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ONC Requests NIST to Develop Health IT Laboratory Accreditation Program
by GSI Staff February 24, 2011
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) National Coordinator has requested that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) develop a laboratory accreditation program (LAP) for organizations to be accredited to test health information technology (HIT) for purposes of the permanent certification program. Based on NIST's technical expertise and the strong relationship formed between the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and NIST during the successful implementation of the temporary certification program, the use of the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) is expected to enhance testing under the permanent certification program and its objectivity overall.
These actions serve as the initial steps in ONC's plan to implement the permanent certification program and begin testing and certification under this program on January 1, 2012, or upon a subsequent date that the National Coordinator determines appropriate. Read the press release about the permanent program.
In collaboration with ONC, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed the functional and conformance testing requirements, test cases, and test tools to support the proposed Health IT Certification Programs. These conformance test methods (test procedures, test data, and test tools) will help ensure compliance with the meaningful use technical requirements and standards. See the tools here.