“Personal health records – compiled and maintained by patients, but available to providers with the patient’s permission – seem to be a market in search of a need. Microsoft launched its PHR service, HealthVault, in 2007, and Google followed suit in 2008 with Google Health. Microsoft has the Mayo Clinic and Kaiser Permanente, among others, as partners, while Google’s list includes Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Some, such as the Cleveland Clinic and Walgreen’s Pharmacies, work with both. Users can record information in their PHR, or get their providers to add information from their records – if the provider is so equipped and has an agreement with the PHR vendor. Neither Google nor Microsoft is charging for the service, at least so far.”
Article
Elizabeth Gardner, Health Data Management Magazine, 1 March 2010
