An ONC-Certified EHR is an electronic health record system that has been reviewed and approved by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).
To earn this designation, the system must meet federal criteria for security, interoperability, and clinical functionality. In practical terms, this certification confirms that the EHR can reliably store, manage, and share patient data; support clinical decision-making; and facilitate secure communication between healthcare entities.
For correctional healthcare providers, an ONC-certified system isn’t just a regulatory checkbox; it’s an essential tool for delivering appropriate, coordinated care, maintaining federal compliance, and supporting the consistency of medical records for individuals transitioning in and out of incarceration.
Correctional healthcare comes with unique pressures: confined environments, high patient turnover, and frequent coordination with external partners such as hospitals or public health agencies.
In these settings, the integrity and accessibility of medical data are mission-critical. An ONC-Certified EHR assures administrators and clinicians that their system has been tested against national standards, not just for clinical effectiveness, but for data privacy, security, and system interoperability.
Without certification, facilities may rely on outdated or fragmented tools that increase clinical risk, delay care, and complicate interagency communication—all while exposing the organization to compliance failures.
Several features define an ONC-Certified EHR, many of which support the daily clinical and operational needs of correctional facilities:
In a correctional setting, an ONC-Certified EHR forms the digital infrastructure that connects intake to discharge. At the point of admission, clinical teams begin building the patient’s health record using structured templates that capture urgent medical needs and historical conditions.
That record follows the individual through every department, medical, dental, mental health, and administration, ensuring that care is informed and cohesive at every stage.
Thanks to its standardized design and interoperability, certified systems minimize redundant data entry, reduce errors, and enable fast, informed decision-making. Clinical staff can share labs, schedule follow-ups, or adjust treatment plans without delay.
During transitions to external care, such as hospitalization or reentry into the community, authorized data can be securely transferred, preventing treatment gaps and supporting better outcomes. Facilities relying on uncertified systems often find themselves grappling with disjointed records, manual workarounds, or proprietary limitations that fail to meet basic care standards.
Choosing an ONC-Certified EHR provides tangible operational and clinical advantages for correctional facilities:
At CorrecTek, we recognize the unique regulatory pressures and clinical realities of correctional healthcare. That’s why our EHR platform is not only ONC-certified, but purpose-built to serve the full spectrum of correctional services—medical, mental health, and administrative.
Our platform embeds certification-driven capabilities into a system that prioritizes both compliance and usability. From intake through discharge planning, we help providers deliver safer, more effective care while simplifying day-to-day operations.
When you partner with CorrecTek, you’re choosing a system shaped by the needs of real correctional healthcare teams, ready to support your mission and elevate your standard of care.