In selecting former Sen. Tom Daschle as his secretary of health and human services, President-elect Barack Obama has chosen an advocate of expanding health information technology as one part of a comprehensive health reform program.

Daschle's book, "Critical: What We Can Do About the Health Care Crisis," published in early 2008, notes that "we are years, if not decades, behind European nations in harnessing health care information technology's potential." It calls for removing much health care policy-making from the political arena but states that at the same time the executive branch of the federal government should promote creation of an IT infrastructure for health information.

Obama has not endorsed all the ideas that Daschle and his co-authors, Scott Greenberg and Jeanne Lambrew, embrace in their book. These include universal health care coverage and paying health care providers more for better patient outcomes.

But both Obama and Daschle are on record as favoring more health IT, and Obama supplied an endorsement of the book, saying that it "brings fresh thinking to this problem."

Although not considered a health care leader during his 26 years in Congress, Daschle served on the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees Medicare and Medicaid. He also was an adviser to first lady Hillary Clinton's ill-fated health care reform effort early in the Clinton presidency.

Since his election loss in 2004, Daschle has worked as a consultant on the health care team of a Washington law firm, Alston and Bird. He also has served on the board of the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, which is known for its use of health IT.

The Healthcare Information Management Systems Society was among those applauding the news of his pending nomination to the HHS post. "HIMSS believes Sen. Daschle understands the critical health care issues and how IT can be leveraged to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of care," the society said in a statement.

Praise also came from former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, a Republican and founder of a think tank, the Center for Health Transformation. Gingrich, a passionate advocate of health IT, said in a statement, "Given the current state of health care in America and the opportunity for real progress in Washington next year, President-elect Obama has chosen a proven leader. Senator Daschle has long been committed to reforming health care so that all Americans can get quality, effective care."

News reports said Daschle not only will head up HHS, but also will have a White House post as health policy chief. Health reform backers said the selection of someone regarded as a heavy-hitter in Washington and his willingness to take the job indicate that Obama will indeed make health care reform a priority for his administration.