This week in health IT: New ONC chief announced
It’s been a big week for health IT with the Department of Health & Human Services announcing the next leader of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC).
The industry appears to be enthusiastically receiving the news. “HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has made an excellent selection in appointing Karen DeSalvo, MD, MPH, MSc, as the new national coordinator for health IT,” according to a statement from the Health Information Management & Information Systems Society (HIMSS).
HIMSS notes DeSalvo’s long history of leadership in bringing the benefits of health IT to Louisiana. She served as president of the Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum, the Louisiana lead for the state’s health information exchange and regional extension center grants, and was a member of the steering committee for the Crescent City Beacon Community grant. She also advocated for expanded use of health IT by New Orleans’ primary care providers, and ensured that the city’s newest public hospital will utilize a fully-integrated health IT network.
DeSalvo “has a deep understanding of the value of informatics, as well as of the challenges and promise of interoperability,” said HIMSS Vice President Carla Smith in the release. That expertise “will be essential as she transitions to lead ONC's efforts to assist U.S. clinicians and healthcare organizations as they move into Stage 2 of Meaningful Use.”
In an email to ONC staff, Jacob Reider, MD, acting national coordinator, said 2014 “will be an incredible next chapter in ONC's history and one that we should all be looking forward to.” Reider will return to his previous role as chief medical officer of ONC when DeSalvo assumes her position on Jan. 13.
Mostashari himself tweeted his support for DeSalvo: “I couldn't be happier with the choice of @KBDeSalvo- a public health star, she understands healthcare from the front-lines, is a true leader.”
What do you think of DeSalvo as the new national coordinator? Please share your thoughts.
Beth Walsh
Clinical Innovation + Technology editor
Editor
Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.