SAFER Guides Self-Assessment

The Safety Assurance Factors for EHR Resilience Guides (SAFER Guides) were initially released in 2014 and updated in 2016. They were designed to help health systems conduct a proactive risk assessment of electronic health records (EHR) safety-related policies, processes, procedures, and configurations. The SAFER Guides are intended for healthcare organizations of all sizes. It consists of nine guides that are organized into 3 group

In 2022 CMS made the annual SAFER Guides Self-Assessment a requirement for the Promoting Interoperability category of MIPS (Merit-Based Incentive Payment System). The SAFER Guides help organizations prioritize EHR security concerns by identifying “high-risk” and “high-priority” recommended safety practices. The Self-Assessment is an 18-question checklist that also includes team worksheets. It broadly addresses the EHR safety concerns that are discussed in greater detail throughout the other 8 SAFER Guides.

To satisfy the MIPS requirement. The MIPS-eligible clinician must attest YES or NO to conducting an annual Self-Assessment of the High-Priority Practices Guide of the SAFER Guides. The Self-Assessment can be found at:

https://www.healthit.gov/topic/safety/safer-guides

The Self-Assessment checklist is divided into 3 separate domains:

Domain1 – Safe Health IT

Domain 2 – Using Health IT Safely

Domain 3 – Monitoring Safety

It is recommended that a multidisciplinary team should complete the Self-Assessment for the organization. The assessment requires the engagement of people inside and outside the organization. CMS will not score your assessment, however, for now, CMS wants to keep track of which organizations are utilizing the Self-Assessment. It is important to note that the EHR Resilience Guides (SAFER GUIDES) Self-Assessment does not replace your yearly Security Risk Assessment.

SAFER Guides Self-Assessment