Google Health, a writeup by Kishore

Google Inc, with its flagship products Google search and Google ads literally changed the way of searching and turnaround the company as a commercially viable entity from a not for profit organization. As the name suggests Google health (beta version was launched recently) offers health related services for the customers and can be accessed by everyone having a Google/Gmail account. Some of the features include

Multiple user profiles: The user can create multiple profiles under one user name which allows the flexibility of creating separate profiles for allergy/syndromes, etc. The user can grant the access to doctors depending on the medication and requirement. This ensures privacy of the patient, the doctor who provides treatment for joint pains (Ortho) will not be able to see the eye (ENT) medication undergone by the patient, granting access to prescriptions and not diagnostic reports for pharmacist.

Keep track of allergies, medications, conditions, procedures, test results and immunizations. The patient can update all detail such as critical allergies, medications undergone, procedures performed, diagnostic test results, etc. Generally the doctors are expected to know about this before prescribing medicine, but the patient is not patient enough in explaining, nor have the doctor has time to investigate from patient. Thus sharing these information will ensure, flow of information to doctor and also in situations where the patient is not well off to explain to doctor. Ex: Unconscious sugar patients, cannot explain details to doctor and testing the glucose level in the blood is not feasible during critical time.

Detailed reading material: Google health offers reading material on almost 1693 health related topics, covering all ailments. The broad subcategory of information include explanation on decease, symptoms, treatments, root cause, tests and diagnostics, prognosis, prevention, complication, when to contact a doctor, illustrations – with charts and pictures, links for further study, etc.

The page also enables the users to search for the doctor or hospital based on various parameters such as distance, city, and specialization or in combinations of the above

Import records: In developed countries there are several hospitals, doctors, insurance companies and pharmacies provide e-records which the patient can access online. Google health integrates all the medical records from various sources and can be accessed in one place. In case of any updates the system automatically updates the database. The patient can access and share all relevant records online in one place. Medco is an online pharmacy – by linking Google health to Medco the user can have track of medical purchases and the best part is it can be shared with the doctors and others.

Integration with other tools: Currently Google health offers integration with other 14 online tools such as Epillbox – creates schedules for visits to doctor based on the medical records uploaded. All the above said services are available to users at free of cost and can be accessed through the URL www.google.com/health. The facility is offered with 8 medical groups; though the services are primarily offered at US based, extending the same to Indian market is soon expected.