Earlier this month Google Health unveiled its new telehealth service. Google’s telehealth service works along the same lines as other telehealth programs. The patient consults with a doctor remotely via the phone, email or video conference. What makes Google Health’s program unique is that it employs the MDLiveCare platform.
When a Google Health patient accesses the telehealth program, they will connect with one of MDLiveCare’s board certified physicians or licensed mental health therapists. The consultation takes place via a secure and HIPAA compliant video, phone or email link. Even though the MDLIiveCare network physicians and therapists interact remotely with patients, they are able to not only diagnose and treat medical conditions but they are able to order lab tests and write electronic prescriptions. The lab tests and electronic prescriptions are via MDLiveCare’s direct connection to one of the largest networks of labs and pharmacies in the country.
What makes the Google telehealth consultations different is that MDLiveCare integrates the entire consultation directly into the patient’s personal health record. At the beginning of a Google telehealth consultation, the patient grants access to their Google Personal Health Record to the MDLiveCare physician. After the patient grants access, MDLiveCare’s interface updates the doctor’s clinical notes into the patient’s personal health record.
At the moment, MDLiveCare is one of the first integrated services to offer a complete history of the doctor’s clinical notes in the patient’s Google Health Account but if this service takes off other providers could sign on with Google Health. After the integration, the updated personal health record is now available to the patient via the Google Health platform. Google Health believes that this will give patients even more accuracy in their health records as studies have shown that patients remember only 25% of what was discussed during their medical consultation. https://www.mdlivecare.com/images/mdlivecare.jpg
