Base Electronic Health Record (EHR) Definition

The Base Electronic Health Record (EHR) definition provides a baseline assurance that certified health IT has been developed to possess, at a minimum, a key set of capabilities as outlined below.

Base EHR Definition – Certification Criteria Required to Satisfy the Definition

Base EHR Capabilities

Certification Criteria 
Final Rule Compliance Date

Includes patient demographic and clinical health information

Patient demographics and observations § 170.315(a)(5) 
Implantable device list § 170.315(a)(14)

Capacity to provide clinical decision support

Clinical decision support § 170.315(a)(9) (expires January 1, 2025) or Decision support interventions § 170.315(b)(11)

Capacity to support physician order entry

Computerized provider order entry § 170.315(a)(1), (2) or (3)

Capacity to capture and query information relevant to health care quality

Clinical quality measures – record and export § 170.315(c)(1)

Capacity to exchange electronic health information with, and integrate such information from other sources

  • Transitions of care § 170.315(b)(1)
  • Application access – patient selection § 170.315(g)(7)
  • Application access – all data request § 170.315(g)(9)
  • Standardized API for patient and population services § 170.315(g)(10)
  • Direct Project § 170.315(h)(1) or Direct Project, Edge Protocol, and XDR/XDM § 170.315(h)(2)

The requirements of the Base EHR Definition can be met using one Certified Health IT Module or a combination of Certified Health IT Modules.