HL7 to Feds: Certify PHRs

HDM Breaking News, April 14, 2010

As the federal government establishes certification programs for electronic health records systems, it also should certify other systems, such as personal health records products, standards development organization Health Level Seven International recommends.

In a comment letter on the proposed EHR certification rule, Ann Arbor, Mich.-based HL7 notes it has created functional guidelines for multiple types of EHRs including well as PHRs. In the proposed rule, federal officials asked whether health information technology systems other than EHRs should be certified. In addition to certifying PHRs, HL7 recommends "interoperability of EHR systems across the continuum of care be certified."

HL7 makes additional recommendations in its comment letter, available here.

--Joseph Goedert

 

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