To me certification doesn't mean anything. From a business point of view it sucks since you would have to pay $30K or so to get it certified.
From a consumer point of view it sucks since those 20-30 EMR systems can charge me upwards of $15-30K per provider per year.
As a Doctor, I am not interested in certified EMR, I am looking for something that is going to improve my workflow.
Medicare and Medicaid incentives won't mean much to many doctors, i mean come on, $10K a year of 4 years and nothing after that. Penalties are not strict too.
I am going for SRS Soft. It's uncertified but is efficient. Not free, however. Practice Fusion is not something I would go with, because our practice needs something more concrete. Practice Fusion is good for basic needs.
Throughout the struggle over meaningful use, which will define who gets that sweet, sweet stimulus cash, one question has dogged policymakers more than any other.
How will we make certain gear is certified in time for industry to buy it, install it, and get meaningful use out of it to meet the 2011 deadline?
How will all those products squeeze through that tiny queue?
The answer is pretty fast.
The Office of National Coordinator under David Blumenthal (right, at this year’s HIMSS show) has a Web site up now, listing dozens of products that have already been certified, including at least 21 full EHR systems.
Most of the certifications were done by the CCHIT, with four done by the Drummond Group.
Among the companies with complete EHRs that have already gone through the certification process are Epic Systems, NextGen, GE Healthcare, AllScripts and AthenaHealth.
If the product you have installed is not on the list it’s likely you have nothing to worry about. Certification does take time.
Fortunately, it turns out, not much time.
