Today, we announced two exciting changes within the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology – the creation of an Office of the Chief Medical Officer and an Office of Consumer eHealth.

The primary function of the Office of the Chief Medical Officer will be to infuse a clinical perspective across ONC on all activities which have clinical implications. Activities located in this office will include safety, usability, clinical decision support, meaningful use policy development, and quality including metrics and measurement development. The Chief Medical Officer will report directly to me, and will play a key role in helping ONC satisfy its mission of improving health and health care through health IT.

The Office of Consumer eHealth will continue the work on consumer engagement begun in our Office of Policy and Planning. Creation of this new office provides exciting opportunities for ONC to expand upon the work that is currently underway, including the pledge program and patient-focused challenges. Creation of the Office of Consumer eHealth demonstrates ONC’s strong commitment to enabling patient and family engagement in health care.

These changes are well-aligned with ONC’s strategic priorities, and will position ONC to move into the future with its “eye on the prize” of better, safer health care through health IT with increased efficacy, efficiency and flexibility.  We will undertake a national search for both a Chief Medical Officer and a Director of the Office of Consumer eHealth. Postings for both positions will appear on www.usajobs.gov shortly, and I encourage you to check back often for updates.