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See the original image at techcrunch.com

Google Health Launches: A Quick Hands-On Look

techcrunch.com — "It’s been a long time coming, but at first glance it looks like it will be a strong competitor to existing personal health sites such as Microsoft ’s HealthVault (which launched last October), Revolution Health, or Aetna’s SmartSource (via a partnership with Healthline).

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  • mvanhorn, on 05/20/2008, -2/+40Direct link https://www.google.com/health/p/
    • uhhNo, on 05/20/2008, -2/+7***** thing SUCKS!

      great, now Google knows EVERYTHING about me
    • xptoast, on 05/20/2008, -2/+1For a second I thought it was saying that Google started its' own health insurance company. I was going to be very happy and sad all at the same time. It would be scary but a delight. Not quite sure how I would feel. Have a great day ;)
  • Eisim, on 05/20/2008, -2/+53i can't make up my mind if this is a good or a bad thing....
    • pr0t0, on 05/20/2008, -1/+1I'm with you. A lot of good would/will come from this, but a lot of bad could come from it. A thought that has come to mind though is that companies who would use this information for financial gain (beyond Google), and the government that would use this for whatever scary x-files like plan you can imagine; can probably already get this information through nefarious means.

      You just know insurance companies already have most of this data and are just salivating to use it ways that boost their bottom line. The government could likely already aggregate personal health data about you from a combination of your insurance co. database and personal credit card and banking transactions.

      I'm just saying maybe (stress maybe) the djinni is already out of the bottle, so we might was well get some use out of it.

      Yeah, I spelled it djinni...I played D&D.
  • nvillalobos, on 05/20/2008, -3/+36Dubious. Log into your google acct and check it out for yourself. Uploading and sharing medical files online with 3rd party sites? Google selected doctors? Sharing all of my medical history on the interwebs..with the man?

    Yea, I'm cool off that.
    • Devilboy666, on 05/20/2008, -5/+2I know you're being sarcastic but I for one actually think this might be really good. If someone as organised as Google had loads and loads of accurate medical files, who knows what we might learn? This could seriously be the source of a lot of medical breakthroughs.
      • Metasquares, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1Data is very seldom the problem in medical research (save, perhaps, for rare conditions)
      • brianara3, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1I would have to agree here... Google has always been really involved with the scientific community. Who's to say they don't put massive amounts of aggregate data together for scientific study? They may even find links between certain types of medications and medical side-effects, or even growing trends of specific types of illnesses.
      • redbna, on 05/20/2008, -0/+2This could also very easily be the source of your next denial of coverage letter you receive from your HMO.
    • ksgant, on 05/20/2008, -2/+1Okay...so what? Honestly, I hear all the time about how people don't want their medical histories being known...but why? What would happen if your medical records went public? Who cares?

      Don't come back at me about insurance companies turning you down blah blah blah. They've had access to your medical records for years and years already. But who cares if someone sees my records? What are they going to do with the info that I had strep throat 10 years ago? Do you have something really embarrassing in there? Again, no one...and I mean NO one cares.

      Seriously, what does it matter?
  • sfrench, on 05/20/2008, -3/+33From a technological standpoint, something like this gives a huge dataset to Google to do things like look for correlated health conditions and drug interactions. But from a privacy standpoint, I can't imagine why an individual would want to give this data to them.
    • Rally603, on 05/20/2008, -2/+11I'm really trying, but I can't seem to come up with any negative consequences to telling them I had meningitis 5 years ago and that I sometimes take a sleeping pill.

      Give me a break.
      • sfrench, on 05/20/2008, -1/+13Ok, so let's say google has my results from my 23andme genetic test, my complete pharmacy history, every immunization and hospital stay, and doctor bill I've ever had. What happens if/when this data somehow gets released to my insurance provider (be it accident, on purpose, or via a change in health record laws)

        That's right, they analyze *everything*. And heaven forbid they find a single genetic defect or expensive procedure on your medical record.

        It's just a game I would rather not play.
        • thelif, on 05/20/2008, -2/+11)Hire a lawyer
          2)???
          3)Not really have to worry about insurance since you can afford your personal physicians
        • withincontext, on 05/20/2008, -1/+2@thelif

          He might be talking about his life insurance provider. Some won't cover you if you've ever taken an anti-depressant, for example. If I upload my prescription medication history from Longs to Google, there is a chance I might not be able to keep or renew my life insurance. That would leave my wife and young daughter in a pinch (mind you, this is assuming I have ever been prescribed an anti-depressant). Regardless, this risk alone risk means I'm not signing up for Google Health in the foreseeable future. I will, however, continue to research so that my opinion remains informed. I can see a plethora of benefits for people in dissimilar situations from my own.
        • ksgant, on 05/20/2008, -1/+2Your insurance provider already has that info...don't kid yourself into thinking that everything is hidden from them.
        • redbna, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3@ksgant

