Healthcare leaders hail selection of Mostashari to lead ONC

Members of the healthcare community are praising the selection of Dr. Farzad Mostashari as the next head of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology at HHS. Mostashari succeeds Dr. David Blumenthal as head of the ONC.

Mostashari previously was deputy national coordinator for programs and policy at the ONC. He joined the ONC in July 2009. Before joining the ONC, Mostashari worked for the New York City Health and Mental Hygiene Department as assistant commissioner for the primary-care information project, according to the ONC's website. He also established the department's bureau of epidemiology services.

"Farzad's experience in promoting adoption and use of EHRs among providers, particularly in underserved areas, addresses a critical need," said Dr. Harry Greenspun, Dell's chief medical officer, who applauded Mostashari's appointment. "It's a good pick, but I'd go forward and say it's the right pick and the best pick,” said Dr. Peter Basch, medical director for electronic health records and health IT policy at MedStar Health, Columbia, Md., and a volunteer adviser to ONC, serving on three work groups of the federally chartered Health IT Policy Committee. Basch said all three previous ONC leaders have been the right men for the job at that time and that this is the time for a leader who can implement programs. "What we don't need now is someone to reconceptualize health IT," he said. "We've got a good plan. What we need now is a closer."