Direct Project champion to leave ONC

Arien Malec, who coordinated the development of the Direct Project exchange protocols, is leaving the government’s Office of the National Coordinator to return to the private sector. Farzad Mostashari, MD, the national health IT coordinator, said Malec’s “groundbreaking work will help healthcare providers immeasurably with exchanging information to improve patient care.”

“His skillful touch in coordinating among numerous stakeholders, his combination of policy and technical savvy, and his positive, can-do attitude were marvels to behold, and a real service to the country,” Mostashari said in an announcement. Direct is a version of secure messaging that providers can use in simple push exchanges of information, such as referrals and lab results.