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A beta version of the new Cypress open source certification testing tool for capturing, calculating and reporting clinical quality measures under the Stage 2 electronic health records meaning use program now is available.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology commissioned development of the tool. Cypress, to be used in Stage 2 EHR certification testing, will be made freely available to vendors and testing laboratories. According to guidance from ONC, the CQM certification criteria addressed by Cypress may include:

* The capability of EHR technology to create a data file that can be incorporated by another EHR technology which could be used to calculate CQMs,

* The capability of EHR technology to incorporate data (from other EHR technology where necessary) and correctly calculate the result for CQMs, and

* The capability of EHR technology to create a standard data file that can be electronically accepted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

ONC expects a second version of Cypress to be installed by authorized testing labs in December, and starting the Stage 2 EHR certification program in January 2013. More information is available here.