Blumenthal to step down

David Blumenthal, MD, national coordinator for health information technology for the Department of Health and Human Services

David Blumenthal, MD, will step down as the National Coordinator for Health IT “later this spring” to return to his academic post at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., according to a memo from Kathleen Sebelius, which was obtained by this publication.

Blumenthal has served nearly two years with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), starting in his post just prior to the 2009 HIMSS conference.

“While this was his plan when he joined ONC, we will miss his formidable abilities, steady leadership and incredible dedication,” Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of Health and Human Services. "[W]ith the enactment of the Health IT Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009, followed by David’s adept and powerful leadership in implementing the principle of meaningful use of EHRs, America is finally on the road to harnessing the full power of EHRs to help improve the quality, safety and value of healthcare delivery."

“David will continue to guide ONC until his departure, when the rest of the remarkable team at ONC will forge ahead with this Office’s critical mission,” she continued.

Sebelius said the agency will conduct a national search to find the “right successor” for this position.