Google Reveals Plans for Health Database
February 29th, 2008Oh sure. A convenient new service for the undead hordes, while the mind boggles at what it will actually be used for.
Must Read: Pookie’s Comment
Via: Financial Times:
Google on Thursday laid out plans for one of its most anticipated new services, a digital health records system meant to give users more control over their personal healthcare.
The plans would put Google’s database of health records at the heart of a broader health information system that draws in health insurers, doctors and others, potentially giving the internet company a central role as the health industry moves towards greater use of information technology.
The initiative also opens a new front in Google’s spreading confrontation with Microsoft. The software company launched its own personal health records system, known as HealthVault, late last year.
Eric Schmidt, chief executive, outlined the Google Health plans at a conference in Florida on Thursday. The system will be based on personal health records that patients authorise their health insurers, doctors and others to move into Google’s database.
Other companies will then be able to write software applications that make use of these data, for instance creating services that help patients manage their medications or warn parents when their children need inoculations.
“There are a lot of applications you can’t envisage today,” Mr Schmidt told the Financial Times, adding that the overall aim was to improve the health of users by improving the quality of care.
That “platform” strategy could one day make the Google database the foundation of a more automated health information service. “We hope to get partnerships with all the health companies, so that if you have a prescription we just suck it straight in,” Mr Schmidt said.
Seven years hence:
The drone working at THIA (Total Health Information Awareness) waits until the auto-dial does its thing. His monitor lights up with all the info he needs. “Mrs. Kitz, this is Officer Caldwell at THIA. How’s little Cameron doing? That’s great. Those little ones sure do grow up quickly. Well, Google Health records show that Cameron hasn’t received his booster MMR vaccination. In fact, he’s 4 months past the recommended date. What’s that? Thimerosal? [begins typing rapidly while he speaks] You aren’t one of those radical health freaks, now, are you? We’ve got a law to protect the children from irresponsible parents like that, you know. Well, I see that Cameron is home-schooled for now, but [typing rapidly] until he’s gotten his booster shots, he won’t be able to cross state lines when you present his transit papers, and your driver’s license is revoked until you show you’re being a more responsible parent by making sure Cameron gets his vaccinations. What? Mercury causing what? Look, lady, you’re out of line here, and you’re lucky I’m in a good mood or I’d request your local police to pay you a visit, you understand? What? Well, that’s better. I knew you’d do the right thing by little Cameron.”
pookie: You make me want to shoot myself. Now.
You have rolled up in a small scenario, the nanny-state-turned-gestapo.
God help us all.
I don’t Pookie is out of line at all here. Hmph. Mike, get a grip on yourself.
There was a Pizza Shop joke on line almost a year ago that basically did the same thing Pookie just did. NOT ALLOWED TO ORDER A PIZZA DUE TO AN ONLINE HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM.
Poor Dude, couldn’t get a pizza delivered because the pizza shop had access to his health records that said he had high cholestrol.No kidding, it wasn’t funny either.
Oh Sure, and we want Google to have access to our health records! Got gmail? “It” reads the content of your mail and posts adds alongside that mirror email content.
I don’t like Comcast OR GMAIL. I also refuse to do Verizon because of their willingness to go along with the Bush Gestapo. Sob. Maybe I ought to look for a home grown service – if there’s such a think in outback of western PA.
In any case, Google could REALLY stick it to anyone of us if they were in charge of the chicken coop!
pookie is dead-on right
problem: the elite have invented the perfect honey trap: the internet. inadvertantly, you have revealed all about yourself (or choicepoint has done it for you)
solution: disinformation. the warrantless searches and the echelons and the carnivores, and the … (you fill in the next tia-like nightwatch creepiness) can only handle so much info in real time. so … obfuscate.
go on … you know you want to
🙂
cybele