The Trump administration appoints the National Health Coordinator

The agency managing the IT efforts of the federal government has a new leader, a spokesman for the assistant secretary of the policy / office of the national coordinator for health coordinator, he confirmed on Tuesday.

Thomas Keane, interventional software engineer and radiologist, began his role as a national coordinator on Monday, the spokesman said. He previously worked at the ASTP and was senior advisor to the assistant secretary of the HHS, according to his biography on the agency’s website.

Keane was also an administrator of the COVVI-19 supplier’s rescue fund, which offered funds to suppliers to help with the expenses related to the pandemic and the loss of income, according to his biography.

In addition, he led the development of the research agency for research on health care and the national action network of the quality nursing home, an initiative that provided training for nursing homes on prevention and safety of infections.

THE ASTPAn agency of several decades previously known only under the name of ONC, reorganized last summer to extend its surveillance to technology, data and artificial intelligence policy.

Keane’s appointment comes at a time of upheaval for the HHS while the Trump administration leads to thousands of jobs and plans to reduce the budget of the department.

More changes could happen. In a more detailed budget published at the end of last week, HHS asked $ 130 million to establish the technology director, which would include ASTP and coordinate cybersecurity and health of the ministry.