Robert Kolodner, M.D. — interim national coordinator for health IT in the Department of Health and Human Services since Sept. 20, 2006 — has been named to that position on a permanent basis. As national coordinator for health IT, Kolodner will serve as principal advisor to HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt on all health IT initiatives. He will also continue to develop, maintain, and direct the implementation of the strategic plan to guide nationwide adoption of interoperable health IT. Kolodner joined HHS from the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA), where he was chief health informatics officer. In that role, he was chief advisor to the VA's under secretary for health on information technology issues and oversaw the development of the VA's electronic health record, VistA.
