MEDNET NEWS

February 25, 2008

Global Data System Announced for Healthcare Sector

USA TODAY - Feb 25, 2008 - Google's entry into the health records business beat a much more ambitious health data initiative to the punch, at least in grabbing headlines. The Liberty Alliance consortium of tech companies, banks and other big corporations just announced the launch of a global data system for the healthcare sector. They're calling it the Liberty Alliance Health Identity Management Special Interest Group.

Liberty Alliance HIM SIG (yup that's what the press release calls it) is co-chaired by John Fraser of MEDNETWorld.com and Pete Palmer of Wells Fargo. Fraser vows to "make it easier for healthcare organizations to protect sensitive data, meet compliance mandates and put patients in better control of their identity information."

Sounds good. Makes Google's hook up with the Cleveland Clinic to handle that lone facility's health records look quaint. What say you Sergey?

By Byron Acohido