A large prospect recently asked us to look into getting the ONC Health IT Certification designation. As our mission is to become the market leader for HIPAA compliant communication, we took this request in earnest.
This post will discuss what the ONC Health IT Certification is and how Paubox fits into its model.
ONC Health IT Certification Program
The ONC Health IT Certification Program (Certification Program) is a program established by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) to ensure that health information technology (HIT) products and systems meet certain standards for functionality, security, and privacy.
The certification program is designed to help providers and patients make informed decisions about HIT products and systems, and to promote the use of HIT to improve healthcare delivery.
The Certification Program is based on the HIT Certification Program Final Rule, which was published by the ONC in 2010. The Final Rule established a set of standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria for HIT products and systems. The standards and specifications are developed by industry experts, and are intended to ensure that HIT products and systems are capable of exchanging and using electronic health information in a secure and privacy-protective manner.
Does Paubox fall into the category of needing ONC Health IT Certification?
The Certification Program is voluntary, but it is also mandatory for HIT products and systems that are to be used in the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. HIT vendors must have their products and systems certified by an ONC-Authorized Certification Body (ONC-ACB) in order to participate in the EHR Incentive Programs.
The ONC-ACBs are responsible for testing and certifying HIT products and systems against the standards and specifications established by the ONC. The ONC-ACBs are also responsible for maintaining a list of certified HIT products and systems on the ONC website. This list, known as the ONC Health IT Certification List (CHPL), provides information about the HIT products and systems that have been certified, including their capabilities, functionalities, and compliance with the standards and specifications.
The Certification Program is not only limited to EHRs, but also includes other health IT systems such as:
- Clinical Decision Support (CDS)
- Patient Engagement
- Secure Messaging
- Quality Measures
- Public Health Reporting
- Coordination of Care
The Certification Program is constantly evolving to keep up with the changing healthcare landscape and new technologies. The ONC regularly updates the standards, specifications, and certification criteria to reflect new and emerging technologies and best practices. This helps to ensure that the HIT products and systems that are certified under the program are current and relevant to the needs of providers and patients.
The Certification Program is an important tool for promoting the use of HIT to improve healthcare delivery. By ensuring that HIT products and systems meet certain standards for functionality, security, and privacy, the program helps to ensure that providers and patients can trust and rely on HIT to improve the quality of care. The program also helps to promote the use of HIT to improve healthcare delivery by making it easier for providers and patients to make informed decisions about HIT products and systems.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the ONC Health IT Certification Program is a valuable tool for ensuring that HIT products and systems meet certain standards for functionality, security, and privacy, and for promoting the use of HIT to improve healthcare delivery. The program is designed to help providers and patients make informed decisions about HIT products and systems, and to promote the use of HIT to improve healthcare delivery. It is a constantly evolving program that is updated to keep up with the changing healthcare landscape and new technologies.
The Certification Program is mandatory for HIT products and systems that are to be used in the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs, and HIT vendors must have their products and systems certified by an ONC-Authorized Certification Body (ONC-ACB) in order to participate in the EHR Incentive Programs.
Hoala Greevy
