David Blumenthal, M.D., is stepping down from his post as chief health information and innovation officers at Boston-based Partners HealthCare. The former National Coordinator for Health IT will head The Commonwealth Fund in New York City in January.
From 2009 to 2011, Blumenthal, who is also a professor at Harvard Medical, headed up the national charge to build and promote health information systems, including the meaningful use of electronic health record systems and health information exchange.
In an email to the Partners community Thursday, Chief Executive Dr. Gary Gottlieb said Blumenthal "provided remarkable leadership in directing the process of modernizing Partners' electronic health information system,'' including helping the large hospital and doctors network select Epic as the vendor for Partners eCare, its new information system, The Boston Globe reports.
"We are extremely fortunate to have Dr. Blumenthal take the helm of the Fund at a crucial time in the drive to achieve a high performance health system," said Commonwealth Fund board chairman James R. Tallon, Jr. in a statement. "If the U.S. is to realize the triple aims of better health, better care, and lower cost, it will need over the next 10 years unstinting efforts by health policy and practice leaders like Dr. Blumenthal."
Blumenthal will replace Karen Davis, the current president of the organization, which funds research on healthcare issues. She praised Blumenthal's appointment.
"With his national stature, broad experience, and skill in leading while building consensus, Dr. Blumenthal is perfectly suited to lead the foundation in moving the U.S. healthcare system to one that achieves access to safe, high-quality, efficient and effective care for all Americans," she said in the statement. "He is already providing strong leadership of the Fund's Commission on a High Performance Health System, and will be able to move swiftly into leading the Fund as a whole."
To learn more:
- read the announcement
- check out the Boston Globe article