National EHR Certification Initiative Taps Academy Expert

Steven Waldren, M.D., assistant director of AAFP's Center for Health Information Technology, has been selected by the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology, or CCHIT, to co-chair its ambulatory electronic health record functionality work group.

The Academy supports CCHIT and its mission, which is to accelerate the adoption of health information technology in the United States by creating a mechanism for the certification of health IT products.

Waldren said as the certification process for EHRs moves forward, the functionality piece assigned to his work group will become increasingly important to Academy members. He said he looks forward to "providing a balance among the stakeholders in the certification process and ensuring that the needs of primary care physicians are well represented."

Waldren said he would continue to solicit member feedback on EHRs throughout his tenure on the work group "to learn what (members) need to deliver efficient, high-quality health care."

An independent, voluntary, private-sector initiative, CCHIT was formed in July 2004 by the American Health Information Management Association, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, and National Alliance for Health Information Technology. In September 2005, HHS awarded CCHIT a contract to develop and evaluate certification criteria and to create an inspection process.

FP Bruce "Ned" Calonge, M.D., M.P.H., of Denver, chief medical officer for the Colorado Department of Health & Environment, currently serves on the CCHIT Board of Commissioners.