Kaiser Permanente, Microsoft launch personal electronic health records pilot program

Officials from Kaiser Permanente and Microsoft on Monday announced that the companies are developing a patient information exchange pilot program, Reuters/Washington Post reports (Kaufman, Reuters/Washington Post, 6/9).

Under the program, patients who use Kaiser's personal electronic health record system, My Health Manager, will be able to transfer medical data -- including prescriptions, allergies, immunization information and medical conditions -- from My Health Manager to Microsoft HealthVault accounts. Users will be able to dictate what information is transferred and will have access to their profile via the Internet (Lawton, Wall Street Journal, 6/9). Initially, the program will only be available to Kaiser's 156,000 employees (Reuters/Washington Post, 6/9).

The pilot stage will last until November. If successful, the program would then be offered to Kaiser's 8.7 million members in nine states and Washington, D.C. (Lohr, New York Times, 6/10). During the pilot stage, Kaiser will be testing the program's security to ensure it meets safety standards, according to Anna-Lisa Silvestre, Kaiser's vice president of online services (Wall Street Journal, 6/9).

Other electronic health information efforts are underway, including a collaboration between Revolution Health Group and Google, which launched Google Health in February (Reuters/Washington Post, 6/9).

Silvestre said Kaiser also considered partnering with Google on its project but chose Microsoft in part because of its privacy protection and personal security technology. In addition, Microsoft and Kaiser are using the same Web-based format, called a Continuity of Care Document, while Google has focused its initial efforts on a Continuity of Care Record Web format. Google and Microsoft each are committed to supporting both formats, the Times reports.

Silvestre added, "Google will certainly be a player in this, and we look forward to working with them. We're all for consumer choice."

According to the New York Times, analysts said the Kaiser program is significant because of the company's size and "its reputation as an innovative user of information technology." Silvestre said Kaiser's internal health record system is doubling annually, adding that 2.25 million of its members currently use it (New York Times, 6/9).

Please note: The Kaiser Family Foundation is not associated with the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Kaiser Permanente or Kaiser Industries.