Fighting for Health

Both Microsoft and Google have launched products designed to collect and store personal health records online: Microsoft's HealthVault and Google Health.

Both offer online environments where individuals can store personal records, retrieve information, select doctors, schedule medical appointments, manage prescriptions and supplements, communicate with providers and more.

Google recently secured a big partnership and pilot program in eastern Washington. Inland Northwest Health Services of Spokane and Google snagged a grant in 2008 from the Washington State Health Care Authority to set up internet-based health records for patients. The program, called 1HealthRecord, which also involves Heart Clinics Northwest and Physicians Clinic of Spokane, uses Google Health accounts to centralize personal health information. The state also funded two other trials in smaller areas-using Microsoft's HealthVault.

Microsoft, like Google, links arms with leading health providers. In one case, Microsoft partnered with the Mayo Clinic and built a free online tool, the Mayo Clinic Health Manager. The tool was developed on the Microsoft HealthVault platform, and Mayo pushes the program as a way to "help you keep your family's health on track with personal guidance from Mayo Clinic experts" and "make the most of your health data."

Other than benevolently putting health information in the hands of consumers, why are these two tech giants pouring resources into capturing consumers' health data? Simple. People search online for health care information in huge numbers. A branded online dashboard tied into ad-supported search results generates revenue.

The slugfest continues. Microsoft recently acquired Andover, Mass.-based Sentillion, whose software will supplement Microsoft's Amalga workflow application for doctors and health care workers.

Back to "Clash of the Titans"

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