ehr onc final certification - Department of Health Care Services

laboratory test results to be electronically linked to laboratory orders or patient records
without manual intervention.
Comments. Some commenters noted that small and medium size practices have
had a difficult time working with commercial laboratory vendors to provide interfaces
from which they can receive lab test results. These commenters noted that laboratory
vendors typically charge too much for their services and do not prioritize establishing
connections with small and medium size practices because they do not have the same
volume of laboratory referrals as large practices.
Response. This certification criterion requires as a condition of certification that
Certified EHR Technology be capable of supporting electronic laboratory interfaces. We
understand the concerns raised by commenters pertaining to the difficulty of certain
practices being able to obtain laboratory interfaces and note that the meaningful use Stage
1 measure associated with this certification criterion is included in the “menu set”
specified by CMS which we believe should help assuage some commenters’ concerns.
We do not believe that the ability of a practice (regardless of size) to obtain an interface
or other type of connection is an issue that is within the scope of this final rule to address.
Comment. One commenter recommended that we revise this certification
criterion to require that laboratory domain expertise be exhibited when laboratory
information is displayed. The commenter further elaborated by stating that laboratory
results are not homogeneous, and that specific laboratory domain expertise is necessary
to design the ways in which the data associated with certain laboratory results (e.g.,
microbiology, molecular pathology) are displayed in EHR systems to ensure appropriate
presentation and interpretation.
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