Frisse, who is working to develop a regional health information organization in Tennessee, suggested that the next coordinator work to foster stronger collaboration among federal agencies.

"People want a coherent view of the federal government and a sense that agencies are working together," he said. "States are going to be critical in the next stage of evolution, and collaboration on state initiatives is important."

Frisse also said the new leader must continue Brailer's work on building a national health information network and on creating EMR technology standards.

J. David Liss, vice president of government relations and strategic initiatives at New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System in New York, said the new coordinator should have experience in a large-scale health care environment and credibility with the informatics community.

Brailer's successor must also ensure that the effort doesn't focus on the use of metrics to grade physicians' work or involve calculating payments based on such a grade, Liss said. The coordinator should instead work to streamline the health record process, he noted.