EMR is a customizable electronic medical records system designed to help create and maintain complete medical records faster and more efficiently than before.  CCHIT is a recognized certification body in the United States for certifying health information technology products.  They are an independent, nonprofit organization that sets the benchmark for EHRs.  The quality and safety of EHR products can now be measured using certification criteria developed specifically for this purpose. In the second year of the program’s operation, additional criteria have been added, particularly to measure the capability of sharing information with other healthcare entities. 

This certification signifies that NextGen’s EMR meets the Commission’s electronic health record criteria for 2007, which has been expanded for this year.  As a CCHIT Certified product, NextGen’s EMR was tested and passed inspection on a core list of functional requirements, such as:  functionality (the ability to create and manage electronic records for all patients, as well as automating the workflow in a physician’s office); interoperability (the ability to receive and send electronic data to other entities, such as pharmacies and laboratories; and security (the ability to keep patients’ information safe).  This helps physicians and other customers decide whether they are making a reliable investment on a product that has or has not met or exceeded industry standards, measuring the quality and safety of a product using certification criteria.