Microsoft HealthVault Encrypted Emails Boost Patient Health Data Sharing

Sharing and managing of health data are critical aspects of taking patient care into the 21st century, and Microsoft is working to ensure that clinical information can be transmitted electronically in a simple and secure manner.

A Health & Human Services event in D.C. on February 2nd, 2011 was the stage where the Redmond company announced that Microsoft HealthVault was evolving with new encrypted e-mail functionality.

HealthVault will now not only allow patients to get their data but also clinical partner solutions to share health information securely, by leveraging the Office of the National Coordinator’s (ONC’s) Direct Project protocols.

The software giant has partnered with MedPlus and VisionShare, pioneering members of the Direct Project.

The companies collaborated on solutions which enable healthcare providers to send data to patients directly in their HealthVault records via email.

“This service and our early partnerships are accelerating the ability for patients to become active participants in managing their health,” said Sean Nolan, distinguished engineer and chief architect, Microsoft Health Solutions Group.

Essentially, emails containing a patient’s clinical data can be sent to the email associated with Microsoft HealthVault.

All transmissions of information are encrypted, and the content becomes part of the patient’s HealthVault account where it is saved.

“The initial goal of the Direct Project is to specify a simple, secure, scalable, standards-based way for participants to send authenticated, encrypted health information directly to known, trusted recipients over the Internet,” revealed Wes Rishel, vice president and distinguished analyst, Gartner.

“It is exciting to see early, real-world examples of applications based on the Direct Project’s security protocols emerging through the efforts of the private sector. Through public-private partnerships such as these we are starting to see the sharing of critical information across the health system.”