  Inpatient and ambulatory electronic health record systems;
2)  Emergency department EHRs; and
3)  Health information exchanges.
4)  CCHIT also has created a new group that will establish certification criteria for stand-alone electronic prescribing systems (Health Data Management, 11/20).