          Your insurance provider *May* have that info or have access to that info, however, insurance companies are notoriously poor communicators of information within their own networks. If they had access to google's aggregated info I'm sure they'd pay handsomely in order to *individualize* each plans' premiums or to issue denial of coverage letters for pre-existing conditions - all to improve bottom line.
  • Briii, on 05/20/2008, -3/+21And soon google will have complete Domination
  • killbert24, on 05/20/2008, -7/+7Best feature is the ability to see whether or not you're going to pull a Heath Ledger with all those meds you just got prescribed at the doctor's office.
  • tomazkovacic, on 05/20/2008, -20/+2Buried ... Kevin Rose does not use DIGG!
    No wait, that didn't come from me. It came from... Gisele Bundchen! Yeah, and she said she loves guys who use Ubuntu.
  • thelif, on 05/20/2008, -3/+23I wish they'd abuse my health information, do you know how much money I'd get in litigation if they did?
  • SitPoMk, on 05/20/2008, -5/+13Goodbye WebMD! hello Google... just another way you found a way to penetrate my daily life
    • Metasquares, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3WebMD doesn't require a sign-in. Google does. WebMD wins.
  • chubbybubba, on 05/20/2008, -4/+56Google is getting scary.
    • Envark, on 05/20/2008, -1/+4Scarily awesome, you mean?
    • AdamWillis, on 05/24/2008, -0/+1yeah... but they seem to be the only one who is willing to provide a free service that people will use. I think that it can come in handy though it is a little creepy how much info they have on me.
  • junkwheel, on 05/20/2008, -15/+2How did this land on the front page?
  • scubastza, on 05/20/2008, -12/+3Google Heath Ledger:

    HTTP Error 404: Not Found
  • thelif, on 05/20/2008, -0/+17Honestly though, if I was older and have a more complex health history and medication list, I would enjoy an integrated site that has all of my information. My grandparents have hypertension and diabetes type 2 and go to doctors often and they don't speak english, so it'd be great if I can look up what medication they should be taking or when I fill in medical history charts for them at the doctor's office.
    • NJank, on 05/20/2008, -0/+4honestly though, if I was older and have a more complex health history and medication list, the last things I would want to do is take the time to input all of that into Google...
  • jabberwolf, on 05/20/2008, -9/+3Only after Microsoft launches almost exactly same thing... a YEAR AGO !
  • yooftheness, on 05/20/2008, -1/+48can't wait for GoogleDefense: give your missile launch codes to google
    • monospaced, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3Or just play a game of Global Thermonuclear War.
  • ihazstatus, on 05/20/2008, -3/+16I'm assuming the above comments are all coming from relatively healthy people that have not had to deal with keeping all of their medical information in one place. There is nothing more frustrating than waiting months for an appointment only to find that your primary care doctor did not forward all of your necessary information. If implemented correctly, this is a revolutionary system that will not only benefit individual patients, but the system as a whole.

    Thank you, Google.
    • JointVenture, on 05/20/2008, -2/+2Key words being the last sentance "the system".

      • Envark, on 05/20/2008, -1/+1Oh no, an ambiguous evil entity!
        He was probably referring to a safer, cheaper, and more affordable and heath care system.
  • MavRevMatt, on 05/20/2008, -8/+8Am I the only one who doesn't see the point in putting your medical information online to a company like Google?
    • RyeBrye, on 05/20/2008, -1/+2No, you aren't. There is no point.

      Oh - and for anyone who says "oh, but doctors can use this information." - No, they can't. They wont trust anything that you put into a health record yourself, because you aren't a doctor. PHR's (Personal Health Records) are not very useful. EHR (Electronic Health Records) - on the other hand - are...
  • bstew22, on 05/20/2008, -5/+2My health coverage has a pretty good site. i'm not sure i would need something like this. although, i'm a pretty healthy person...
  • nastronomical, on 05/20/2008, -17/+10Wait so a gigantic website/company that uses your personbal data such as health, financial and so for $$$ is ok?

    Yet if the govt asks you to show ID to vote...it's an invasion of privacy?


    Americans...you are ***** idiots.
  • hartley, on 05/20/2008, -2/+2I used to be one of those paranoid users that used proxies so google wouldn't know who I was. Slowly I became part of google, *personal homepages got me*.
    Now with a service like this, I look back to the closet to dust off the ol' foil hat.
  • hydratedsquash, on 05/20/2008, -2/+5we all know what the #1 search term will be
    • ThreeDee912, on 05/20/2008, -2/+2I don't...
    • Envark, on 05/20/2008, -0/+4Boobs.
    • displacednomad, on 05/20/2008, -1/+1Considering the half-billion erectile dysfunction emails that have been sent out, I don't see how in the world there is one softy left anywhere! Who - tell me who - has not already solved their ED problem?
  • fprintf, on 05/20/2008, -4/+2I like Aetna.
  • Snehnesne, on 05/20/2008, -5/+2Seems like Google forgot to add "Hispanic" in the race selection.
  • HunkOfLove, on 05/20/2008, -1/+6"We will not share your health data with individuals or third parties unless you explicitly tell us to do so or except in certain limited circumstances described in our privacy policy."

