Microsoft HealthVault to launch in Belgium?

While  the definition of "meaningful use" is occupying some of the finest minds in official EMR-land in the US, things are also moving in Belgium, and Microsoft HealthVault may be approaching roll-out, according to the Francophone website of a patient association. The site reports that patients must partake in the pending debate on this subject. Here is the link to the  article in French by the president of the association.  And an extract from the article:

"Even though all of this seems to contribute to the centralization of medical data by the patient, who is the only one to decide to share the data with the entity of his or her choice, Microsoft HealthVault could represent a danger for Belgian patients. ... We think we should participate in the debates concerning Microsoft HealthVault to preserve the freedom of choice for patients (freedom to change vendors, suppliers, health management system...). Let us hope that Microsoft will guarantee the associations the right to follow the studies that may one day enable Microsoft to participate in the improvement in our country of the transmission of objective non commercial information about patients and their providers.

 Lucio Scanu

Personal health records are indeed progressing in many ways, shapes, and forms, in parallel to physician-initiated electronic medical record systems. Public and private organizations are venturing in many interesting directions.   Personal health records in Europe will be demoed and discussed with representatives from several significant initiatives from the US, UK, France, Netherlands at Health 2.0 Europe, Paris, April 6-7, 2010.Should you be attending, exhibiting, covering the conference? Contact me.