Filed under: Internet, Web services, Google, web 2.0
Google Health launches
Google has officially launched a public beta of its new health and medical information service. Google has been privately testing Google Health in partnership with the Cleveland Clinic since February. But now anybody can sign up for the free service.
So what exactly is Google Health? It's a one stop for managing your personal medical records, sharing that information with doctors who use the service, and searching for health related information. You can use the service to get your prescriptions filled, check up on test results, or create alerts that will remind you to take your pills or get vaccinated on a regular basis.
Google says it will not advertise on the site, and it will not share your private data with anyone without your authorization. But the service could collect and use anonymous aggregated data.
[via PC Magazine]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Anon said 6:44PM on 5-19-2008
Microsoft has also been working on something like this, called: "HealthVault" or "Health Vault" or something like that.
Google it...
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recon said 7:56PM on 5-19-2008
ok, this is officially scary. Is google an undercover gov't agency, data-mining the world? They are holding just toooo much information in one place. What types of encryption does google use to encrypt all this personal data? Somebody get back to me....kindly, thank you.
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Derka said 9:59PM on 5-19-2008
One more step in google's plan of world domination.
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Quikboy said 8:04AM on 5-20-2008
So Google's continuing to copy MS now? MS has had HealthVault for quite a while already. Also, considering Google's track record with maintaining users' data, I'm not sure if you could trust Google with your health info.
I will give props how Google Health is more easier to use from the start. It's quite simple to find and enter in data about your health and to easily keep track of. It's not technically advance as Healthvault, but far more easier and direct to use.
Healthvault would appear to be just a medical search engine at first, but if you try to sign-in, you make a new account, and then you go to this page where you can enter in info. Unfortunately, managing your profile comes very last in the options, and Healthvault is really designed to work for healthcare professionals, not the individuals.
Hopefully this will encourage Microsoft to make HealthVault more easier to use, and offer more better features.
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wako said 8:05AM on 5-20-2008
GOOD GOD!
Import my medical records onto google?! How terrible would it be when someone hacks in their systems and MILLIONS of people's medical history is out in the wild.
Its already bad enough we hear laptops getting stolen with thousands of people's medical records on there. Now putting them up on the web. I can already see the headlines on this one when it take a terrible turn...
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Peter said 2:54PM on 5-20-2008
I'm not saying this is a good idea, but to all of you who ask "what if it gets hacked?" I would bet you anything Google is doing a better job of securing their data than your doctor's office is doing securing theirs.
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Peter said 3:01PM on 5-20-2008
I'm not saying this is a good idea, but to all of you who ask "what if it gets hacked?" I guarantee you Google is doing a better job of securing their data than your doctor's office is doing securing theirs.
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Benjamin Wright said 4:59PM on 5-20-2008
Maybe patients can bolster privacy by inserting legal terms of access (like an end-user license agreement) into the content of their electronic medical records. The idea is not legal advice, just something to think about. --Ben http://hack-igations.blogspot.com/2008/02/contracts-for-patient-privacy.html
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