I’m looking a user of OpenEMR 4.1 (or other certified software) with whom to exchange a test CCR/CCD file in order to attest to electronic data interchange. I have set up a patient called Patient, Test and have incorporated some fictitious information into the patient record. At the patient reports tab, I can prepare and safe CCR and CCD files and save them in electronic file form. The CCD is apparently in html (browser readable) and the CCR in a compressed, self-extracting, zip file containing an xml file and a stylesheet. If I exchange these files with another user of certified EMR, does that constitute electronic data interchange for the purpose of meaningful use?
I need to find somebody with whom to exchange such test files. Any volunteers?
Dr Leemhuis,
Emailing the CCR to a user of another Certified EHR meets the requirment. However it can not be a user of the SAME EHR as you use. The point is data exchange between different EHR’s.
It is my understanding that one cannot use the same EMR installation (i.e. same practice) but can exchange with a user of the same software. I will have to check into it further. If it turns out we need to find users of another system, how can we do that in a systematic manner for many users?
Must use distinct EHR technology (i.e. cannot connect to a common database and must operate independently). They can be from the same vendor and still be considered distinct.
Exchange is defined in the third paragraph.
I got this from the official Medicare meaningful use website, though I have paraphrased each paragraph.
I would be glad to help. Perhaps we could send back and forth to satisfy for both of us. I have a meeting tomorrow with the government agency here on meaningful use, and will try to ask them. I am using openemr 4.1 but on windows. Is that different enough?
I talked with CFMC today who is the government consultant here to primary care offices for meaningful use. They say you meet the measure if you create the file and send it either as an encryted e-mail attachment or to a secured e-mail site. They do not want real patient information, but instead a test patient like you suggested. They use a paid service called sharefile which they pay for at offices they support. It does not matter if you are sending it to another site using the same software package as long as it is to a distinct different business and not to something like a second office of the same business.
We do medical transcription for a hospital that has a large eClinicalWorks commitment. I am hoping to be able to have transcriptionists enter office note data, from a dictation, into OpenEMR; create a CCR file from OpenEMR and import it into eClinicalWorks. I have Version 4.1.0 running on a Linux box but haven’t been able to successfully generate a ccr file. Is the current version stable enough to generate CCR files? I would be very happy to work with anyone in verifying/validating compatibility with eClinicalWorks.
Steve Eberhart
812-422-4525
Evansville, Indiana, USA