Google Health has launched in beta, providing free, online storage in one location for all of your health records.
Google wants you to gather your medical records from doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies in one place. They say this will:
Keep your doctors up to date about your health
You will be more informed about important health issues
Google says they will store your information securely and privately. They will never sell your data. You are in control, you choose what you want to share and what you want to keep private--subject, of course, to a subpoena.
Our cheeky British friends at The Register have reviewed the new service and have some questions and raise some interesting issues; e.g., what happens to HIPAA protections?