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Dermatologists now can gauge and choose their electronic health record software better because of a new certification program.
The certification was recently launched by the nonprofit group Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT). Electronic health record (EHR) vendors will have to tweak their software to fit the needs of dermatologists to get the appropriate CCHIT certification.
That's good news for dermatologists such as Dr. Mark D. Kaufmann, cochair of the dermatology work group at CCHIT.
"Dermatologists kind of felt left out for many years [when it came to] certification from EHR vendors," said Dr. Kaufmann, of the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. That's "mostly because we felt like we had requirements that weren't met," he said. Those needs range from the language used to describe lesions, to the need for annotating graphics, pictures and drawings, to the ability to compare pre- and postop photos side by side, Dr. Kaufmann said.
The certification is a win-win for both sides, said Sue Reber, marketing director of CCHIT. Dermatologists can have more confidence in the EHR vendors, and the vendors will be able to market their services better to dermatologists.
Dr. Kaufmann said that although there is some resistance to EHR among the older dermatologists, the young graduating doctors almost demand the technology before joining a practice.
Meanwhile, the government is providing incentives for physicians to implement EHR.
Along with the dermatology certification, CCHIT launched certifications in behavioral health, and long-term and postacute care.
For more information, visit www. cchit.org.
Dermatologists now can gauge and choose their electronic health record software better because of a new certification program.
The certification was recently launched by the nonprofit group Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT). Electronic health record (EHR) vendors will have to tweak their software to fit the needs of dermatologists to get the appropriate CCHIT certification.
That's good news for dermatologists such as Dr. Mark D. Kaufmann, cochair of the dermatology work group at CCHIT.
"Dermatologists kind of felt left out for many years [when it came to] certification from EHR vendors," said Dr. Kaufmann, of the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. That's "mostly because we felt like we had requirements that weren't met," he said. Those needs range from the language used to describe lesions, to the need for annotating graphics, pictures and drawings, to the ability to compare pre- and postop photos side by side, Dr. Kaufmann said.
The certification is a win-win for both sides, said Sue Reber, marketing director of CCHIT. Dermatologists can have more confidence in the EHR vendors, and the vendors will be able to market their services better to dermatologists.
Dr. Kaufmann said that although there is some resistance to EHR among the older dermatologists, the young graduating doctors almost demand the technology before joining a practice.
Meanwhile, the government is providing incentives for physicians to implement EHR.
Along with the dermatology certification, CCHIT launched certifications in behavioral health, and long-term and postacute care.
For more information, visit www. cchit.org.
Dermatologists now can gauge and choose their electronic health record software better because of a new certification program.
The certification was recently launched by the nonprofit group Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT). Electronic health record (EHR) vendors will have to tweak their software to fit the needs of dermatologists to get the appropriate CCHIT certification.
That's good news for dermatologists such as Dr. Mark D. Kaufmann, cochair of the dermatology work group at CCHIT.
"Dermatologists kind of felt left out for many years [when it came to] certification from EHR vendors," said Dr. Kaufmann, of the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. That's "mostly because we felt like we had requirements that weren't met," he said. Those needs range from the language used to describe lesions, to the need for annotating graphics, pictures and drawings, to the ability to compare pre- and postop photos side by side, Dr. Kaufmann said.
The certification is a win-win for both sides, said Sue Reber, marketing director of CCHIT. Dermatologists can have more confidence in the EHR vendors, and the vendors will be able to market their services better to dermatologists.
Dr. Kaufmann said that although there is some resistance to EHR among the older dermatologists, the young graduating doctors almost demand the technology before joining a practice.
Meanwhile, the government is providing incentives for physicians to implement EHR.
Along with the dermatology certification, CCHIT launched certifications in behavioral health, and long-term and postacute care.
For more information, visit www. cchit.org.