Microsoft rolled out it’s HealthVault site today, (http://www.healthvault.com). Per the site’s home page:
"When it's your job to protect your family's health, you need every advantage. Imagine if you had a way to collect, store, and share the health information critical to your family's well-being."
"HealthVault is the new and FREE way to do just that."
"Imagine controlling the flow of your health information. Whether you need to search the Web for the most up-to-date treatments, catalog existing health records, receive test results, or monitor current physical readings — HealthVault gives you the control you need."
The New York Times reports that organizations signed up for HealthVault projects with Microsoft include the American Heart Association, Johnson & Johnson LifeScan, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, the Mayo Clinic and MedStar Health, a network of seven hospitals in the Baltimore-Washington region.
Per the Times article:
"In recent months, Microsoft managers have met with many potential partners including hospitals, disease-prevention organizations and health care companies...."
"The value of what we’re doing will go up rapidly as we get more partners," said Peter Neupert, the vice president in charge of Microsoft’s health group."
Anticipating the obvious privacy questions, Microsoft attempts to answer those right up front. From their Home Page:
1. The Microsoft HealthVault record you create is controlled by you.
2. You decide what goes into your HealthVault record.
3. You decide who can see and use your information on a case-by-case basis.
4. We do not use your health information for commercial purposes unless we ask and you clearly tell us we may.
The Times article goes deeper into the privacy questions, but leaves the reader with few concerns:
"Privacy is a huge issue and one likely to slow the spread of personal health records. But Microsoft’s privacy principles have impressed Dr. Deborah Peel, chairwoman of the Patient Privacy Rights Foundation, a nonprofit group. In terms of patient control, and agreeing to outside audits, ‘Microsoft is setting an industry standard for privacy,’ said Dr. Peel."
Personally, I’m VERY nervous about accessibility of information for any health reasons. I can’t see how this will, at this time, benefit me personally. I can see if someone rolls into the ER in a coma, and they can pull up information in a flash that shows diabetes, they have saved valuable time in a diagnosis. Same for allergies, or other key medical information. But the potential for privacy issues is enormous. Medical personnel could enter personal comments into our records that may be accessed by others. Insurance companies might take this site into consideration when rating insurance applicants. Law enforcement may check this site before making traffic stops (HealthVault shows this guy has bipolar disorder – get the taser ready...)
..in other words BIPOLAR OR SCHIZOPHRENIC or other mental issues that could be passed in the genetic makeup...there are reports of FORCED abortions also....these are not PARANOID feelings for us, it is the internal voice telling us that YES 
you best keep your personal medical information as personal as you can. I personally don't even like my therapists putting anything on her laptop about our sessions but am unable to change that for that is the way their office works.
But so many people talk of how paranoria is ridiculous and not to fear this or that..i personally feel that fear or feeling is given to us for a reason..a GOOD one. To put all of ones information out on an INTERNATIONAL level
, regardless of Microsofts promises to me is just asking for issues.
....okay i've spouted enough but can only say i worry about us ALL.
stay discreet is my theme....
I personally think this is a great idea.
It seems that Microsoft is giving the consumer total control
over the content and who gets it.
Electronic medical records are a given in the next several years in hospital as well
as outpatient settings.
It is just simply more efficient.
Margaret G, Jax Bch, FL
Thanks, Margaret. I sometimes think I'm paranoid, so I appreciate other input. But you know what they say, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not watching...
Thanks for reading and taking the time to leave a comment.