Social Security to Test Use of Microsoft’s
HealthVault in Processing Disability Claims
Use of HealthVault expected to result in faster
decisions for disability applicants
Aug. 28, 2009 – The Social Security Administration
is turning to Microsoft’s HealthVault, a free online service allowing
individuals and families to share medical information with healthcare
providers, to help speed up and improve its process of evaluating
disability claims.
These “personal health records” contain the same
types of information that Social Security generally obtains from people
applying for disability benefits, according to the announcement by
Social Security that it has agreed with Microsoft to test the use of
HealthVault.
“The use of personal health records holds great
promise for ensuring that the medical information we collect from
someone applying for disability benefits is accurate and complete,” said
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security.
“Combined with other advancements in health
information technology, our use of HealthVault should result in faster
decisions for disability applicants. I look forward to working closely
with Microsoft, a world-wide leader in information technology,” he
added.
Social Security and Microsoft are developing a
technical prototype connecting the two organizations that will be
available later this year. The agency also will collaborate with
Microsoft to study current personal health record standards, gaps in
those standards, and options for filling those gaps.
Social Security claims to be a recognized leader in
the use of health information technology.
The agency points out It is the first government
agency to use the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN), a safe
and secure method for receiving instantaneous access to electronic
medical records. The NHIN is an initiative of the Department of Health
and Human Services and is supported by multiple government agencies and
private sector entities.
About HealthVault (Microsoft)
HealthVault is an online storage place for your
health information. It can store many different types of information,
such as:
● Hospital and doctor visit records
● Immunization records
● Data from health and fitness devices you can
connect to your computer
● Exercise statistics
One HealthVault account can contain the health
records for many people. For example, you could have health records for
yourself, your spouse, each of your children, elderly relatives whose
care you manage, and even your pets.
You can share some or all of the information
contained in a health record. For example:
● If your spouse/partner also has a HealthVault
account, you can share management of the family's health records.
● You can give your personal trainer access to
just your exercise logs.
● You can allow your hospital to upload
discharge instructions, or your pediatrician to access and update
immunization records.
Keep in mind that the information in your account
may not always be accurate or up-to-date and isn't meant to be used
directly by healthcare providers for diagnosis or treatment. Information
should always be evaluated and re-confirmed based on independent
judgment.
With HealthVault, your health information is in one
place that you control. Microsoft has consulted privacy advocates,
security experts, and dozens of the world's leading healthcare
organizations to build HealthVault. Its core principle is that you
should control your own health records and have access to online health
management tools that you trust.
Programs that Work with HealthVault
One of the main ways that health information is
added to HealthVault is through programs that users authorize to access
their account. Programs may perform specific tasks, such as logging and
graphing exercise statistics from your HealthVault record. Users control
whether programs can view information in each health record, and whether
or not programs can add or change data.
As a HealthVault user, you should carefully read
the information and the privacy statement each program provides and
decide whether to give them permission to access records in your
account. Make sure you are comfortable with the kinds of information
they ask to access and what they'll do with it. You'll find a directory
of programs that work with HealthVault at
HealthVault.com.
When you sign in to your HealthVault account, you
can view the information stored in your health records, see the history
of who has accessed the data and what has been changed, share health
information with other people or with programs, and update your account
information.
Most of your interaction with the data in your
HealthVault records will be through programs. As more programs are added
to the HealthVault ecosystem over time, you'll be able to store more
types of information and access the information in increasingly useful
ways.
The Programs Directory on HealthVault.com lists
many Web-based programs that provide health-related services. One
program might, for example, chart your blood pressure readings, alert
you when specific readings require attention, and give you information
to help you manage your blood pressure. Another program could display a
list of your current medications (with links to Web articles that
provide more information about the medication) and enable your doctor to
update the list online.
Aug. 28, 2009 – The Social Security Administration
is turning to Microsoft’s HealthVault, a free online service allowing
individuals and families to share medical information with healthcare
providers, to help speed up and improve its process of evaluating
disability claims.