Blogger: Kevin Kampman
In my blog entry about Google and Microsoft’s plans to publish the personal medical records of US citizens on the Internet, I questioned these firms ability to properly protect the privacy of these records. It was only a matter of time before the inadequacies of data protection came to light; it recently happened that Google fell prey to the exposure of employee records (by one of its subcontractors). While no customer information was exposed, this does underscore the need to institute due care for all sensitive identity information. Individuals, legislators, and the medical community should ask very serious questions about the efficacy of these programs before a more damaging breach involving a huge segment of the population comes to pass.
These are the types of articles that are worth reading! Bottom line; anything can be automated and technology seems to always be at the forefront when there are discussions of EMR, PHRs etc. IT IS NOT A TECHNOLOGY ISSUE! PRIVACY! PRIVACY! PRIVACY! Search deep into the motives of each player in the on-line PHR or medical record game. Insurers – MOTIVE: collusion between them—they share common data fields about you. Think that your new job didn’t access your medical records prior to you getting that job? THINK AGAIN! Google/Microsoft – MOTIVE: targeted or direct marketing about a particular disease/age group or whatever. If you put 185/110 as your blood pressure on either one of these portals –Rest assured you will start receiving high blood pressure articles in your mailbox along with a pharmaceutical ad or two about high blood pressure! Write to your senators about PRIVACY and get laws in place before you worry about automation...and btw, I would be very curious to know the # of people who work for Microsoft and Google that have put their medical records on-line. Bill Gates?--- I SERIOUSLY DOUBT IT!
Posted by: Melissa | July 08, 2008 at 05:42 AM