    "We will not share your health data...except in certain limited circumstances"
    well, that's nice

    https://www.google.com/health/html/faq.html
  • spect3r, on 05/20/2008, -6/+1Canada pretty much has open source health care :)
    • Envark, on 05/20/2008, -2/+0Do you understand the concept behind "open source?"
      Based solely on your comment, I'd guess not.
  • encrypteduser, on 05/20/2008, -5/+1I want my mommy.
  • sk11, on 05/20/2008, -4/+5Google Health: medical faqs...

    Q, Is using the internet for too long unhealthy?
    A, Of course not, in fact our medical specialists have conducted research which proves a strong correlation between IQ and internet usage. Increasing the amount of time you spend online can actually boost your intelligence, seriously, we have graphs and papers [1] to prove it! So, make sure you get your recommended minimum of 5 hours per day of internet goodness.


    [1] A. Bloggs et al., Google Institute of Medicine, 'Correlation between intelligence quotient and internet usage', Google Jour. Med., B23 (87-95)
    • ThreeDee912, on 05/20/2008, -2/+2"Correlation does not imply causation!"
      • Zaeth, on 05/20/2008, -1/+2Why are you being dugg down? it is true.
  • ADVIZR, on 05/20/2008, -6/+4Trusting Google at this point will be like trusting the Bush platform back in 2000. Don't be so willing to trust.
    • Envark, on 05/20/2008, -3/+2Wow, that's a terrible analogy.
    • monospaced, on 05/20/2008, -2/+1Except that in Google we trust with so much already. If they were no more tomorrow, a lot of business woudl fall apart
    • inrain, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3I think it's a fair enough analogy. It doesn't have to be precise. The point is that Google should not be handed the keys to so much power (knowing everything about you). Future negative consequences happen just for that reason: believing someone won't become power hungry and all-controlling down the line... and then they do.
      • Envark, on 05/20/2008, -2/+0That would require a complete breakdown of the current FDA regulations.
        If that happens, then it won't matter if you voluntarily provided health records to Google.
        • inrain, on 05/20/2008, -0/+3I don't think you're seeing the grand picture. Heck, even ISPs have had to bow down to the government and submit to dual-channeling all info to an undercover operation, under the guise of "national security" and the Patriot Act. There was a piece on 60 Minutes about that last year, I believe. But Google's level of information access takes it way beyond that. The continued vacuum of Google being the gateway into everything is set to create the most sophisticated profiling system of every person imaginable.

          Best of all, it doesn't require any forced submission. Sheep submit willingly. You better believe, now that Bush has opened Pandora's Box on civil liberties, the gov't will find a way to work with Google in years to come, if not already. And we'll probably never hear about it, without some poor sap risking it all to blow the whistle.

          It's long known that MS, Yahoo, and all the others cooperate with the gov't. Hell, even systems like Facebook have impressive connections to the FBI/gov't. But, whatever, by all means, put everything you do and look for into one place, under one corporation, Google. It's your right.
  • ivansusanin, on 05/20/2008, -2/+8hypochondriacs rejoice
  • 2ndEdition, on 05/20/2008, -1/+3doctors will just ask you guys to print out your google health information. they have no idea what paperless means. they must write everything on paper and sign it, because it proves they are responsible for your health.
    • Envark, on 05/20/2008, -1/+0A lot of that is probably tied into 21 CFR Part 11 regulations from the FDA.
      Digital records and electronic signatures can be a real pain in the ass.
    • Jaymo89, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1If something's important, it better damn well be on paper. The only other option is having many redundancies for failsafe.
      If a HDD fails (inevitable) then data is lost.
      If the power is gone, you can't access your data.
      If the network is misconfigured, you can't access your data.

      And yeah, signatures are important too :P.
  • Malarie, on 05/20/2008, -4/+31- Your most private information will be given to google.
    2- They can attract billions from the doctors and medical companies.
    3 - They want to control the medical industry like they control websites through their add program.

