The slow but steady march towards a unified online healthcare management system continues. Google has announced that it has forged a new partnership with CVS, one of the nation’s largest pharmacy chains, allowing CVS customers to import their full prescription history into Google Health. CVS joins other major pharmacies including Longs Drugs and Walgreens in offering the same functionality, which combined now allow over 100 million Americans to import their medical histories into Google Health, which launched last May.
It may not sound terribly exciting at first, but the ability to quickly look up a patient’s past and current medications is actually very important in an age when it seems that nearly everyone is on at least one prescription medication. While national pharmacies can typically look up what medications you’ve filled from other branches of their store, they can’t search through the systems of other chains, so they’re forced to rely on the patient to self-report their medical history.
Unfortunately most people have pretty poor memories when it comes to remembering their current and past medications, especially when they’re taking generic drugs, which can lead to some very dangerous drug combinations (the Google blog post notes that as many as 1.5 million Americans a year are harmed by dangerous medication interactions). By aggregating prescription histories in a single place (which users can then share with their doctors and loved ones), Google Health can help cut down on these harmful drug interactions.
Of course, a central hub for your prescription history is only really useful if you can import all of your prescriptions, not just most of them. And Google Health is still missing out on a few major players, including national store chains like Wal-Mart and Target. Google won’t comment on who they’re currently in talks with, but I suspect they’re trying to get as many of these chains on board as possible.
Google Health doesn’t seem to get as much attention as many of Google’s other properties, but my guess is that it will be among the company’s most important assets a few years down the line. The American healthcare system makes accessing past records, prescriptions, test results, and other important data a huge hassle, not to mention the ridiculously confusing (and uncentralized) hubs offered by health insurers and pharmacies. There are privacy issues abound with a centralized system (the fact that Google insists on labeling its health product as a Beta is definitely unsettling, as are the company’s past security issues), but the potential benefits may well outweigh the risks.
I have an idea, why doesn’t Google try failing in every business besides search?
Can you say, “Big Brother?”
CVS partnered with Microsoft HealthVault long before Google. I think this post should be edited to account for that.
http://www.cvsc...30;..eir-health
I wonder why every picks up on what Google does and misses things that Microsoft does.
Ok. That url didn’t work. Try this one on Microsoft HealthVault and CVS.
http://www.cvsc...ge-their-health
Follow the below URL to see whether Microsoft HealthVault or Google Health attracts more people to their booth.
http://blogs.ms...himss-2009.aspx
And no I do not work for Microsoft. I’ve done some research between the two and just found Microsoft HealthVault as the better solution. Plus HealthVault doesn’t (at least seems) to not have security issues unlike what is plaguing Google Health. Also Google Health is not HIPAA compliant I would recommend refraining from using it because of those two issues. I’m going on the assumption that Microsoft HealthVault is HIPAA compliant as I haven’t seen anything that states otherwise although I have not looked that hard.
This is HUGE. The nation’s largest pharmacy provider signing on with Google really pushes the service out to more people.
Jason makes a great point that Google Health doesn’t get much play, most likely because it isn’t some sexy web service. But given the economic woes of today, reforming healthcare is a huge cost saver…this is really a step in the right direction.
I gotta blog about this tonight, this has HUGE implications.
Follow me now @ http://twitter.com/IanMikutel
Google “Health”?
This is SICK.
Google is becoming sick. They are the one giant pushing the mega trend: they want our complete lives digitalized in their databases. Privacy? They don’t give a flying f#ck – they just want to make maximum $$$ out of this.
Don’t you get it? Any online computer is hackable. Data regularly gets “lost” (even by governments). Data can get illegally sold by corrupt employees.
Centralizing THIS kind of data in 1 hand is just crazy.
There is just 1 solution that might be sound. The option (and I mean option, not obligation) to put one’s health data on a USB stick – stored encrypted and only decentralized.
If somebody loses their key, just 1 history might get stolen, published online, etc.. If Google or whatever company is hacked or corrupt, then it’s a party like 1984.
This is definitely a step in the right direction for Health IT, but google already controls to much of our information. Google will have a lot of convincing to do to get more people on board.
Okay, but why would I want this history out there?
People ignore the controversy around this. Clearly bank data and other personal data can be stored securely on-line, but many people WILL NOT be comfortable with their medical records at more PERCEIVED risk than is necessary.
This is the hurdle.
It doesn’t help their cause that Bill O’Reilly the host of the number 1 news show for 100 months is fully against online medical records….whether this makes any sense or not…
Yeah, this is one of those issues (along with DNA testing) that is terrifying from a privacy standpoint but also has so many potential benefits that it seems sort of inevitable.
Isn’t that what the election decided? “We choose HOPE over FEAR”.
No, the election had nothing to do with online medical records. Speaking in terms of “hope” and “fear” is old now. People like “specifics” and “plans”
Benefits for who? Google?
It doesn’t matter how much security that add to this, Google is the one I am worried about. This is like going a buying a super duper padlock for your chicken coop and then giving the key to the wolf.
