23 Apr Mayo Clinic Health Manager Takes Medical Records Online…for Free
igital Trends, By Geoff Duncan, April 21, 2009
The renowned Mayo Clinic has launched a free online medical records service based on Microsoft HealthVault that anyone can use…the question is, will anyone use it? Although the general public is generally warming up to the idea of conducting financial transactions and banking online—the still-growing popularity of ecommerce and online banking are testament to that fact—the idea of putting medical records online has raised more than a few eyebrows…and turned more than a few stomachs. The possible privacy implications of leaked medical records can be catastrophic: folks might find their private medical conditions and histories exposed to all the world, or find they are denied jobs, insurance, and other benefits due to discrimination. Nonetheless, industry giants like Google and Microsoft have been working on ways for individuals to securely store and control their medical records online, and selectively share information with health care providers.