DrWinn
09-21-2004, 01:21 PM
copied from AAFP listerv
Again, this is complicated and the EHR certification process has to include multiple entities and interest groups. The "certification committee" is sort of sponsored by HIMSS, but it is it's own entity, not directly answerable to HIMSS. HIMSS has funded a lot of the initial organization in an effort to get the proper involvements.
I have to say that no other specialty organization even comes close to the AAFP regarding involvement in the EHR certification initiatives. Not only do we have 2 members at the highest level (Doug Henly and Andy Ury as commissioners), we have 3 in the working group developing the ambulatory minimal function set (including myself). It was the AAFP, specifically Steve Waldren, David Kibbe, (and Andy Ury) that have aggressively pushed to include more input from representatives with "real world" experience that would serve to moderate initial expectations and requirements of the EHR specification. It was only through their efforts that I was asked to participate. The certification "standard" from HL7 was initially on a track to mandate a system that would have to cost every doc many tens of thousands of dollars and which would not necessarily promise an equivalent return on investment. If Andy Ury had not called attention to the ridiculous HL7 EHR Functional Model ballot last September, we would probably already be having to certify to over 1600 items! The current standard in consideration is presently under 300 elements and is approaching a more sane group of expectations. It is not there yet, but hopefully will continue to evolve to a more reasonable point. I have a strong bias that docs should not be forced to acquire and incur the expense of functionalities that have not yet proven to be of significant value.
Randall Oates, M.D.
President, DOCS, Inc.
Again, this is complicated and the EHR certification process has to include multiple entities and interest groups. The "certification committee" is sort of sponsored by HIMSS, but it is it's own entity, not directly answerable to HIMSS. HIMSS has funded a lot of the initial organization in an effort to get the proper involvements.
I have to say that no other specialty organization even comes close to the AAFP regarding involvement in the EHR certification initiatives. Not only do we have 2 members at the highest level (Doug Henly and Andy Ury as commissioners), we have 3 in the working group developing the ambulatory minimal function set (including myself). It was the AAFP, specifically Steve Waldren, David Kibbe, (and Andy Ury) that have aggressively pushed to include more input from representatives with "real world" experience that would serve to moderate initial expectations and requirements of the EHR specification. It was only through their efforts that I was asked to participate. The certification "standard" from HL7 was initially on a track to mandate a system that would have to cost every doc many tens of thousands of dollars and which would not necessarily promise an equivalent return on investment. If Andy Ury had not called attention to the ridiculous HL7 EHR Functional Model ballot last September, we would probably already be having to certify to over 1600 items! The current standard in consideration is presently under 300 elements and is approaching a more sane group of expectations. It is not there yet, but hopefully will continue to evolve to a more reasonable point. I have a strong bias that docs should not be forced to acquire and incur the expense of functionalities that have not yet proven to be of significant value.
Randall Oates, M.D.
President, DOCS, Inc.