EHR Certification has Strong Acceptance in the Marketplace

Record number of volunteers turn out in Chicago to kick-off expanded 09 development

CHICAGO – July 17, 2008 – More than 100 Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology volunteer work group members gathered in Chicago today and yesterday to begin development of expanded certifications for the Commission’s 09 certification program. As Mark Leavitt, MD, PhD, chair of the Commission, reviewed the program’s progress with them, they learned that more than half of the electronic health record products certified in 2007 were from new vendors that had not sought the CCHIT seal previously. According to data released today for ambulatory (office-based) and inpatient (hospital) electronic health record (EHR) products, both large and small vendors continue to seek out certification of EHR software products, and the market remains open to new entrants.

“The record participation at this year’s first face-to-face volunteer meeting and the sustained interest we are seeing from product vendors points to a healthy, growing health IT certification program,” said Leavitt.  “This level of enthusiasm is particularly encouraging as we begin new development in behavioral health and personal health records (PHRs) for the 09 program.”

The Certification Commission has certified a total of 136 ambulatory products from 93 health IT vendors since 2006, representing nearly 50 percent of the estimated vendors in the ambulatory EHR market. Fifty-five percent of the 47 ambulatory products certified during the 2007 program year, which ended June 30, came from newly participating vendors indicating that EHR market competition from growing, innovating companies continues.  Of the companies certified in the 2006 program, almost all chose to maintain their product certification’s 3-year term with 24 percent bringing new products for an updated certification in 2007.

CCHIT also collected data about the 2007 companies’ annual revenues and size of practices served. Fifty-seven percent of certified ambulatory vendors reported annual revenues under $10 million with 34 percent reporting annual revenues of less than $1 million. The remaining 43 percent reported annual revenues greater than $10 million.  Practice sizes of two to five physicians are served by the majority of 2007 certified ambulatory products, with 62 percent also serving solo physician offices.

In its first year of certifying inpatient products, CCHIT certified an estimated 58 percent of vendors in the marketplace. Among certified inpatient EHR vendors, 62 percent had annual revenues of more than $100 million, while 23 percent reported annual revenues of less than $20 million. The remaining 15 percent reported annual revenues between $20 million and $100 million. The results also indicate that systems for smaller hospitals were well represented, with the majority of certified products reporting customers in the 151 to 300 bed range, and 54 percent also serving hospitals with less than 150 beds.  

 “These statistics continue to show that certification is stimulating a diverse and competitive marketplace for health IT,” said Alisa Ray, executive director of the Certification Commission. “With more than half of the certified products in 2007 coming from new vendors – even though the criteria were significantly more rigorous this year – any concerns about creating barriers to innovation have been put to rest.  And smaller offices and hospitals have plenty of certified products from which to choose.”

Call for Commissioners

The Certification Commission is seeking senior executives working in healthcare to serve as Commissioners on the agency’s 21-member board. The board oversees certification criteria, developed by voluntary work groups, provides strategic direction and ensures the objectivity and credibility of the Certification Commission. The application period is open through July 31 for two-year terms that begin in October. Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest and their resumes to candidates@cchit.org.

About CCHIT

The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT®) is an independent, nonprofit organization that has been recognized by the federal government as an official certification body for electronic health record products. Its mission is to accelerate the adoption of health information technology by creating a credible, sustainable product certification program. The certification requirements are based on widely accepted industry standards and involve the work of hundreds of expert volunteers and input from a variety of stakeholders throughout the health care industry. More information on CCHIT and CCHIT Certified® products is available at www.cchit.org.