April 17, 2007—The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT), Chicago, Ill, announced today that it will be restructuring its volunteer work groups and recruiting new staff to support development of a significantly expanded certification program for 2008.
“Volunteers, who are responsible for CCHIT’s successes, are finding their time spread thinner than ever,” says Mark Leavitt, MD, PhD, CCHIT chairman. “I believe we must use these resources even more efficiently this year, making fewer demands on their time while gaining the maximum benefit from their expertise.”
CCHIT will now offer two types of volunteer roles—membership in “sustaining work groups,” which will operate much like the current model, or serving on new expert panels to address specific issues in-depth. “The sustaining groups and expert panels will have different work styles and time commitments,” Leavitt explains. “Just as we’re making certification more flexible to meet specialized needs, we’re custom-tailoring our volunteer models so people can find the best fit.”
On April 24, the Commission will begin recruiting additional staff to support its growth and expansion. A Town Call teleconference is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET on April 23 to discuss details about the new work group structure.
—Cat Vasko
