This is great news. While the privacy concerns are valid, the fact that Google is making an attempt to put volunteer’s patient records online is commendable. With the current diversity and proprietory nature of EMR/EHR systems, communication between providers is quite a challenge.
Google’s attempt might well force providers to make some attempts at coming to an agreement on common data terms and might actually achieve what HIPAA hasn’t been able to re: communication between disparate provider s/w systems.
“This is great news.”
I agree with this. I am so tired of filling out reams of forms every time I visit a doctor, On lots of questions with doctors I’ve seen for years, I just put “I don’t know, don’t you keep records?” I believe every doctor’s office could save at least $30,000 a year by dismissing one transcriptionist. Bush proposed electronic records to reduce health care costs. However, I want my health insurance company to do it, not Google.
Anyone thinking their records are safe now is delusional. Each day I get errant faxes containing social security numbers, names and the results of tests to determine whether they can keep taking medication for schizophrenia. It is absolutely ridiculous that the medical industry has not moved to electronic records. Faxing private medical information carries far greater risks than password protected computer records.