Google Health lets patients share medical records to loved ones
Since the launch of Google Health medical records in May 2008, several feedbacks were given about letting the patients share their medical records with their loved ones for emergency purposes.
If you undergo an operation, for example a plastic surgery in Manhattan, and certain complications arise, one factor could be because of medications you neglected to tell your doctor. Your family’s knowledge and access to your medical records would be great help to the doctor to prevent serious risks.
Google product manager Sameer Samat also cited another example which makes the step very beneficial. A few years ago his father suffered a heart attack and was sent to the emergency room. When asked about what medications his father was taking, he wasn’t able to tell the doctor because he had no idea what his father’s medications were.
“If my father had a Google Health account, and had shared his profile with me, I would have been up-to-date on his current medications,” Samat said.
Now, Google Health has a feature that lets you share your profile to chosen people. The people will only be able to view your profile and not alter or change anything in it. You can decide on who will be allowed to see your profile and you can always see who are those who have access to your information.
With the profile sharing feature of Google Health, the safety of patients during emergency situations are increased. For example, you went in for a plastic surgery in Manhattan, you can worry less knowing that your loved ones will know what to do should an emergency happens. Even U.S. President Barack Obama supported and touted the benefits of electronic health records.
