The Department of Health and Human Services named the interim head of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to the position of official head.

Robert M. Kolodner, who has served as the interim national coordinator for health IT since last September, will continue to serve as principal adviser to Secretary Michael Leavitt on all health IT initiatives, according to an HHS announcement. He is replacing David Brailer, who stepped down from the post.

HHS hopes to reduce medical errors, improve quality and produce greater value in health care through increased use of information technology, the agency’s release said.