health

Google is researching how users of the search engine search the web when someone they know is sick. Google calls this a temporary experiment, but one that people might find interesting. This experiment will trigger a poll question on a small percentage of random health-related searches. In cases where these occur, users will see see boxes like these in their search results:

The Mayo Clinic has partnered with Microsoft to launch a free online tool that allows people to manage their medical information on the Web. The application called the "Mayo Clinic Health Manager" allows users to organize health information for multiple family members, access information from one location, and proactively manage their health.

CVS Caremark has expanded its partnership with Google Health by offering its pharmacy customers the ability to download their prescription and medication histories to their Google Health account. Customers filling prescriptions at CVS pharmacy stores can now add their medication history to their online medical record directly from CVS.com.

Before we get started I need to tell you that I will need to fight a strong bias here to write about the issue of health records online. I have some background in the use, power and neglect of medical records from my days in the insurance business.

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.

Never mind Santa - 365 days a year, it's now Google that may know when you're sleeping or awake.  The tech giant will be able to track things like heart rates and blood sugar levels, too, thanks to a partnership with IBM and help from the Continua Health Alliance.

Online health sites Waterfront Media and Revolution Health Network have reached an agreement to merge and will pose a potential threat to WebMD's top position in the health care category.

Online health information sites have grown 21 percent as a category in the past year, more than four times the growth rate of the entire U.S. Internet population according to a new study from comScore.WebMD Health continues to be in the top position of the category with 17.3 million visitors in July, up three percent over a year ago. Three other health networks increased the overall growth of the category, each pulling in more than ten million visitors.