ANSI launches operations to approve EHR certifiers

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has launched its program to approve organizations that want to certify electronic health records for meaningful use. ANSI will accept applications through Oct. 7, with its first organization accreditations anticipated in 2012, the standards-setting group said in an Aug. 25 announcement.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT named ANSI in June as the sole authorized accreditor of certifying bodies for the permanent certification program. ANSI oversees the creation and publication of standards and guidelines in many business sectors, including health care and technology. It offers accrediting programs for product and personnel certification and standards developers.