The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology has certified 14 electronic health record products that pass muster for provider use under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). 

"We believe it will be a challenge for providers who have not yet begun to evaluate products to purchase and implement EHR technology and achieve meaningful use in time for the 2011-2012 incentives," said Alisa Ray, the CCHIT's executive director. "We have received more than 30 applications for our 2011 certification programs – more than half of which are for the comprehensive program – and are announcing new certifications regularly so providers can begin to consider EHR technology that demonstrates compliance with the proposed federal standards."

The CCHIT has now certified 14 products under one of two new programs, the CCHIT Certified 2011 Comprehensive program and the Preliminary ARRA certification program, since their launch on Oct. 7.

As part of the comprehensive inspection process, key aspects of successful use are verified at live sites and usability is rated for ambulatory EHRs. The program is intended for healthcare providers looking for assurance that a product will meet their complex needs as well as support the achievement of "meaningful use" of IT to qualify for the ARRA financial incentives.

The products certified in the CCHIT Certified 2011 Comprehensive program for Ambulatory EHRs are:

• ABEL Medical Software's ABELMed EHR-EMR/PM, version 11

• EHS' EHS CareRevolution, version 5.3

• Compulink's Advantage/EHR, version 10

• Greenway Medical Technologies' PrimeSuite, version 2011

• NextGen Healthcare Information Systems' NextGen EHR, version 5.6

• Pulse Systems' Pulse Relationship Management, version 4.1.02

In addition, the first product certified in the CCHIT Certified 2011 Comprehensive program for stand-alone electronic prescribing (ePrescribing) is Networking Technology's (dba RxNT) RxNT, version 6.1.4.

According to Ray, the Preliminary ARRA 2011 program is a modular, limited certification and inspects technology only against the federal standards. It offers flexibility for health IT companies, developers and providers in meeting ARRA 2011-2012 certification requirements.

The ARRA certification component of both programs is considered preliminary because the definitions of meaningful use, criteria and standards have been proposed but not yet finalized by the Department of Health and Human Services, according to Ray. Health IT companies testing against the proposed standards now will be provided the opportunity to close any gaps after the final rules are published in the Federal Register in spring 2010.

CCHIT has certified the following companies under the Preliminary ARRA 2011 program:

• eHealth Made Easy's eHealth Made Easy 3 for hospitals
• eHealth Made Easy's eHealth Made Easy 3 for eligible providers
• IOS Health Systems' Medios 4.5
• Kaulkin Information Systems' KIS Track 5.1
• NGG Medical Systems' Perfect Care EHR 3.35
• Order Optimizer's Order Optimizer 3.01
• Sajix's iHelix MD 2010