Microsoft HealthVault, RevolutionHealth, and Google Health make me feel L-yucky!
During the month of October, I staffed our Health InfoNet (Lister Hill Library’s consumer health information service with MedlinePlus GoLocal) booth at a couple of community events. Having staffed MedlinePlus exhibits for years, it never surprises me when I find out that 80-90% of the general public have NEVER heard of MedlinePlus. Most people we talk to at our booth say they use WebMD, some use Google or Yahoo, and others do not know what they use. I know this is anecdotal, but it makes think… “WOW! People are using whatever unfiltered information they find on the Internet and making decisions about their health care with that information.
On October 5, Molly Knapp’s post “Bill Gates wants your health records”, mentions consumer health record management initiatives from Microsoft, Google, and RevolutionHealth. At first, I thought GREAT! We need a service like this! Then after I took a look at the sites, I realized that in addition to managing your health record they provide features such as access to “quality” health information and a method to find local health care services/providers. Does that sound familiar? Hello? MedlinePlus?
In addition to providing the services mentioned above, Microsoft HealthVault actually links you directly to MedlinePlus topics and provides a “scrapbook” feature akin to My NCBI (formerly known as the “cubby” in PubMed). RevolutionHealth did not link directly to MedlinePlus topics but it did link to several resources linked within MedlinePlus such as Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinics. RevolutionHealth also provided some Web 2.0 functionality, which allows users to post questions and create their own health pages. Goggle Health is still being developed but knowing Google and it’s propensity for mashups I think we will see many of the same features plus some new ones we have not thought of as of yet.
I do not necessarily know whether or not any of these services are a bad thing as long as consumers are able to find accurate health information. One thing that I do know is that these companies have the money and resources to pour into development and promotion of these services; plus some of these companies are already widely used (think about meeting users where they are).
So let me throw out some questions for discussion…
- What do you think of these services competing with MedlinePlus?
- What is the potential impact of these new services offering one stop shopping for managing your health record, accessing health information, and locating health services?
- How can/will Medlineplus compete with these services as their popularity/notoriety increases?
- How can MedlinePlus promote its services better?
- Should MedlinePlus be adding Web 2.0 services to their site?