Comments on: Microsoft’s HealthVault: User Manual = C-, Strategy to Create a New Ecosystem = A

By: Sandy Albert

Sandy Albert — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 22:57:38 +0000

I think there’s some misunderstanding about what HealthVault is. As far as my understanding goes, HealthVault is more of a platform whereby companies can develop their own software on the platform. Healthy Circles and Heart 360 from the American Heart Association are two HealthVault applications I’ve tried which go far beyond what’s the HealthVault website itself offers. These are both completely free too if anyone’s wanting to sample them.

By: ICTconsequences » Blog Archive » Personal Health Record discussions

ICTconsequences » Blog Archive » Personal Health Record discussions — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 10:55:21 +0000

[...] he did with Google’s PHR, talking even about trust issues, Vince Kuraitis analyzes Microsoft’s HealthVault and four misconception about it: Misconception #1: HealthVault is a [...]

By: Theo Mandel’s Usability Blog » Microsoft HealthVault: Device Connectivity

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 02:08:09 +0000

[...] more about Microsoft’s Healthvault: – Microsoft HealthVault: Device Connectivity – e-CareManagement Blog – Medtalk: Doctor Geek, [...]

By: L.Eduardo Cornejo, MBA

L.Eduardo Cornejo, MBA — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:15:30 +0000

From a business perspective MSFT HV services are free for individuals, vendors and doctors that provide services. The MSFT model is targeted search for users to search about their ailments (vertical search). Some may see this as a targeted “Google-like” model. At some point and based on the captive audience, MSFT could start offering value-add services for a fee.In the long-run, I am not sure HV is an advantage for telemedicine vendors.

By: HealthVault: Adding Structure (Interoperability) to the Health Information Ecosystem | Health News

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:02:02 +0000

[...] to try to get a better grasp of what it is (and what it is not). Over the weekend I ran across Vince Kuraitis’ post at his e-CareManagement Blog which I found to have provided some good insight. Not until reading [...]

By: Joseph Kvedar

Joseph Kvedar — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 18:52:44 +0000

It seems like the real challenge coming will be how to deal with Microsoft’s platform in the face of the growing Continua Health Alliance momentum and emerging standards. Microsoft was conspicuously absent from the Continua Alliance and now we know why. My fear is that this will lead to yet another situation like Windows Media Player vs. Real vs. Quicktime or iPod vs. Zune. Many companies have ‘embraced and enhances’ certain standards in an effort to claim they are standards-compliant, but consumers find out quickly that the enhancement is really about locking the consumer into one platform. Health and RPM is too important for this to happen. While this may legitimize home telehealth (it felt legitimate to me already), it may, in the not too distant future, end up adding cost to a business model where lean is really important for success.

By: John

John — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 14:40:16 +0000

Pretty good summary here of what is and is not HV.

Like you, agree that the majority of postings, blogs and articles about HV are incorrect or misleading. HV is NOT a PHR but what I prefer to call PHP for Personal Health Platform.

Whether or not this takes off is highly dependent on MS’s ability to get their partners to refer their customers/consumers to HV and we are a long way from there. But, if ActiveHealth can work with their parent company Aetna and get those 800K ActivePHR customers (at least that is what I’ve heard claimed),then MS will begin seeing some traction.

Had a briefing with MS regarding HV and will providing more discussion on topic over at my Blog, HITanalyst over on wrodpress.

By: ICMCC Articles » Blog Archive » Comments on Microsoft’s HealthVault

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:29:04 +0000

[...] Microsoft’s HealthVault: User Manual = C-, Strategy to Create a New Ecosystem = A, Vince Kuraitis, e-CareManagement blog, 5 October 2007 [...]

By: Ronald Healy MD

Ronald Healy MD — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 22:57:47 +0000

Very nice summary. I must admit that I’m somewhat hopeful that Microsoft might bring some sanity to a confusing marketplace. Let’s hope so.

By: EMR Wars « Ronald Healy MD

EMR Wars « Ronald Healy MD — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 22:49:41 +0000

[...] has launched HealthVault and it has created quite a buzz in blog-dom. Vince Kuraitis at e-CareManagement gives a nice summary of what HealthVault is and what it [...]

By: WorldHealthCareBlog.org » HealthVault 101: a hosted discussion on innovation in health care

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 18:23:17 +0000

[...] Microsoft’s HealthVault: User Manual = C-, Strategy to Create a New Ecosystem = A [...]

By: Mark Singh MD

Mark Singh MD — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 04:23:11 +0000

Great explanation. Microsoft as you said, did a poor job in explaining HealthVault.

I had more time to look at Microsoft’s HealthVault. As I mentioned on my blog, after creating my own personal account, I was disappointed by the sparseness of what I saw. There was no place for me to enter my past medical history, medication lists or allergies. As a physician and a software developer, I must admit, I was confused by what I saw. It was not entirely obvious from the look and feel as to what the application really does.

I was hoping for a robust PHR. In fact, I was hoping to start signing up my patients for accounts as they presented for their appointments. However, if I found the application confusing, it would be pointless trying enroll my patients at this point.

The bottom line as you state is, HealthVault is not a PHR but rather a “vault” of repository of health data.
Mark Singh MD
http://www.clinicore.blogspot.com/