Devoted to hardware, software, IT issues, and information technology management

Michael Liedtke of the Associated Press reports that Google will launch their long-awaited health service by storing the medical records for several thousand patients:

"The pilot project ... will involve 1,500 to 10,000 patients at the Cleveland Clinic who volunteered to an electronic transfer of their personal health records so they can be retrieved through Google's new service, which won't be open to the general public.

Each health profile, including information about prescriptions, allergies and medical histories, will be protected by a password that's also required to use other Google services such as e-mail and personalized search tools.

Google views its expansion into health records management as a logical extension because its search engine already processes millions of requests from people trying to find about more information about an injury, illness or recommended treatment."

The Cleveland Clinic already stores the health records of more than 120,000 patients on its own online service called MyChart, but patients will have the opportunity to transfer the information to Google so their records are readily accessible.

Some concerns are being voiced though about Google being the steward for such sensitive information when they already know too much about users and their habits.  Google had previously announced that this service would be open to the general public this year, but a lot will depend on the success of the pilot.

Interestingly enough, a similar service called HeathVault is already available from Microsoft and a startup known as Revolution Health, which is backed by AOL co-founder Steve Case.

The primary concern about these types of services is that they aren't governed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPPA regulations, which classify medical information as a privileged communication between a doctor and patient.

So, what do you think?  Would you use this type of service?  Would you entrust Google, or Microsoft, for that matter, with your medical records?  Do you think either company would sell this information to let's say a pharmaceutical company to support direct-marketing efforts?