CHICAGO – The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology has appointed three new members to its nine-member board of trustees.

The new trustees will join with current members to provide fiscal oversight and other managerial duties, according to CCHIT chief Mark Leavitt, MD.

The commission also is seeking comments on ways to expand certification.

The new trustees are:

n Meighan Girgus, executive vice president of healthcare markets for the American Heart Association, in Dallas, Texas;

n Wes Rishel, vice president and analyst for Gartner’s healthcare provider research practice, of Alameda, Calif.

n Bruce Taffel, MD, vice president and chief medical officer at Shared Health in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The commission has also announced it will take online submissions through Dec. 31 on how to expand the scope of its certification programs in 2011 and beyond.

From its initial focus on certifying ambulatory and inpatient electronic health records and health information exchanges, the commission has expanded since 2006 into emergency department EHR products. It has also created a certification process for ambulatory EHRs with additional capabilities to serve child health and cardiovascular medicine.

Certification for personal health records is under development for a July 2009 launch date, and in 2010 the commission will certify behavioral health and long-term care.

Leavitt said CCHIT would review the submissions and compile them in a draft roadmap for the CCHIT board of commissioners meeting on Jan. 13.