DeSalvo names health system exec to ONC post

Vindell Washington, M.D., will join the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology as principal deputy national coordinator on Jan. 25, National Coordinator for Health IT Karen DeSalvo, M.D., announced today. Vindell most recently served as president of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System Medical Group and as chief medical information officer for the health system, based in Baton Rouge, LA. Before that he served as CEO of Piedmont Healthcare Management Group in Charlotte, NC. At ONC, Washington will provide executive direction and leadership for all programs and policies, and advance key administration initiatives such as delivery system reform, Precision Medicine and the Interoperability Roadmap, DeSalvo said.