If your organization uses Electronic Health Records (EHRs), the recent updates to the SAFER Guidelines (Safety Assurance Factors for EHR Resilience) are essential for helping you assess the potential safety issues posed by your EHR. These guidelines, published by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), are designed to help healthcare providers evaluate and improve the safety and resilience of their EHR systems.
Why the SAFER Guidelines Matter
The SAFER Guidelines are more than just best practices—they’re a structured, self-assessment tool with checklists, worksheets, and recommendations to help healthcare organizations assess and mitigate risks associated with EHR use. They’re particularly important for organizations participating in the CMS Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), which has historically included a requirement that the clinician or eligible hospital attest to having completed one or more SAFER self-assessments.
What’s new in the 2025 update?
The SAFER Guides were last updated in 2016. The 2025 updates include significant additions, including:
- Artificial Intelligence: New guidance encourages transparency around the use of AI in patient care and administrative decisions, recommending organizations maintain an inventory of AI-enabled tools and ensure human oversight.
- Patient Identification: Use of biometrics and patient photographs is now included to help reduce misidentification risks.
- Cybersecurity Threats: Incorporating recommendations surrounding ransomware threats.
- Secure Communication: Enhanced guidance on EHR messaging, including prioritization of high-risk or time-sensitive communications.
Tips for Using the Updated SAFER Guides
On the podcast this week, we discuss tips for how to use the updated SAFER Guides. Get the 2025 SAFER Guides here.
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