<nobr>Mar 20, 2009</nobr>

National Health IT Coordinator Appointed by Obama

The Department of Health and Human Services on March 20 announced that David Blumenthal was selected as President Obama's choice for National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. As National Coordinator, Dr. Blumenthal will lead the implementation of a nationwide interoperable, privacy-protected health information technology infrastructure as called for in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Dr. Blumenthal most recently served as a physician and director of the Institute for Health Policy at The Massachusetts General Hospital/Partners HealthCare System in Boston, MA. He was also Samuel O. Thier Professor of Medicine and Professor of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School, where he also served as director of the Harvard University Interfaculty Program for Health Systems Improvement.

The recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes $19.5 billion to investment in health information technology, which is intended to ultimately save money, improve quality of care, and make the health care system more efficient.

Websites:

HHS Announcement

Back to Previous Page