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My medical records are strewn across Ohio, tucked into various doctor's offices and catacombs, so when my GP asks about my back CAT scan, I have to remember who took it, when, and hope they are still in business.

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) is among many companies developing a solution for this dilemma. According to the blog Google Blogoscoped, Google's nascent Google Health product, codenamed "Weaver", will offer consumers the opportunity to create a central repository for their health records, including medications, history, test results and allergies. The blog has a number of screenshots of the program in development.

The upside for consumers is obvious; convenience, comprehensiveness, and better baseline information for their treating physicians. The downsides are also obvious; the government, apparently now permitted to access any information, anywhere at any time, without concern for the law, will have even more info about you. Should hackers find their way into this database, the potential for abuse is enormous. And, of course, Google could make even more billions by selling customizing marketing messages tied to your health challenges.

Google is only one contender in this arena, though. According to the New York Times, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) also has an initiative they plan to unveil in the next few months.

When Google and Microsoft face off, you know big bucks are on the table. The aging boomer's health care needs are just such a windfall. This field could be a real test of consumers' confidence in the goodwill and security of internet services. I suspect at least the boomer generation won't be too interested in sharing their health issues with the Big Brother club of Google and Microsoft.

Google (GOOG) Health wants to track your medical history online originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 17 Aug 2007 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googGoolge healthGoolgeHealthhealth history internethealth history onlinehealth record portablilityhealth recordshealth records accessHealthHistoryInternetHealthHistoryOnlineHealthRecordPortablilityHealthRecordsHealthRecordsAccessinthenewsmicrosoftmsftFri, 17 Aug 2007 12:35:00 EST