In a quite unexpected move Microsoft launched a new Web
service med at helping people better manage their health information. Called
HealthVault, the service is still in its beta phase and according to Microsoft
it was created and designed to help people to take control of their health
records.
HelathVault can be used by the patients to monitor their
medical status.
“People are concerned to find themselves at the center of
the healthcare ecosystem today because they must navigate a complex web of
disconnected interactions between providers, hospitals, insurance companies and
even government agencies,” said Peter Neupert, corporate vice president of the
Health Solutions Group at Microsoft.
“Our focus is simple: to empower people to lead healthy
lives. The launch of HealthVault makes it possible for people to collect their
private health information on their terms and for companies across the health
industry to deliver compatible tools and services built on the HealthVault
platform,” he added.
The Microsoft’s Health Vault has three main modules.
HealthVault Search is a vertical search engine which is designed to give to the
users the most relevant online health content give and connect results with
HealthVault-compatible products.
The HealthVault repository account is an encrypted online
e-health database where the users and their families can store their medical
records such as blood tests, vaccinations and medical history and share it with
doctors. The repository account can be used to upload the information from
health devices, such as glucose or blood
pressure monitors.
Of course, Microsoft underlined the strict privacy policy of
its new service. Created in cooperation with leading privacy advocates,
respected security experts and dozens of the world’s leading healthcare
organizations, HealthVault is designed and built to enhance privacy while
providing people with the control they expect and require.
“HealthVault was developed using Microsoft’s Security
Development Lifecycle, which means security concerns have been factored into
every stage of the development process and our work has been subjected to
internal and external security testing. HealthVault grants access to partner
programs only to the extent a user allows such access. A partner program cannot
access a user’s HealthVault record without the permission of a record
custodian.” Microsoft said in a statement.
Security and identity are verified using Windows Live ID,
the same sign-on protocol used for accessing the company's Web-based e-mail and
instant-messaging services.
The third part of Health Vault is the HealthVault Connection
Center, a place where
users can find "plug-and-play" drivers for health monitoring devices
such as diabetes meters and heart-rate monitors to connect to the HealthVault
accounts.
By unveiling its HealtVault service, Microsoft finally
managed to release a Web service ahead of Google. The search giant is working
on a similar initiative, called Google Health, but so far there are no official
details about the project, its status or the release date.
Google is working on its project with RAND,
HealthTech, and the American Medical Association.
