DigitMemo.com

On October 4, Microsoft finally provided an official gameplan of what it’s readying on the healthcare software and services front.

The open beta of HealthVault, is a client application plus a Live service that will allow consumers to build and maintain a personal health record. One of the inputs into this health record will be results from Microsoft’s health search-engine, also known as HealthVault, which is based on the MedStory search technology Microsoft bought a year ago.

This is how HealthVault will work: Users will create a secure password which they will be able to share with doctors or others at their own discretion. This password will enable access to their health information, which will be housed in a cloud-based storage site (HealthVault Account) that is hosted by Microsoft. Users will be able to store results of health-related search queries (via HealthVault Search), electronic forms and records from doctors and other medical professionals; data they collect themselves from medical devices (like blood pressure cuffs, heart-rate monitors, etc.), which is maintained on the Healthvault Connection portal; prescription data; and other relevant information.

Microsoft announced a bunch of medical-device and records partners at the Washington, D.C., launch of HealthVault on October 4. It also unveiled a HealthVault software development kit for companies and individuals who want to build apps and services that can plug into the HealthVault ecosystem.