EHNAC creates ASP accreditation program for EHRs
The Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission (EHNAC), a non-profit standards development organization and accrediting body, has developed an accreditation program offering for application service providers (ASPs) for EHRs.
The Application Service Provider Accreditation Program for Electronic Health Records (ASPAP-EHR) evaluates companies providing ASP-format EHRs against specific criteria covering privacy and confidentiality, technical performance, business processes, resources and security, according to the commission.
EHNAC said it hopes to begin beta testing of the new ASPAP-EHR accreditation program this summer and is currently seeking qualified organizations interested in participating as beta testing sites for the ASPAP-EHR program as well as the organization's health information exchange (HIE) accreditation program.
The new programs are scheduled to fully launch in Jan. 2010 after the beta testing process is complete and criteria versions have been adopted. Companies interested in participating in beta testing should visit the EHNAC Web site to review the draft criteria of the proposed accreditation program.
"With the swiftly-emerging legislation developments such as the HITECH Act and the calling for authoritative standards and regulations from various leaders at both the federal and state levels, there is a great sense of urgency for EHNAC to put a strong emphasis on addressing much-needed accreditation standards to ensure compliance and accountability," said Lee Barrett, executive director of EHNAC.
EHNAC's Health Information Exchange Accreditation Program (HIEAP) is designed for regional health information organizations (RHIOs), community health data/network partnerships and other groups that promote data sharing across multiple, independent stakeholders. The program will assess the privacy policies, security measures, technical performance, business practices and organizational resources of participating entities.
The draft criteria sets for both programs will be available online at www.ehnac.org for public review. The public comment period is expected to commence on Aug. 14 and ending on Oct. 12.
The Application Service Provider Accreditation Program for Electronic Health Records (ASPAP-EHR) evaluates companies providing ASP-format EHRs against specific criteria covering privacy and confidentiality, technical performance, business processes, resources and security, according to the commission.
EHNAC said it hopes to begin beta testing of the new ASPAP-EHR accreditation program this summer and is currently seeking qualified organizations interested in participating as beta testing sites for the ASPAP-EHR program as well as the organization's health information exchange (HIE) accreditation program.
The new programs are scheduled to fully launch in Jan. 2010 after the beta testing process is complete and criteria versions have been adopted. Companies interested in participating in beta testing should visit the EHNAC Web site to review the draft criteria of the proposed accreditation program.
"With the swiftly-emerging legislation developments such as the HITECH Act and the calling for authoritative standards and regulations from various leaders at both the federal and state levels, there is a great sense of urgency for EHNAC to put a strong emphasis on addressing much-needed accreditation standards to ensure compliance and accountability," said Lee Barrett, executive director of EHNAC.
EHNAC's Health Information Exchange Accreditation Program (HIEAP) is designed for regional health information organizations (RHIOs), community health data/network partnerships and other groups that promote data sharing across multiple, independent stakeholders. The program will assess the privacy policies, security measures, technical performance, business practices and organizational resources of participating entities.
The draft criteria sets for both programs will be available online at www.ehnac.org for public review. The public comment period is expected to commence on Aug. 14 and ending on Oct. 12.