child health workgroup

In the midst of our CCHIT Guidance morning, we've been getting a bit of a lecture about how to communicate issues relating to CCHIT. Who speaks for whom, what information we can share, etc. There was, in fact, a slide specifically telling us to call it C-C-H-I-T and not C-CHIT (as I've only heard it called until here), an event that approached satire. Then, to my surprise (and their credit), Rick Turoczy mentioned the "bloggers out there" and mentioned that we have to be careful not to misstate the fact that we don't speak for C-C-H-I-T (which I hope I haven't done) or share non-public information. And then he called me out by name. Yikes.

I don't think he knows what I look like, so I can hide from him for a little bit.

One thing I find funny is that during the orientation kick-off yesterday (with about 50 people) and today with the entire group (with 200), about 1/2 or more of the questions are asked by people from the Child Health workgroup. Yesterday, John, Dr. Kressly, Dr. Yu, and I were easily the pushiest folks. Yes, we are pains in the butt.

So, my opinions related to the EHR certification process are my opinions only. I certainly don't speak for CCHIT!

Rick, stop by here and say hello.

I may have some more, legit comments about this process so far later, but I also have a stack of other data for folks to come, too. And I have to prepare for our UC.

[As for how to pronounce the name of this org, I think they are swimming upstream. All the brand identity work in the world can't undue every doc and OM calling it C-CHIT. I'll do my best, though.]

Update: I introduced myself to Rick and I we had a nice chat. I think my future critiques of C C H I T (presuming I have some, of course) will be welcomed.

I am in lovely Chicago prepping for my CCHIT Child Health Group meeting over the next two days. Most of my prep has been practicing saying C-C-H-I-T instead of "C-CHIT". Apparently, the latter is gauche.

On the list of 12 other members of our workgroup, I believe I know three folks already. Nearly all of the others are MDs and all but one or two work for BIG organizations. Given that I lack the aforementioned MD - or MBA, MPH, PhD, MSHI, or PharmD - that my co-members have, we'll see how much I stick out tomorrow. I don't believe that the events are private and I do intend to take notes, so whatever I can share, I will share. Whatever I can't, I won't. I have heard from a few folks (our EHR using clients) who have some input, I'll let you know what happens!

Meanwhile, here's an update? rewrite? another view? of a piece I covered almost 2 months back about hospitals dumping Exchange for OSS solutions.

The letter begins:

The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) is pleased to notify you that you have been selected to serve as a member of the Child Health Workgroup for our 2008-2009 certification development.

More than once, I have complained about the misuse and misunderstanding of CCHIT certification, especially for pediatricians. And I see, on places like the MGMA mailing lists, a fairly constant stream of dangerous commentary ("You should only consider systems that are CCHIT certified, as that guarantees XYZ." Which it doesn't.).

An intrepid reader of this blog suggested I apply to participate on Child Health Committee. After all, wouldn't it be hypocritical of me to complain about the certification and not do something about it? I applied and suspect that any gaps in my CV related to pediatricians/computers/clinical IT were filled by having a few friends in the right places and here I am. The first meeting is in July.

So...if you have any questions, comments, input, etc., related to electronic health/medical records for children, lay them on me. I sincerely intend to represent the "typical practicing pediatrician" during this process and will use my experience in the hundreds of offices I know and have visited. If you have an experience you'd like to relate or a question you'd like to ask or an issue you'd like addressed, share it here or email me directly. To date, I don't think that CCHIT has done much good for pediatricians - in fact, I think it has done some harm. And the path that they are on seems somewhat beholden to other interests (why Child Health certified EMR vendors will be required to track "Pain Levels" before growth charts is a good example). But my perspective on that isn't nearly as powerful as yours.

Cross your fingers and wish me luck! [Oh, John Canning made it on a workgroup or two himself - TWO PCCers with their toes in the door of CCHIT! They don't know what they're in for.]