Should You Trust Your Health Records to Google and Microsoft?

[Greyhatter]

While I'm not as disturbed as some, this really disturbed me... What the Intertubes should never be used for?

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,14...l?tk=nl_coxcol

[theprez98]

Re: Should You Trust Your Health Records to Google and Microsoft?

While I'm not as disturbed as some, this really disturbed me... What the Intertubes should never be used for?

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,14...l?tk=nl_coxcol

Of course not. The kicker in this article is that HIPAA doesn't apply to non-health care companies!

[DaKahuna]

Re: Should You Trust Your Health Records to Google and Microsoft?

Of course not. The kicker in this article is that HIPAA doesn't apply to non-health care companies!

I am not sure that is 100% correct and I am sure one of the legal beagles that hang out around here will correct me if I am wrong but I believe HIPAA applies to any company who is in possession of health care information. We have a listing of system which are used to process HIPAA data and closely track activities on those systems for any signs of illegal access.

[theprez98]

Re: Should You Trust Your Health Records to Google and Microsoft?

I am not sure that is 100% correct and I am sure one of the legal beagles that hang out around here will correct me if I am wrong but I believe HIPAA applies to any company who is in possession of health care information. We have a listing of system which are used to process HIPAA data and closely track activities on those systems for any signs of illegal access.

According to this, HIPAA only applies to "covered entities":

* a health care provider that conducts certain transactions in electronic form (called here a "covered health care provider").
* a health care clearinghouse.
* a health plan.

If you follow that link there is a PDF that explains further what types of organizations apply.

[xor]

Re: Should You Trust Your Health Records to Google and Microsoft?

Another reason IMHO for Canadian/French government style health care here is the US.

I won't go further with that as it gets into politics other than to say; who do you trust more the government or private industry to do the right thing with your personal information? You are welcome to debate me privately as it really comes down to that question.

xor

[Greyhatter]

Re: Should You Trust Your Health Records to Google and Microsoft?

Another reason IMHO for Canadian/French government style health care here is the US.

I won't go further with that as it gets into politics other than to say; who do you trust more the government or private industry to do the right thing with your personal information? You are welcome to debate me privately as it really comes down to that question.

xor

This is a troubling question. Should I trust either? When I ask myself who has been hacked the most "industry or government" the question of who to trust is easier to answer. I don't trust the government with my personal tax SS# anymore than I'd trust it in any corporate bowels. I feel that way about personal medical information especially if those services get farmed out to foreigners. Here is a telling tale of a security vendors woes after they chose outsourcing..

Trust no one