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HIT Services Group's Acumen EHR Receives 2007 CCHIT Certification

Posted on: Friday, 14 March 2008, 09:00 CDT

The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT®) today announced that HIT Services Group's (HITSG) product Acumen EHR version 5 is CCHIT Certified®, and meets the Commission's ambulatory electronic health record (EHR) criteria for 2007. Ambulatory EHRs are designed for physician offices and clinics where most Americans get their healthcare. CCHIT -- an independent, nonprofit organization -- is the Recognized Certification Body in the United States for certifying health information technology products.

In the second year of the program's operation, the criteria and testing have been significantly enhanced. The Commission added 96 criteria to the 151 original requirements from last year. As a CCHIT Certified product, Acumen EHR has been tested and passed inspection of 100 percent of a set of updated criteria for functionality, interoperability and security.

"For 2007, the Commission raised the bar from the previous year's criteria. Ambulatory EHRs now must include electronic prescribing, demonstrate an ability to receive lab results, and show enhanced patient safety, quality, and security features," said Mark Leavitt, M.D., Ph.D., chair, CCHIT. "Investment in 2007 certified ambulatory EHRs gives providers even more powerful tools to improve quality, safety and efficiency while protecting the privacy of health information."

The CCHIT Certified mark -- a "seal of approval" for EHR products -- provides the first consensus-based, government-recognized benchmark for ambulatory EHR products. By looking to products with the CCHIT Certified seal, physicians and other providers can reduce their risk in selecting an EHR product, allowing them to focus their evaluation on the special needs of their practices.

HITSG Founder, Frank Maddux, MD commented, "Developing Acumen into a product that is useful for physicians in the care of their patients has led to a solution that not only serves to assist medical practices in optimal care, but has now been recognized by its CCHIT certification to meet both the spirit and the substance of what an electronic health record should be. HIT Services Group has remained focused on providing a useful set of tools that allows physicians to make the right decision for patients, at the right time, every time. I am proud of the entire Acumen team in working together to make CCHIT a priority accomplishment."

CCHIT's certification compliance criteria and its design for a certification inspection process have been thoroughly researched, taking into account the state of the art of EHRs and available standards, and comparing certification processes in other industries and other countries. The inspection process is based on real-life medical scenarios designed to test products rigorously against the clinical needs of providers and the quality and safety needs of healthcare consumers and payers. One script, for example, recreates a scenario of an elderly man with poorly controlled diabetes, hypertension and other chronic conditions in order to test EHR functions such as potential adverse drug reactions, disease management and treatment plans.

About HIT Services Group

HIT Services Group was formed to develop and deliver intuitive software tools to assist physicians in the practice of medicine. HITSG offers Acumen EHR, a proprietary web-based application for physician practices. The technology enhances the care team's ability to maintain, track, and communicate medical, patient, and business information. Our solutions are designed by physicians and are made available under an internet-based, application service provider (ASP) model. The integrated suite of tools drives workflow within the medical office -- and any location a provider requires -- to effectively streamline access, storage, and distribution of patient treatment information. More information regarding Acumen EHR and HIT Services Group can be found at www.AcumenEHR.com.

About CCHIT

The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT®) is an independent, nonprofit organization that has been named by the federal government as the Recognized Certification Body for health information technology. Its mission is to accelerate the adoption of health information technology by creating a credible, sustainable certification program. The certification requirements are based on widely accepted industry standards and involve the work of hundreds of expert volunteers and input from a variety of stakeholders throughout the health care industry. More information on CCHIT and CCHIT Certified® products is available at www.cchit.org.

"CCHIT®" and "CCHIT Certified®" are service marks of the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology.

Source: Business Wire

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