HHS names interim health-IT coordinator

Health and Human Services Department (HHS) named Robert Kolodner as interim national coordinator for health IT. Kolodner’s experience most recently includes serving as chief health informatics officer at the Veterans Affairs Department’s Veterans Health Administration. He has also been deeply involved in the creation of MyHealtheVet, a portal for use by veterans to gain online access health information and support services, as well as the VA’s well-regarded electronic health record system, VistA. “He joins us at a time when we are making steady progress in advancing the president’s health IT initiative, and his experience in patient care, health IT, and government will be invaluable to those efforts,” said Mike Leavitt, secretary, HHS, in a statement regarding the appointment. The previous national director, David Brailer, resigned earlier this year after two years of committed service towards bolstering health-IT adoption nationwide. Brailer was the first to serve in the position.