OneHourAhead

Via Tim Worstall, I find that Google launched Google Health earlier this week.

Currently only available in the U.S., it allows you to “build an online health profile”, adding information about conditions, medications, allergies and immunizations that you have/have had as well as having the possibility to import your medical records.

Once this is done, you can then find a doctor in your area, and allow them to view your details.

It also links with a number of online medical services allowing you to check you risk of heart attack, whether you have the correct immunizations to go on your next holiday or monitor your diabetes.

From the website:

Google believes that you own your medical records and should have easy access to them. The way we see it, it’s your information; why shouldn’t you control it?

• Keep your doctors up-to-date
• Stop filling out the same paperwork every time you see a new doctor
• Avoid getting the same lab tests done over and over again because your doctor cannot get copies of your latest results
• Don’t lose your medical records because of a move, change in jobs or health insurance

With Google Health, you manage your health information — not your health insurance plan or your employer. You can access your information anywhere, at any time.

The major issue that most will ask is one of security.  Google has this to say:

It’s safe and secure

We believe that your health information belongs to you, and you should decide how much you share and whom you share it with. We will never sell your data. We store your information securely and privately. Check out our privacy policy to learn more.

You are in control — you choose what you want to share and what you want to keep private.

There is also word that they won’t advertise directly on the site.

So it will be interesting to see if this takes off, which really depends on whether people will trust Google with their medical data.

So a private company in the U.S. comes up with a universal health information system that costs the consumer nothing and is a completely opt-in system, while in the U.K. we have…The Spine.

Addendum: It was obviously a big day for geeks on Monday, Firefox 3 RC1 was also released.