Since his appointment as national coordinator for health information technology at the U.S. Department of Health four years ago, Dr. Farzad Mostashari has overseen great strides in the adoption of EHR technology. Earlier this week. Mostashari announced that he would be stepping down from his position in the fall, which spurred a great outpouring of praise for the outspoken advocate of EHR implementation.

But what has Mostashari accomplished in his time as director? Healthcare IT News has compiled a list of some of the most notable advancements EHR has made under his watch, including:

• Development of national standards for information sharing and interoperability
• Dramatic rise in EHR implementation
• Drops in hospital readmissions and operational expenses
• Launch of "largest medical technical assistance project." 

Perhaps one of Mostashari's greatest roles in the advancement of chiropractic EHR has been as an educator, demystifying what can seem like a complex and overwhelming system by directly addressing the concerns voiced by the American Academy of Family Physicians and other groups. 

How will Mostashari's departure affect the progress of EHR?

Though EHR adoption has gained substantial ground in recent years, some health care experts have noted that there are many more challenges to overcome—as recent hearings regard​ing the second stage of meaningful use have made abundantly clear.

"Whoever succeeds Farzad Mostashari will need exceptional strategic-vision and persuasive and political skills in order to get the job done," writes Healthcare Informatics Editor-in-Chief Mark Hagland.

Many are optimistic, though, that the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is in a good position to keep the growth of EHR on track.

"I am sad to see Farzad move on, but I am confident that a transition can occur without disrupting the progress made to date," federal Health IT Policy Committee member Mark Probst told Healthcare IT News.

What this means for chiropractic EHR

Any transition is bound to encounter a bit of instability at first, but by investing in the best chiropractic EHR provided by a company that remains abreast of such developments and is on hand to address your concerns, you can reap the benefits of this technology without the risks.