Google and Cleveland Clinic are teaming up to create a personal health record (PHR) quicker than anyone else could hope.
PHR's from our perspective are very important. The fact they are patient-centric is huge. The fact that they are portable and can be viewed outside of the walls of just one clinic is extremely valuable, and ultimately saves lives by reducing the likelihood for medical error.
(If you live in Cleveland and, by chance, are somehow rendered unconscious and taken to an ER in Lincoln, Nebraska, the fact that the physician can access your information completely dramatically increases the likelihood that you'll survive.)
We've had the technology to do this for a long time, but so many people haven't had the balls to move forward. These companies have been fearful of the potential problems associated with HIPAA, and have either chosen to rack up legal fees in the process of creating a watered-down version of their initial idea, or have abandoned the idea completely.
Google has balls. And although I didn't realize it, Cleveland Clinic seems to have balls too.
I like it.
HIPAA hasn't been tested in this fashion. When a law is created, it's also important to test the legislation based on real-world scenarios.
Do something remarkable, and worry about the impact later. This is an idea that kicks ass, that is revolutionary, and that is in the best interest of all of us.
Privacy is important, but not to the degree that people get hurt.
More commentary on The Health Care Blog...
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