There is a large push from the government and industry to bring the health care industry to the digital world. The government has set aside 59 billion from the stimulus package for improving the health care system. For example 19 Billion is to be set aside to convert from paper records to electronic medical records (EMR’s).
Wireless product maker want to get in on this by building equipment that could transmit patient data directly from the monitoring equipment to a computer to enter it all automatically. Big companies are working on solutions for this kind of wireless technology, companies like Intel, general Electric, Cisco, Microsoft, Google or Qualcomm. It will take a large investment to shift but they also hope for even greater savings which are health care system needs.
Google in combination with CVS Caremark has set it up that CVS Caremark customers can download their prescription records into Google Health.
Microsoft has set up a deal with New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Microsoft is helping them image and digitize their health records. They can be viewed by customers online or exported to Microsoft Health Vault. They are also using other Microsoft technology to manage these records.
Something that may be a positive result of Health Records going digital and allowing patients to access them is it allows the customer to take a more active role in there health care, hopefully encouraging healthier lifestyles.
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