When validating a CCDA, which item should be confirmed besides the schema?

• A. The file size must exceed a threshold.
• B. Required sections must be present.
• C. The color scheme.
• D. The font must be Times New Roman.

Answer: (B)

Validating a CCDA involves more than just checking the XML against its schema. Beyond structural conformance, it’s essential to ensure the document actually contains the necessary clinical content. The CCDA standard defines a set of mandatory sections that must be present so the document provides a complete and usable record for care transitions. If these required sections are missing, the CCDA can be technically valid in form but semantically incomplete, which can cause interoperability issues or missing critical information for clinicians and systems.

Other aspects like file size, color scheme, or font are not part of CCDA validity; they don’t affect whether the document’s structure and content meet the standard.