News: Kaiser Permanente announces link up with Microsoft HealthVault
Microsoft recently held an industry event in Seattle to unveil further developments in its HealthVault Platform. Key among them was a link-up with the US’ largest not for profit health maintenance organisation, Kaiser Permanente - which often held up as a model for the NHS in commissioning, integrating services and using IT.
Kaiser Permanente, the largest not for profit health maintenance organisation in the US, has announced that it is to pilot Microsoft’s HealthVault for its 156,000 employees. If the pilot is successful, it will be offered to Kaiser’s 8.7 million members.
The California-based HMO has been a leading adopter of information technology to improve patient care. It already has a My Health Manager personal health record that is used by 2.25 million members. "Individuals using HealthVault can now monitor blood pressure, blood glucose levels, peak flow, oxygen saturation of blood, weight, body fat percentage, body mass index, aerobic steps, calories and distance travelled."
Under the pilot, starting in November, employees will be given the opportunity to transfer tests, prescription and other health data from My Health Manager to HealthVault, which also allows people to record information from monitoring devices and to share data with chosen organisations.
“This is a big step for us, and our first partnership with a consumer health record supplier,” said Anna-Lisa Silvestre, Kaiser’s vice president for online services. “We think we can start to transform the management of chronic diseases,” said Peter Neupert, the vice president in charge of Microsoft’s health group.
Development continues
The link-up with Kaiser was one of a number of HealthVault related announcements made at a recent Microsoft industry event in Seattle.
It was told that HealthVault partners now include Allscripts, CapMed, CitiusTech, Eclipsys, HealthUnity, Kryptiq and Vital Data Technology LLC. All of them are all introducing new health technology solutions that transfer information between a patient's electronic medical record or clinical record and their Health Vault account.
Further announcements were made on new HealthVault compatible medical monitoring devices. Individuals using HealthVault can now monitor blood pressure, blood glucose levels, peak flow, oxygen saturation of blood, weight, body fat percentage, body mass index, aerobic steps, calories and distance travelled.
They can also share this information with other applications that can use that data to form recommendations for improving care and health, as well as with selected clinicians.
Finally, Microsoft launched new digital-signature functionality in HealthVault. This enables verification of whether data sent to a HealthVault account has been altered. The functionality should enable clinicians to have confidence in the integrity of patient data they have not provided themselves.
British policy makers watch
Both Microsoft and Google are now developing health platforms rapidly. Microsoft had previously announced initiatives with the Mayo Clinic and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, while Google is working with the Cleveland Clinic and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre.
Although HealthVault is not available in the UK, these developments are being watched with interest by British policy makers.
The NHS Confederation has singled out the development of platforms that give patients control of their own health records and that enable them to take control of their own health and care as one of the most significant “disruptive innovations” facing the NHS in the next decade.
Further Reading
- All shook up: The NHS Confederation looks for disruptive innovations