Developing an Electronic Medical Record Ecosystem (Network).

I made reference in yesterday's note (see: Some New PHR Trends and Projections) about the interest of John Moore who blogs over at Chilmark Research in developing a medical record ecosystem that alternatively could be referred to as a network. I have previously discussed HealthVault, Microsoft's Personal Health Record (PHR). I have also previously blogged about McKesson's physician-oriented medical network, RelayHealth (see: Virtual On-Line Visits (VOVs) Support Physician/Patient Interactions). John now reports that Microsoft and McKesson have forged a strategic alliance in order to "connect the dots" of the emerging physician/patient medical record ecosystem/network (see: Connecting the Ecosystem: Interview with RelayHealth; RelayHealth partnership boosts patient, doc connection). Boldface emphasis is mine.

Couple of weeks back Microsoft’s HealthVault announced a strategic partnership with McKesson’ RelayHealth for which I wrote a short post. Following up on the announcement, I recently had the opportunity to speak with RelayHealth’s General Manager, Ken Tarkoff, who provided further background on this partnership...One of [the new] capabilities will be a “HealthVault Provider Directory” listing providers currently using RelayHealth that one can access through HealthVault. Another will be the ability to enable bi-directional data flow between RelayHealth and HealthVault. As there are literally thousands of physicians using RelayHealth today, this has the potential to significantly increase the clinical data that a consumer may control within their HealthVault account, data provided by their RelayHealth-enabled physician...I believe these these two [partners] will work on developing the capability to enable a consumer to initiate secure communications from within their HealthVault account to schedule appointments, request prescription refills and even have an e-Consult, or in RelayHealth parlance, a webVisit....RelayHealth has no intention of going direct to consumer, they target physicians and to a lesser extent health plans.  Microsoft knows consumer marketing....This is not exclusive and RelayHealth will be seeking partnerships with other Personal Health Systems, e.g., Google Health.

If anyone has an understanding of the power of networking, it should be Microsoft. The relationship between McKesson and Microsoft thus makes sense in terms of beginning to craft the "ecosystem" that John has been talking about. In fact, this rapidly evolving PHR story continues to be interesting with the active involvement of Microsoft and Google. If anyone is worried about the synergies that are now developing between physician office EMRs and PHRs, it will be hospitals, hospital EMR vendors, and HIMSS (see: HIMSS President Slams PHRs: I Wonder Why?). Here's a quote from this latter note:

What's really worries [HIMSS CEO] Leiber and the EMR vendors, from whom he takes his orders, is the likes of Microsoft's HeathVault and Google Health. Note that the latter company has recently created a partnership with the Cleveland Clinic (see: Google CEO Discusses New Partnership with Cleveland Clinic). What Leiber and the EMR companies fear is that Microsoft and Google will launch a fully-featured EMR/PHR combo that will deliver both value and functionality. Microsoft already has an EMR product in the market (see my previous note: Microsoft Renames and "Integrates" Its Healthcare Software Line). You can browse the home page for Amalga, Microsoft Hospital Information System, the Microsoft [EMR product].

Comments

[John medical records]

Medical malpractice is one of the most commonly accused forms of malpractice issued by a patient against medical personnel. A case of medical malpractice happens when a doctor or any other skilled and trained medical professional mismanages a case, causing the patient injury, loss or damage by his or her negligence or improper treatment.