“We definitely need certification, but please don’t stipulate detail that stifles innovation and flexibility.”
L. Gordon Moore MD: Ideal Medical Practices Project

“Given constraints on time and resources and the “meaningful uses” that Congress wishes to promote, does it make sense to require a large package of features or a more limited set of basic capabilities?”
David Kibbe MD MBA and Brian Klepper PhD

"Certification in the style required by CCHIT will mean healthcare IT solutions will be as expensive and take as long to deliver as FDA-regulated medical devices. A leaner, meaner approach is necessary."
Jay Parkinson MD MPH

“Physicians may not need all of the functionality CCHIT requires. CCHIT certifications require an exhaustive list of features concerning functionality, interoperability, and security. While each of these things are important, physicians may only need the EMR equivalent of a Honda instead of a Rolls Royce. Both the Honda and Rolls Royce provide basically the same functionality; however, one is much more affordable for the average physician.”
Ryan Ricks

The Obama administration is moving quickly to adopt standards on what health information technology will be certified as eligible for federal dollars.  We are concerned that the pressure to adopt standards may lead to adoption of off-the-shelf standards that:

Stifle innovation in a rapidly advancing field

Increase the cost of health information technology

Preferentially reward specific large vendors

What you can do. We are asking the Obama administration to consider sensible certification. Sensible certification will be a boon to the health care industry if it:

Focuses on inter-operability

Keeps the door open for innovation

Describes the desired end state while allowing varied approaches to flourish