Dr. Farzad Mostashari announced on Tuesday that he will be stepping down from the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology post after four years this fall.
In a letter to HHS colleagues, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said,”during his tenure, ONC has been at the forefront of designing and implementing a number of initiatives to promote the adoption of health IT among health care providers. Farzad has seen through the successful design and implementation of ONC’s HITECH programs, which provide health IT training and guidance to communities and providers; linked the meaningful use of electronic health records to population health goals; and laid a strong foundation for increasing the interoperability of health records—all while ensuring the ultimate focus remains on patients and their families. This critical work has not only brought about important improvements in the business of health care, but also has helped providers better coordinate care, which can improve patients’ health while saving money at the same time.”
A former New York City public health official, Mostashari joined the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) in July 2009, with the official title of Deputy National Coordinator for Programs and Policy. He was the fourth chief of the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology, a position created by President George W. Bush.
“It is difficult for me to announce that I am leaving,” Mostashari wrote to colleagues in a letter obtained by The Hill. “I don’t know what I will be doing after I leave public service, but be assured that I will be by your side as we continue to battle for healthcare transformation, cheering you on.”
