How do you verify the integrity of a received CCDA?

• A. Validate XML against CCDA schema, confirm required sections, check patient identifiers, and verify source data consistency.
• B. Check only the document title.
• C. Rely on vendor signatures.
• D. Assume it's valid if it opens.

Answer: (A)

Verifying a received CCDA hinges on confirming the document is structurally correct, complete, and attributable to the right source. Start by validating the XML against the CCDA schema (and any applicable profiles or Schematron rules) to ensure the document is well-formed and the expected templates are present. Then check that the required sections exist and are populated with the appropriate data, so critical information like demographics, medications, allergies, and other clinical areas are available for care decisions. Next, verify patient identifiers and demographics match the intended patient record, preventing mix-ups or duplicates. Finally, assess source data consistency by comparing key data points to the originating system, ensuring there are no mismatches or data drift that could undermine trust in the document.

Relying only on the document title, vendor signatures, or the fact that the file opens does not guarantee integrity. The title doesn’t validate structure or content; signatures speak to provenance but don’t verify data accuracy or completeness; and simply opening a file doesn’t confirm that the data is correct or consistent with the source.