Google is moving to tap into the strong demand for online health information by providing a service to allow people to access their medical records online, the New York Times reports.
The tool, part of Google’s existing Google Health framework, allow individuals to opt to have their health and medical information placed into a personal online file that only they can access.
As well as giving patients easy access to their medical records, the tool could make it easier for doctors or external specialists to access relevant medical information if they are seeing a new patient.
Google has already conducted a trial of the service with 1600 patients in a large Cleveland medical practice. It found patients with their clinic records linked to Google were more likely to access their medical records.
The system requires medical service providers to enter an agreement with Google to have their records linked, with more than 20 US health providers already on board.