Pulse Patient Relationship Management Receives CCHIT Certification
EHR software from Pulse complies with 100 percent of certification criteria
WICHITA KS – Pulse, leading provider of Healthcare Software, announced today that the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHITsm) declared the Pulse Patient Relationship Management V3.1.1, CCHIT Certifidesm and meets CCHIT ambulatory electronic health record (EHR) criteria for 2006. The 2007 certification Pulse Patient Relationship process begins in May and Pulse plans to be among the first companies to earn the 2007 certification. Ambulatory EHRs are designed for physician offices and clinics where most Americans get their healthcare. CCHIT is a Recognized Certification Body in the United States for certifying health information technology – an independent, non-profit organization that sets the benchmark for electronic health records.
As a CCHIT Certified product, Pulse Patient Relationship Management V3.1.1 has been tested and passed inspection of 100 percent of a comprehensive set of criteria for functionality (ability to create and manage electronic records for all patients, as well as automating workflow in a physician’s office), interoperability (the ability to receive and send electronic data to other entities such as laboratories), and security and reliability (ability to keep patients’ information safe).
The CCHIT Certified mark — a “seal of approval” for EHR products — provides the first consensus-based, consistent benchmark for ambulatory products. By looking to products with the CCHIT Certified seal, physicians and other providers can be assured they are making a reliable investment and insurers and other payers know the products meet expected industry standards.
“Physicians who purchase certified products have the assurance that they have been reviewed by a panel of judges, including practicing physicians, and that they are being evaluated against standards set by professionals in the field and successfully piloted with products from large and small companies,” said Mark Leavitt, M.D., Ph.D., chair, CCHIT. “The quality and safety of EHR products can now be measured using certification criteria that were developed specifically for that purpose.”
Basil Hourani, Pulse President, stated: “The CCHIT certification for the Pulse Patient Relationship Management reflects our dedication to the healthcare industry to provide the necessary functionality, interoperability and patient safety by delivering a solution streamlining patient flow, workflow and cash flow. The certification will advance the adoption of electronic health records nationally. Physicians and administrators can confidently invest in Pulse’s state-of-the-art technology knowing that it has been vetted by an independent third-party inspection process.”
The goals of CCHIT product certification are to reduce the risk of Health Information Technology (HIT) investment by physicians and other providers; ensure interoperability of HIT products; enhance the availability of HIT adoption incentives from purchasers and payers; and protect the privacy of personal health information.
CCHIT’s certification compliance criteria and its design for a certification inspection process have been thoroughly researched, taking into account the state of the art EHRs and available standards, and comparing certification processes in other industries and other countries. The inspection process is based on real-life medical scenarios designed to test products rigorously against the clinical needs of providers and the quality and safety needs of healthcare consumers and payers. One script, for example, recreates a scenario of an elderly man with poorly controlled diabetes, hypertension and other chronic conditions in order to test EHR functions such as potential adverse drug reactions, disease management and treatment plans.
About CCHIT
The Certification Committee for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHITSM), founded in 2004, is an independent, nonprofit organization. Its mission is to accelerate the adoption of robust, interoperable health information technology by creating an efficient, credible and sustainable product certification program. CCHIT accomplishes its work through contributions of hundreds of expert volunteers and constructive engagement by stakeholders throughout the health care industry. In September 2005, CCHIT was awarded a contract by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to develop, create prototypes for, and evaluate the certification criteria and inspection process for EHRs and the networks through which they interoperate. In October 2006, CCHIT was deemed a Recognized Certification Body by the Department of Health and Human Services. More information on CCHIT and CCHIT CertifiedSM products is available at www.cchit.org. “CCHITSM” and “CCHIT CertifiedSM” are service marks of the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology.
About Pulse
Pulse is a leading provider of EHRs and Medical Practice Management solutions. Since 1982, Pulse has been exclusively dedicated to the healthcare industry pioneering integrated healthcare information systems. The flagship product, the Pulse Patient Relationship Management solution integrates Patient Flow, Workflow and Cash Flow. It includes: Practice Management, Scheduling, Billing and Collection, Contract Administration, Electronic Health Records, ePrescribing, Electronic Orders and Results, Document Imaging and Management, Electronic Charting, Automated E/M coding, Voice Recognition, Pocket PC Wireless Solution for physicians and nurses, Physician Web Portal and Ambulatory Surgical Center Solutions . Additional information about the company can be found on its Web site: www.pulseinc.com
