Microsoft Seeks RFID Support for HealthVault

Srinivasan says he envisions a scenario in which a MedicAlert chip would include information to access a HealthVault account for users who want their data to be accessible to health-care providers. If, for example, a patient being treated in an ER is diabetic, the MedicAlert wristband can provide that information, while the patient's diabetes treatment history could be available on HealthVault.

To put it simply, Srinivasan says, "HealthVault is like the patient's résumé, while MedicAlert is the bullet points. That's where I see the synergy between HealthVault and MedicAlert." Therefore, if such a partnership were created in an ER, the RFID tag embedded in the patient's wristband could provide pertinent facts regarding any allergies or chronic conditions, as well as a HealthVault account number where the health-care provider could access additional details.

Organizations that have already signed up for HealthVault projects with Microsoft include the American Heart Association (AHA), New York-Presbyterian Hospital, MedStar Health and the Mayo Clinic. The AHA has launched its own service, known as Blood Pressure Management Center, which is built on the HealthVault platform. The service will allow patients acquiring a HealthVault account to also establish a blood-pressure management account through the American Heart Association, where they can enter their daily blood-pressure readings, amount of daily physical activity and weight, as well as how they feel.

"One of the major goals of the AHA is to reduce the number of people with uncontrolled high blood pressure in the United States," says Daniel Jones, president of the American Heart Association, "which is why our first tool on the HealthVault platform focuses on high blood pressure."

"We know the Internet is a powerful place to reach people with health information," Jones says, adding, "The HealthVault platform will empower consumers to take a more active role in their health care. It will no longer be just about doctors treating patients, prescribing drugs and checking back in now and then. With these tools, the focus should shift to management over time and the consumer having a larger stake in—and understanding of—their health conditions. Going forward, we will look at ways to expand this tool beyond blood pressure into other conditions and lifestyle factors." As one example, Jones cites high cholesterol. However, he says, the American Heart Association has no specific plans to incorporate RFID technology at this time.

MedStar Health is launching its own pilot, also built onto the HealthVault platform, known as MEDSEEK. Hospital patients who have been discharged can use MEDSEEK to access health information based on their hospital stay, in a private health record stored within HealthVault. The patients can then make that record available to other health-care providers. Microsoft hopes individuals will give doctors, clinics and hospitals permission to send their records directly to their HealthVault account, Nolan says, bringing the health-care industry into a more active role.