DeSalvo Names ONC’s First Chief Health Information Officer

Michael James McCoy, MD, is set to become the first Chief Health Information Officer of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.  In an internal memo to ONC staff, National Coordinator Karen DeSalvo, MD, MPH, MSc, revealed that the federal agency would have a new addition to its staff, with the board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist and health IT expert being the first to occupy the new post.

The appointment is effective January 26. The Chief Health Information Officer is responsible for the development of clinical policy and reports directly to the National Coordinator. In particular, the ONC chief has charged McCoy with serving as the department’s foremost expert in interoperability.

DeSalvo detailed McCoy’s experience in healthcare and health IT in her staff-wide email:

Mike is a board certified obstetrician/gynecologist who practiced clinically for more than 20 years, and has over a decade of experience in health information technology, with special interests in interoperability, user experience, and person-centered care.  His background includes leadership roles in nearly all facets of the health IT domain – from use in small physician offices to large national health delivery systems, IT development and standards development organizations...