Time and time again, they have shown that they have no respect for privacy or the rights of others in general. If the idea succeeds it will be because someone else did it. Google is a nonstarter
… this is a “solution” [not] in search of a problem, and a colossal waste of everybody’s time.
THE ONLY one to benefit here is Google. There is absolutely no reason to hand this data over to Google.
Is there usefulness there sure, just like it’s useful to tag everyone with a number tattoed on their arm. Makes it easier to find out who they are, and what drugs they have taken etc.. And you don’t have to rely on the pesky person to decide anything. Its oh so very easy to fall down this slippery slope. Why in early would anyone hand over personal information about themselves that is this sensitive. Do you want folks to know you have a Viagra prescription or are on anti-depressants?
Already people are losing their jobs based on their Facebook profiles, how would this play? Oh and before you go to the spot of, “Well the individual would have control over who saw…” blah blah blah… It WILL get out, the Government WILL gain access. Someone will spill it out to the public. What you don’t control on your own machine is open game.
Besides why the hell would I trust Google? They think everyone is just stupid and goes along with everything they want to do. Give me a freaking break. Is everyone out there a gerbil or something? Wake up HELLO!!!! WAKE UP. Put your foot down and say no. That’s all it takes.
Would be interesting for this august journal to run a poll to see just how many people would really like their neighbor knowing about their drug usage… No I am not talking about that kind, but if you don’t want folks to know about that kind, then why would you want them to know about the “legal” kind?
What is shocking is that the press just buys into this as some great and awesome deal for the public… You guys for real? Where is the critical thinking? Or are you afraid that Google will lower your search placement….
Wake up and Smell the Coffee…
the day there is no identity theft is the day this will work… and those it works with prior to this day are thereby defined as TARGETS.
The future will sort itself out
I agree that the goals of this program are laudable but why in the world is Google qualified to handle this? It’s a really really odd fit to say the least.
“Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.”
I suspect medical and pharmaceutical history would be classified as “information.”
He asked why does Google think they are qualified. You’re comment made no sense as a response. The equivalent of what you said is similar to me saying I should handle the country’s most private personal information because my motto for years has been, “Selflessly helping other people”.
google is getting more and more scarier each day
This is definitely a very well-needed step in the right direction. It is not nearly efficient if everyone isn’t using this service but the old ways of the healthcare system where people only use 1 doctor and 1 pharmacy are highly outdated. That information needs to be readily available to doctors in order for them to make accurate and appropriate decisions. Good job Google! Hopefully this isn’t a service that will just fall to the wayside because of the lack of publicity and public appeal of it.
Peter Epstein
http://www.thew...bwar.com/google
@Peter
“… That information needs to be readily available to doctors in order for them to make accurate and appropriate decisions …” How noble, and unnecessary…
Peter, inform yourself… make the effort and *talk* to a doctor. The “information” you refer to has been available to doctors for many, many years. In over ten years of practice, my partners and myself have *never* had a problem in this sense, because it is either the patient herself/himself or close family members, who bring the medications’ bottles or a list of medications being taken, to the consultation.
Google’s purpose is sinister at best… [read money] gather private personal information from millions of Americans in order to…? We know the answer: sell it, rent it or give it to “Big Brother” to further extend the government’s intrusion, and control, of our lives. Pause for a few minutes and *think* about this.
Paul Green MD
Dr. Green, you make good points (that I also agree with). Ultimately however, Google, et al exploit people’s privacy for financial gain because people go “uh, okay”. People can store their medical records (and any other information) at HaveProof.com where it is encrypted and kept truly private, but do you think the marketplace will choose this alternative?
Can you index my DNA while you’re at it?
I need more reasons for insurance companies to find ways not to cover me!
Also please make this just as secure as Google Docs!!
test
Because Google would never lose this information…or mix it up with someone else…or ban your Google account…nothing to worry about- Big G has *your* best interest in mind!
This is HUGE indeed and as far as I am concerned, it’s the right step in the right direction. Good of Google to do more than search for once,
I am sure lots of people will benefit from this and yes – I am confident it will save lives; after all health is very important to everyone on earth – and it’s good of Google to get involved in doing “good” as they are supposed to.
“Prostate Cancer…” Beware of this spammer! The link goes to an anonymous bogus site…. with anonymous, suspect “health” info.
Great. Now the Google giant can destroy innovation in healthcare tech as well. They are the new microsoft. Can some startup destroy these guys please.
Hopefully all their failed businesses will end up costing so much and cause the company to implode.
there is zero innovation in healthcare tech. give me a friggin’ break.
Theres no innovation in healthcare tech so how is smallpox doing for you oh right theres a vaccine
jjguy Its amusing that you write about the downfall of Google and reference one of their free email accounts as your email address.
Why? Gmail is the best free email to spam with. I dislike Google very strongly but I use their emails when I need to spam.
bc pharmacists have had access to full patient prescription history for ages through something called pharmanet, connecting all pharmacies together. i was baffled that there was no such thing even state-wide (forget about nationally-wide) here.
Interesting.. I used to write Retail Pharmacy applications for Cerner.
