Leaders of CHIME noted that the organization appreciates its past opportunities to work with Dr. Mostashari and its interactions with him since he joined the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology in July 2009.
“Over the past two years, Dr. Mostashari has made a particularly strong effort to reach out to CHIME and the CIO community,” said Pamela McNutt, senior vice president and chief information officer of Dallas-based Methodist Healthcare and chair of CHIME’s Policy Steering Committee.
“We appreciate Dr. Mostashari’s willingness to listen to and talk with us on a variety of issues. Early on, he recognized the value of CHIME’s StateNet and encouraged the ONC staff to work with us in advancing this effort to promote state-level collaboration.”
Others involved with CHIME’s policy initiatives were supportive of Dr. Mostashari’s selection to head ONC.
“I am very pleased about the choice,” said David Muntz, David S. Muntz, FCHIME, CHCIO, senior vice president and CIO at Dallas-based Baylor Health Care System. “Dr. Mostashari will lose no time as he continues the momentum developed by his predecessor. His demonstrated understanding of the very complex issues involved with Meaningful Use and his rapport in working with the health IT community will be important in the challenges ahead.”
“From all my interactions with Dr. Mostashari to date, I have found him to be very engaging, willing to listen to input and committed to ongoing dialogue with many constituent groups,” said Sue Schade, FCHIME, vice president and CIO of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston. “He seems very grounded in what the issues are for hospitals and physicians who need to meet MU criteria. I think CHIME can look forward to a continued positive relationship with ONC and Dr. Mostashari. That he is already well versed on the work in progress is a real plus for all of us.”
CHIME looks forward to working with Dr. Mostashari as the nation’s providers transition to using electronic health records and dealing with the challenges that lie ahead.
“Looking ahead to the challenges faced in implementing the EHR Medicare and Medicaid Incentive Program, including modular certification, timeline for successive Stages of Meaningful Use and robust health information exchange, we are confident that his leadership will be key in helping us realize the benefits of an e-enabled healthcare system,” said Charles Christian, FCHIME, CIO at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Ind. “We at CHIME are pleased to partner with him on this important journey.”
