Microsoft, Mayo Clinic join to empower patients, protect privacy
By Diana Manos, Senior Editor | 01/25/08 |
Mayo Clinic Health Solutions and Microsoft‘s Health Solutions Group say they will collaborate on developing tools to facilitate closer patient-to-physician connections.
"We are committed to finding new technology solutions that put the patient and consumer in control," said Brooks Edwards, MD, chief medical officer of Mayo Clinic Health Solutions. "Our work with Microsoft is an exciting opportunity to create tools that empower patients to be in the very center of their own healthcare environment."
Peter Neupert, corporate vice president of the Redmond, Wash. -based Microsoft Health Solutions Group, said consumers demand and deserve tools that make their lives easier, facilitate communication and help them take action to manage their health.
"Building on the Microsoft HealthVault platform, our groups are committed to providing individuals with solutions that are dynamic, secure and focused on the needs of the user, in order to effectively improve health and well-being," Neupert said.
Microsoft‘s partnership with the Mayo Clinic will use Microsoft‘s newly announced HealthVault, technology supported by healthcare providers, patient activists and device manufacturers.
Deborah Peel, MD, founder of the Patient Privacy Rights Foundation, one of 50 organizations that comprise the Coalition for Patient Privacy, said the system is the first to pass muster with the coalition’s tough standards for patient privacy.
The two industry giants said they hope to announce further details on the project before the end of this year.