I don’t see anything informative in google health other storing things and searching (which is it’s primary area) more around health indexed data. I prefer to look things in webmd , health.yahoo.com kind of things for information which would help me in making prediagnosis before goin to doctor if i need 2 make a visit one.
This resource will be invaluable to insurance companies looking for any opportunity to invalidate coverage. See terms “rescinding,” “cancellation of policy post event.” Why heavily concentrating our most personal data is being praised is a sign of our obliviousness.
google world-dom is going on. that’s it.
This is a horrible tradeoff for an individual. How can the convenience for the businesses in servicing you (as they should since you PAY them already) be more important than the risk of having your health history available to a third-party hoster like Google?
Are they going to lower your costs for this access? You should also understand that you have zero recourse for action against google should the information be misused, lost, or stolen. Might wanted look at the TOS on this one. Very scary.
oh and @crosner – that email address argument was lame. Because he has an email address, he can’t comment on google?
@jasonkincaid – what are the myriad of “potential benefits” here.
@techlegaleagle I’m not sure how lame it was when you think about it jjguy is hoping for the sinking of the ship he’s riding on. Sounds like he’s hopping google will fail all together.
Google is trying to help out in a sector that sorely needs help. The health care system is a mess. I’d be quite happy if a start-up would come into the market and solve just a few of the many issues holding back health care in this country.
If you think about it this might be the incentive for just that to happen. Say this service takes off and google doesn’t do it right. Then when some other innovator comes along they will be able to say look at the giant user base the google system has. Lets do this right and all those users could be ours.
Guess I should have said this all in my first post instead of just pointing out an ironic statement
Even though it may be easier to rile against Google Health for their EHR. The point is that it is probably as safe as any EHR in a private practice. As long as they can guarantee that a patient’s prescription history will be safely guarded, they maybe on the right track. It is not easy to create a single database to house all the various pharmacy information and I commend them for that. I have tried developing such an application, and I know that only Google with its resources can pull it off.
Its sad to see how much effort and money companies and individuals are putting in supporting medical system which failed long time ago.
We need to invest in prevention, education and natural healing methods and not keep supporting pharmaceutical industries for making more money by selling drugs which in most of the time makes more damage than it helps.
I would expect from Google to be more advance and groundbreaking. This will fail.
Not sure if people realize this but…
Google Health is not HIPAA compliant: http://www.goog...amp;topic=14631.
Also, they do not encrypt the data so some Google employees do have access to your information: http://www.goog...amp;topic=14631 (last paragraph).
Who does one call at CVS to make sure our private information is not placed on Google Health?
Who shall watch over the “WATCHMEN” ?
….. gmail is 5 yrs in beta. google health is in beta too, I will wait for another 5yrs….
Unacceptable.
Google signing CVS for Rx data is far from providing any wholistic medical picture. And any system that relies on the patient to import critical data is destined to fail.
In order for healthcare providers to be able improve care, or reduce cost of providing it, in any meaninful way, a “unified” system will have to provide a comprehensive record which includes data from ALL pharmacies, your primary care doc, specialists, hospital visits, ancillary providers, all insurance companies and dozens of other sources.
“Excuse me Mr. Smith, before we start your triple bypass, have you imported all of your clinical and financial records from your 26 healthcare entities in the appropriate ANSI ASC X12 and HL7 standard formats?”
The problem is that all of that data is stuck in paper charts and archaic proprietary systems across the country.
Yes, I’m skeptical, because I spent 15 years working on “unified online healthcare management systems”.
Sergey & Larry – I’m available for consulting.
Instead of partnering with Google, CVS should try to provide better health services to their customers. How about partnering with 23andMe, facilitating the test, and becoming a health advocate. But why would they do that, right? They’re in the business of selling drugs. I wrote about this idea here: http://www.rodn...gnon.com/?p=151
CVS partnered with HealthVault long before Google. I think this post should be edited to account for that.
http://www.cvsc...ge-their-health
People don’t realize how much information google has on them: Your daily web search history (when, what, from where), your friend list (erkut, youtube, gmail etc), content of your emails, your phone calls and their content (Google Voice with voice to text, searchable), your buying habits (Google Checkout), your SSN, your credit card info, banking information if you participate in Adsense and adwords, your daily activities (Google Calendar), where you have been at any particular time (thanks to the gps technology in their mobile devices).
And now they know your illnesses, weaknesses, prescriptions.
Now you are searchable, tracable, and transparent.
I would love to learn from Google why they cannot provide opaque storage encrypted with a key they do not hold.
This would make all the privacy issues disappear. It would introduce key management issues, but they are solvable (and will increasingly be simplified).
What is the loss of management, indexability, earnings that stops Google from doing the “right” thing here?
why am i not surprised that google is involved in online healthcare. its only a matter of time that the entire healthcare industry goes completely digital. it does get a bit scary with all your medical information online, then again all your financial information is online too, its just making sure that you are smart about what’s online and how to protect your information, take a look that this article on JustAskGemalto.com, it has a lot of good information and tips about securing your medical information online
I have got to say the most useful tool on Google Health has to be the option to click on a disease or illness and immediately know everything about it.
That`s an interesting move from big G.
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