(ANSI: New York) -- The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), coordinator of the U.S. voluntary standardization system, has announced the first accreditations of health information technology (HIT) certification bodies under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) Permanent Certification Program for Health Information Technology. In June 2011 ANSI was selected as the Approved Accreditor for the ONC program, which was established by regulation in a final rule published in the Federal Register on Jan. 7, 2011.

The program provides a way for organizations to become authorized by ONC to test and certify electronic health record (EHR) technology. As Approved Accreditor, ANSI reviews and accredits all certification bodies seeking to participate in the ONC program.

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