Dive Brief:
- The Department of Health and Human Services last week named national coordinator for health IT Karen DeSalvo as acting assistant secretary of HHS, bringing her over to help battle Ebola in the United States. Few details were revealed about the move and it was not clear if DeSalvo was going to return to the ONC.
- The American Medical Association has suggested that a gap in leadership at the ONC might cause problems with meaningful use and forward progress on interoperability. In response, the ONC said in its blog on Tuesday that DeSalvo will serve dual roles in the organizations and will continue leading the ONC.
- DeSalvo will remain as chair of the Health IT Policy Committee working on the 10-year interoperability road map. She will also continue her work on delivery system reform. Lisa Lewis, the current COO of the ONC, will be taking over daily leadership duties at the organization during DeSalvo's move. The organization has not said if or when DeSalvo will return to full-time duties at the ONC.
Dive Insight:
Turnover is nothing new to the ONC. Director of eHealth Lygeia Ricciardi, Chief Privacy Officer Joy Pritts, director of the Office of Clinical Quality and Safety Judy Murphy and Deputy National Coordinator Jacob Reider have all recently left or announced retirement from the organization.
After the announcement about DeSalvo, Reider also sent an email to ONC staff saying, "In light of the events that led to Karen's announcement today, it's appropriate now to be clear about my plans, as well. With Jon White and Andy Gettinger on board, and a search for a new Deputy National Coordinator well underway, I am pleased that much of this has now fallen into place—with only a few loose ends yet to be completed. I'll remain at ONC until late November, working closely with Lisa as she assumes her role as Acting National Coordinator."