Online Databases and Handheld Devices Allow Patient to Manage Care

Anne Eisenberg reports in the New York Times on new devices and software applications intended to make electronic health records useful for patients. (“Keeping Your Own Health Chart, Online,” Oct. 12.) For example, a forthcoming handheld device, the “Zuri” from Zume Life, will prompt users to take pills on schedule, record diet and exercise information, and track symptoms.

One big trend is devices that can upload health data (blood pressure, heart rate monitors, blood glucose monitors, weight scales) directly to online health records maintained through services like Microsoft’s HealthVault or Google’s Google Health. Storing the information online is not merely a matter of convenience for recording purposes; it enables data to be transmitted to healthcare providers for better quality of care and potentially for fewer or shorter visits to the doctor. Patients who dislike filling out initial intake medical forms, for example, can use NoMoreClipboard, a service that transmits the information directly to doctors electronically.

While the article concludes with a note of caution about patients’ privacy concerns, the concern is reminiscent of the worry that e-commerce might never overcome consumer fears about sharing credit card numbers online. While it remains to be seen which service provider(s) will win and how quickly adoption will take place, the question regarding online health records is more “when” than “if.”