ONC Seeks Input on Health IT Test Tools

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has renewed its call for developers and vendors to submit test procedures, tools, and data to be considered for approved use as part of the ONC Health IT Certification Program.


The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has renewed its call for developers and vendors to submit test procedures, tools, and data to be considered for approved use as part of the ONC Health IT Certification Program.

Last month, ONC published a notice in the Federal Register seeking industry input to bolster its certification program and is at it again this month in a blog.

According to Navy Captain Alicia Morton, director of the ONC Health IT Certification Program, the agency’s solicitations are in response to “stakeholder feedback telling us that certain testing efficiencies could be achieved if the certification program were to include the approval of industry-led testing and certification, such as the ePrescribing network testing (and certification).”

Also See: Vendors Shuffle In, Out of Designated EHR Test Program

If ultimately approved by ONC, Morton says these test procedures and tools “would qualify as an additional pathway for meeting testing and certification requirements as an alternative to existing testing resources and could provide potential testing and certification efficiency gains.”

She advises that anyone interested should review the Federal Register notice before submitting test procedures, tools, or data to ONC for evaluation at onc.certification@hhs.gov.

“There is no limit to the number that can be submitted and we believe that having more testing flexibility will help the program maximize the efficiencies already created and operational-proven by health IT developers,” writes Morton.

Additional information about ONC’s Certification Program, requirements and testing methods can be found here.

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