Microsoft, Google and the Health Care Industry

I have tried just about every PHR on the Internet, and they all suffer from the same thing: most medical records in possession of the consumer are paper, and it’s a pain in the *** to scan and upload them. But just try getting a digital copy of your test results. Ask for one, and you will get a fax. Even though the lab and the doctor can both see it online. You as the patient cannot. So it doesn’t matter whether it’s MSFT or Revolution Health, the problem is the same. First the law has to change so that the record belongs to the patient, not the provider.

I had this discussion with Adam Bosworth, formerly of Google, at Health 2.0.

I think the industry is a little too high on the concept of PHR. I do doubt most patients want to manage the details of their own health records. Much the same way that most of us would rather have Fidelity manage our 401Ks than having to try controlling every fund and stock within the account ourselves. Under the right circumstances, I believe a PHR can complement a physicians own record keeping.
Mark Singh MD
http://www.clinicore.blogspot.com/

Has Microsoft forgotten about HIPAA? How can they EVER guarantee that no one will see your heath records except those whom you have given permission? A password system would help but would hardly be bulletproof - and HIPAA protections have to be. I like my health records right where they are - where casual browsers and nosy netizens cannot touch them!

Someone will eventually come along and invent a good EHR and a way to
store it. A lot of HRs are already stored on computer systems owned by
clinics and insurance companies.

The dirty little secret about Health Records is that over the years if you’ve
ever signed on the line for anyone, and I mean anyone to see those
records to assist your doctor(s) in diagnosing a problem, there is a good
chance that those records have already been shared with insurance
companies and other health organizations.

Ever been turned down for health insurance or life insurance? Could be
that what they haven’t told you is that your supposed Health Records
have been made accessable to some insurance companies at the same
time they were shared with another clinician and you just overlooked it
because you were in a hurry, thinking it was just a formality.

Caveat Emptor also applies in the health industry as well.

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