Google has launched some new features for Google Health that could potentially save lives in times of personal crisis. For one, they’ve included the option for sharing Google Health profiles.
This means if you keep your profile up to date with any medication and medical history, you can share it with your loved ones so they can answer questions for doctors or other medical professionals in times of emergency.
For example, “Just a few years ago, my father suffered a minor heart attack and was sent to the ER,” explains Product Management Director Sameer Samat on the Google Blog. “I arrived on the scene in a panic, and was asked what medications he was taking. To my surprise, I had no clue. If my father had a Google Health account, and had shared his profile with me, I would have been up-to-date on his current medications.”
When you share your profile, it sends the email addresses you specify a link to your profile. Only users with said email addresses will be able to view the profile. In other words, if they forward it to someone else, it won’t work. If you are concerned about the safety of your info, here are some things to keep in mind:
– The link to view your profile expires after 30 days
– Viewers can only see (not edit) your profile
– You can review a user activity report to see who has viewed your profile
Google has also added a printing option for your Google Health Profile. A hard copy might be of use for Doctors or relatives without computers, printers or Internet access. There is a convenient wallet format that prints the necessary information at the size of a little wallet-sized card.
Another new feature launched for Google Health is a graphing option, which can help users track trends in their health based on regular tests.
As usual Google is calling for feedback on the service. Samat says there is a lot more work to do. If you have suggestions for improvements or features, you might as well let Google know. If it’s a good enough idea, it could even play a role in saving lives in the future.
