Education > Education Resources > EHR Certification EHR Certification
Updated December 13, 2010
ONC-Authorized Testing and Certification Bodies (ONC-ATCBs)
Five ONC-ATCBs have been announced by the Office of the National Coordinator to certify EHR products for Meaningful Use.
The list of ONC-ATCB certified EHR products is updated weekly on the ONC website - click here to view
Additional Certifications
Prior to the announcement of the ONC-ATCBs, the only certifications for ambulatory EHR systems were those issued by the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT). CCHIT has issued a number of certifications since 2006:
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CCHIT Ambulatory EHR 2006
- CCHIT Ambulatory EHR 2007
- CCHIT Ambulatory EHR 2008
- CCHIT Certified Ambulatory 2011
The rigor of the CCHIT certification process increased progressively with each new certification. CCHIT Ambulatory EHR 2006 certifications are valid for three years from the date they were issued while CCHIT Ambulatory EHR 2007 through CCHIT Certified Ambulatory 2011 are only valid for two years. Thus, it is currently possible for an EHR vendor to have a have a product that has a valid 2006 certification.
CCHIT also issues specialty specific certifications. Currently, specialty certifications have been offered for Child Health (pediatrics) requirements, Cardiovascular Medicine, and Cardiovascular Medicine with Advanced Reporting. In order to receive these certifications, EHR systems had to meet all of the requirements for the basic CCHIT Certification (e.g. 2008) along with additional specialty specific requirements.
Note: None of the pre-existing CCHIT certifications can be used to qualify for the Federal Government’s new EHR incentive program.
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) has published a document that maps specified criteria, standards, and specifications to the Stage 1 - Meaningful Use outcome priorities, objectives, and measures. (August 9, 2010)
Click here to download a copy 
(Republished with the permission of AHIMA - The American Health Information Management Association)