Drummond Group Releases Pediatrics Health IT Certification Program

Drummond Group LLC, the leading certifying body for ONC's Health IT Certification Program, has announced its new Pediatrics Health IT Certification Program to support ONC's recommendations for the voluntary certification of health IT for pediatric care.

The program includes test interpretations of the recommendations, giving an independent and objective method for evaluating EHR vendor support.

Drummond Group completed a recent pilot of the program with three leading health IT vendors and an additional program review project with Arkansas Children's Hospital.

"As the leading testing and certification body for the ONC Health IT Certification Program, Drummond is pleased to be able to leverage our experience, reputation, and market position to innovate in industry-led testing and certification programs," Ryan Patano, Drummond's president, noted in a press release.

"This new program advances pediatric EHR capabilities for health IT developers, practitioners, and pediatric-focused health IT researchers to deliver societal value to children and their parents," Patano said. "In addition, it will help fulfill the original US Congressional mandate for the voluntary certification of pediatrics health IT and build on ONC pediatric initiatives."

Beyond the mandatory criteria that health IT developers must meet for Drummond's pediatric EHR certification, vendors can choose to go through evaluation against sets of advanced test criteria.

These "advanced badges" include specific functionality for pediatrics medication management, newborn care and screening, well-child care, quality reporting, care team/planning, immunizations, and data security and privacy.

"Pediatricians and all clinicians who care for children need tools designed to meet the unique needs of their patients," said Sandy L. Chung, MD, president-elect of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). "Pediatric certification of EHRs is an important step toward ensuring all infants, children, and adolescents receive the right care every time."

Advanced test criteria will help drive innovation for pediatric care, according to Susan Kressly, MD, pediatrician and chair-elect of the AAP's Section on Administration and Practice Management.

"We know pediatric clinicians need pediatric-specific functionality in their EHR technology to provide optimal care for our patients and families," said Kressly, who also serves as a member of Drummond's advisory panel.

"Having a way for pediatricians and technology decision-makers to transparently evaluate EHRs through advanced functionality badges will move the industry forward in caring for children," she added.