HHS Secretary Announces Resignation of Brailer as National Coordinator for Health IT

The following is a statement released today by Michael O. Leavitt, secretary of Health and Human Services, on the resignation of David Brailer, national coordinator for health IT:

"It is with regret that I have accepted Dr. Brailer's resignation as the national coordinator for health information technology. Over the past two years, David has made significant progress in advancing the president's health IT agenda and laying the building blocks for future progress.

"While I will miss him here at HHS, I am pleased that David has agreed to serve as vice chair of the American Health Information Community (The Community), which is charged with making recommendations to the secretary of HHS to facilitate the development and adoption of standards-based health IT.

"David has helped the Community identify promising breakthroughs for near-term progress while continuing to move us closer to longer-term health IT goals. David will also continue to serve as a consultant to HHS to help lead the president's health-care transparency initiative.

"Until a replacement for David's position is announced, the work of the Office of the National Coordinator will continue under the leadership of the four permanent directors of the office."