CCHIT Chair Mark Leavitt to Retire in March 2010

CHICAGO – Nov 13, 2009 – The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT®) announced today that Mark Leavitt, M.D., Ph.D., is planning to retire from his role as Chair of the Commission on March 31, 2010. The Board of Trustees has initiated a national search for a successor.

“Mark’s vision and leadership has been nothing short of remarkable. He has unquestionably been the right leader at the right time, maturing an industry and setting up an adaptive and strong entity ready for the next round of challenges,” said Linda Kloss, CCHIT trustee.

“Having the privilege to launch and lead this volunteer-based, nonprofit organization has been one of the most rewarding and educational experiences of my life,” said Dr. Leavitt. “Now it is time for me to keep a promise I made to myself and my family when I first took on this role five years ago, knowing that I will leave it in the hands of an exceptional group of volunteers and a highly capable and knowledgeable staff.”

Founded in 2004, and a Federally recognized certifying body since 2006, the Commission has certified more than 200 EHR products for doctor’s offices, hospitals and emergency rooms, representing more than 85 percent of the market. CCHIT is a fully independent nonprofit organization with 23 staff, led by Executive Director Alisa Ray. In October, the organization opened applications for 2011 EHR certification, with two distinct pathways (PDF) – one offering maximum assurance of EHR capabilities for providers, the other offering maximum flexibility for technology innovations – and will soon announce the first products and technologies certified under those two new programs.

“The Board accepts Mark’s decision with reluctance but appreciates his commitment to overseeing a seamless transition,” said H. Stephen Lieber, chair of the Board of Trustees. “The search for his successor will be open and transparent so we maintain the confidence of our many constituents. CCHIT trustee Frank Trembulak, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Geisinger Health System, will chair the search committee, and a firm has been retained to conduct the search. More information with duties and qualifications will be available on CCHIT’s web site soon.”

About CCHIT

The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT®) is an independent, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that has been recognized by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) since 2006 as an official certification body for electronic health records (EHR). Its public mission is to accelerate the adoption of robust, interoperable health information technology. More information on CCHIT, CCHIT Certified® products and Preliminary ARRA certified technology is available at http://cchit.org and http://ehrdecisions.com .

“CCHIT®” and “CCHIT Certified®” are registered trademarks of the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology.