The Cleveland Clinic plans to enroll between 1,500 and 10,000 patients via an invitation-only program to test a secure exchange of medical record information, including prescriptions, conditions and allergies, between the clinic and a secure Google profile, according to the companies.
Google will use its GData protocol already offered in many Google products, and supporting standards-based medical information formats, such as the Continuity of Care Record (CCR) to store and access the information, according to a blog on Google's Web site.
"Working as an engineer here on the health team, I've been excited to participate in building tools that will help me and others manage our personal health information more effectively. Many innovators in the healthcare industry have worked hard to make results of doctor visits, prescriptions, tests and procedures available digitally," wrote Alan Newberger, an engineering manager with Google.
Patients participating in the Cleveland pilot give authorization via Google's AuthSub interface to have their electronic medical records safely and securely imported into a Google account, according to Newberger.
The Cleveland Clinic is "the first of many" healthcare providers that will send medical records through Google APIs at a users request, Newberger wrote.
"We've been hard at work collaborating with a number of insurance plans, medical groups, pharmacies and hospitals. While this pilot is open initially to just a few thousand patients, I see it as an important first step to show how Google can help users get access to their medical records and take charge of their health information," Newberger wrote.
By integrating on Google's platform, Cleveland Clinic hopes to create national access to electronic medical records at no cost to the user or the provider, according to the health care company.
"The partnership with Google is an example of true innovation in health care which brings value to patients and providers," said Delos Cosgrove, MD, president and CEO of Cleveland Clinic, and a member of the Google Health Advisory Counciil, in a release. "As the volume of medical information available to patients increases, it becomes more important for doctors and patients to use this information in a way that empowers the patient to be more collaborative with their care providers."
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