The National Partnership for Women & Families, which leads the Consumer Partnership for eHealth, today praised Farzad Mostashari, MD, ScM, for his extraordinary contribution to making the nation’s health care system more efficient and patient- and family-centered. Mostashari announced this morning that he will be stepping down as National Coordinator for Health Information Technology at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services this fall. The Consumer Partnership for eHealth is a non-partisan group of consumer, labor and patient organizations dedicated to advancing health IT.
“Farzad Mostashari has been a visionary, innovative leader who has done a tremendous amount to put our nation on a path to health care that is coordinated, efficient and patient- and family-centered,” said Debra L. Ness, president of the National Partnership. “He understands how health IT supports the triple aim, and has skillfully navigated the complexities surrounding broad implementation of a balanced electronic health records (EHR) program. His history of collaborating with all stakeholders is impressive, and his actions have helped ensure that consumers get the return they deserve for their investment in health IT, as well as access to the secure tools they need to be actively engaged in their health.”
“Mostashari has a demonstrated track record of putting patients and their families first, and treating them as the equal partners they must be in health care transformation,” added Christine Bechtel, former vice president and current advisor to the National Partnership, and a member of the federal Health IT Policy Committee. “His commitment to continuing the pace and rigor of the EHR incentive program has been unwavering, and his leadership is now enabling significant cost savings and improvements in care.”
“The new National Coordinator will take over at a critical time,” Bechtel added. “He or she will take the helm just as the third EHR Incentive Program rules are being written and other essential programmatic decisions are being made. We trust the Administration will continue Mostashari’s proud legacy by choosing an equally thoughtful, skilled National Coordinator who is respected by the nation’s consumers, patients and families, and who will advance — without delay — the health IT adoption the nation badly needs and consumers deserve.”
In 2012, the National Partnership released a national public opinion survey of consumer views on health IT. Making IT Meaningful: How Consumers Value and Trust Health IT is available here. Earlier this year, the Consumer Partnership for eHealth compiled a list of the top 10 consumer benefits of health IT, available here.
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