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Microsoft, Google Endorse Health Records Standard
David Utter
Staff Writer
2008-06-26
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The two big tech companies joined with a variety of insurers and consumer groups in backing standards governing the privacy and accessibility of health information online.
 | | Microsoft, Google Endorse Health Records Standard |  |
Though the technology side of connecting to a mishmash of records in the medical sector proved challenging, the real trick for anyone offering broader access to health information always fell into the area of privacy concerns. One leaked diagnosis could ruin someone's life with its exposure.
A collaborative group called the Markle Foundation organized the framework now called Connecting For Health. Their goal is to build out this common framework, and make medical information available over the Internet while ensuring companies using it protect their customers.
"In 2006, Connecting for Health released a framework of policy and technology resources for privacy and security in Internet-based networks connecting medical professionals from different institutions and clinics," the group said.
"The new framework deals with networks that include individual consumers as participants who can collect their information, store it in applications they control, and share it with whom they want."
Currently, very few people use their medical information this way. The Markle Foundation said only 2.7 percent of respondents to their survey have an electronic personal health record. Privacy concerns drive many to avoid them.
A Columbia University professor who created the survey said "73 percent to 80 percent of the public will want to be assured of robust privacy and security practices" before they join. Alan F. Westin, an authority on privacy research, believes that group won't create a public health record (PHR) with any group until assured of the security of their information.
Call us skeptical, but if this model consists of a username and password to access medical information, we're going to wait until they add at least a second factor of authentication to such systems before giving them a try.
View All Articles by David Utter
About the Author:
David Utter is a business and technology writer for SecurityProNews and WebProNews.
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