    This service can be helpful, but in the long run i am not sure..
    • thelif, on 05/20/2008, -1/+2But for people looking for information, google is their best tool.
      Similarly, when people are looking for better personalized healthcare, and if google can provide it, they will go for it.
  • JointVenture, on 05/20/2008, -8/+3No thanks, GOOGLE has just crossed the line.
    • Envark, on 05/20/2008, -1/+1Google offering a voluntary service to customers is the definition of crossing THE LINE.
      Wait.
      What line?
  • monospaced, on 05/20/2008, -4/+3Big Brother is watching.
    • Envark, on 05/20/2008, -2/+0Because they wouldn't have been able to access your health records without Google?
  • ihazstatus, on 05/20/2008, -2/+8The thing isn't asking for your friggin' SSN. . . Why not create an alias so in the worst case scenario you are still not personally identifiable? I don't see the harm in that. When you need your records, they can be accessed and printed via your account and forwarded conveniently to the necessary parties with your consent.

    Or you could trust Google, which I do, to not disclose personally identifiable information. Hell, HIIPA already allows for the disclosure of non-identifiable information for research purposes.

    I just think the good way outweighs the bad with this and i'll argue in favor of Google all day long.
    • Envark, on 05/20/2008, -2/+1Yay! Another reasonable person on this thread.
  • theaverageidiot, on 05/20/2008, -2/+3Wow. I have officially decided that with all the services made by Google that I use, and all the ones that I am going to use (such as this one) - Google knows more about me than I do.
  • wiretapped, on 05/20/2008, -3/+4I for one welcome our new Google government.
    • uptown, on 05/20/2008, -0/+2What makes you think Google isn't already owned by the government?
  • HigherLogic, on 05/20/2008, -2/+1Cool, just like Digg, Google also tells me my browser (Opera) is not (fully) supported. Except, unlike Digg, it doesn't crash my browser.

    "This site is best viewed in Internet Explorer 6 at 800x600 resolution."
  • thespace2, on 05/20/2008, -2/+1I just don't see what the big deal is in having Google store this information. I would rather have all of my medical information in one place so that any doctor could pull this information in case of emergency. I think this shows a lot of maturity of our society in general. And I think that this can be governed without interference as a service between patient and doctor.
  • Coven, on 05/20/2008, -2/+1It is only a matter of time before Google amasses all the available information on the human race, becomes self aware, and wipes us all out. It will know exactly how to kill each one of us, and how to distract us with pr0n while doing so.
  • Malarie, on 05/20/2008, -2/+1Coming soon on a server near ya: gbank.
  • KomaSutra, on 05/20/2008, -6/+0Makes you wonder whats next for Google. I can see future headlines now "GOOGLE TAKES OVER THE EARTH!!!" LOL
    http://www.iurlz.com/demtools
  • dig1x, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1Microsoft has a vastly more mature and capable solution, Google's project here seems rather anemic.

    http://www.microsoft.com/hsg/
    http://www.microsoft.com/amalga/default.mspx
    http://www.healthvault.com/
  • aserer511, on 05/20/2008, -2/+1Yep. Google is slowly taking over the net with its services, and y'know what? cheers to them; they've earned it.
  • RyeBrye, on 05/20/2008, -2/+1Google wants to personalize your adsense to any neurosis that you have. It will improve click through.
  • Roke, on 05/20/2008, -1/+1From the Google Health terms of service:

    "You may only use Google Health if you reside in the United States."

    ugh
  • DustyinBFE, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1Sharing Authorization Agreement:

    I hereby authorize Google to share the health information contained in my Google Health profile(s) in its entirety, to only those entities and individuals I designate, for the purpose of providing me with medical care and for the purpose of sharing my information with others that I choose.

    I understand and agree that this authorization permits the disclosure of health or treatment information about me, to the entities and individuals I designate, that may also contain sensitive information relating to the following:


    * HIV or AIDS
    * Mental illness or any mental health condition
    * Alcohol or substance abuse
    * Sexually transmitted diseases
    * Pregnancy
    * Abortion or other family planning
    * Genetic tests or genetic diseases

    I understand and agree that this authorization also covers any record that was created by a doctor or other health care provider other than the doctor or health care provider who supplied the record to Google Health.

    This authorization will remain in effect and permit the ongoing disclosure by Google of information in the Google Health Service until I delete my profile(s) in the Google Health Service entirely or revoke the authorization. I may revoke this authorization at any time by using the features or options described in the Google Health FAQ. I understand that my revocation will not apply to actions Google has already taken in reliance on my prior authorization.

    I understand and agree that in addition to the information I choose to share, Google may only share information in the limited circumstances described in the Google Health Privacy Policy.

    I understand that I may request a copy of this authorization at any time.
  • cbeach, on 05/20/2008, -1/+1Scary? Don't be scared of them just because they're big. Look at what they are doing for us. For free.
  • whalt, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1I hear they are giving away free bandages with little text ads on them,
  • Starfire42, on 05/21/2008, -0/+2Hypochondriacs heaven?
  • AmandaQ, on 06/19/2008, -0/+1I love being able to diagnose myself!
  •  

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